I can certainly appreciate all of the great value RCM provides by taking a hard look at MaxAmps while at the same time buying batteries assembled by people making the same basic wages elsewhere.

I say that not because I know definitively what others charge (minus Asia, it's a given it's less) but rather the skill required for such a repetitive job isn't very high. I know I can find people that will work at $9/hr+ performing this task, with training and decent quality control they would work out great.

Wow, living costs must be relatively low then. I think the minimum wage in Australia now is $13-$14 an hour for a full timer and at present $1 AUD = $1 USD.

The sad thing is that Washington state has the highest minimum wage in the country.

That's what I was thinking too. I wonder how the cost of living compares if someone can live on that kind of income.

I would just like to correct you there. If you frequent RCC it can clearly be seen that the only people running MA are SPONSORED DRIVERS. Oh and the general idiots that maxamps manages to fool. The fact is on a crawler many are running packs smaller than 1000mah in comps for the lowest possible weight. If it isn't a true 35-45c minimum pack they will die. Simple as that.

Kieren

Ee & me wages
 

When I was working at Universal Studios Orlando a few years back (2004) the starting sallary for an EE or an ME was in the $25 to $30 per hour range. Starting pay for basic mechanics was $15.50. Basic meant having about 4 years of experience doing some level of mechanical work and knowledge. Most of what you learned on the job was pretty much a new experience, and most likely out of the ordinary anyway. Some of the senior Engineers were making upwards of $75K to $100K per year. I had a blast working there for 6 years and learned all kinds of stuff. From Animatronics, robotics, industrial speed controllers, hydraulics, pyrotechnics, and tons of show elements that make everything unique from venue to venue. Tearing down and rebuilding rollercoasters was one of the most interesting adventures when you get to see exactly what goes into their designs, and exactly what should be done in order to keep them up to par. Some parks rebubuild during overhauls using the old hardware. BIG time no no. Anyway good luck with finding the right job for you.

My last job (a Senior Design Engineer for a large company) fit right into the middle of the salary ranges noted for Senior Engineers. I make less now but have much more fun working at SPC Racing.

How is that an exploitative wage? 9 bucks to do some menial job soldering cells together and wrapping it with expensive wrap seems fair in my opinion. It's not like they are doing brain surgery.

It's actually $15 p/hr

I have trouble attracting unskilled labourers for $18.50 p/hr

Well maybe its that, but what are you taxes like?

Tax rates 2010–11
<table border="1"><tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="160">Taxable income
</td> <td valign="top" width="340">Tax on this income
</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="160">0 – $6,000
</td> <td valign="top" width="340">Nil
</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="160">$6,001 – $37,000
</td> <td valign="top" width="340">15c for each $1 over $6,000
</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="160">$37,001 – $80,000
</td> <td valign="top" width="340">$4,650 plus 30c for each $1 over $37,000
</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="160">$80,001 – $180,000
</td> <td valign="top" width="340">$17,550 plus 37c for each $1 over $80,000
</td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="160">$180,001 and over
</td> <td valign="top" width="340">$54,550 plus 45c for each $1 over $180,000
</td></tr></tbody></table>

versus usa

<table width="100%" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" bordercolor="#e5ecff" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr><td width="14%" bgcolor="#c3d5e7">Tax Rate
</td> <td width="43%" bgcolor="#c3d5e7"> Married Couples Filing Jointly
</td> <td width="43%" bgcolor="#c3d5e7"> Most Single Filers
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10%</td> <td>Not over $16,750</td> <td>Not over $8,375</td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#e8eaec">15%</td> <td bgcolor="#e8eaec">$16,750 – $68,000</td> <td bgcolor="#e8eaec">$8,375 – $34,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>25%</td> <td>$68,000 – $137,300</td> <td>$34,000 – $82,400</td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#e8eaec">28%</td> <td bgcolor="#e8eaec">$137,300 – $209,250</td> <td bgcolor="#e8eaec">$82,400 – $171,850</td> </tr> <tr> <td>33%</td> <td>$209,250 – $373,650</td> <td>$171,850 – $373,650</td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#e8eaec">35%</td> <td bgcolor="#e8eaec">Over $373,650</td> <td bgcolor="#e8eaec">Over $373,650</td></tr></tbody></table>

$12/hr for a double E? I was making that before I even graduated tech school. After I got my AE I was making more than twice that (16 years ago), and we live in one of the cheapest areas in the country as far as cost of living goes.

$9 an hour to assemble packs is more than fair in most areas, it's not hard and we pay people more than that to solder our circuit boards, and that is a lot harder than packs.

Also isn't the exchange rate for AU a lot lower than the US?

AUD 1.00 = 0.995405 USD

Depends what you call a lot :lol: