I was wondering if any of the CEDIA certified installers could chime in on an average annual salary one could expect upon first getting into the business. I'm a recent college grad with no prospects in my field and I'm interested in learning more about getting certified. Thanks!
-Joey

Our basic installers start around 30K per year and based on experience can get closer to 40 for a Lead A/V install position. Your local wages may differ though.

Thanks for that. I figured it would be close to those numbers. I see you are a Subaru guy too? I currently own a '95 2.2 L and a couple of months ago before I ran into some rough spots financially I was driving an '05 Blue/Gold STi. I love me some Subies. :cool:

Yeah, I use to own a 2002 WRX wagon with full catless up/down pipes, hks exhaust, accessport stage two tune, KYB AGX struts, progress springs, Cusco H-brace, anti lift kit and a few other things. I loved that car. However, I started questioning my need to hit tripple digits before entering the highways. So I sold it and bought a Nissan Frontier quadcab truck. It is the complete opposite of the Subbie, but it's nice.

I looked at a 93 fwd impreza L before I bought the truck to see if I could just drive that for a while to save some money, but that was TOO dramatic of a change. I couldn't imagine going from an STI to an L coupe. You are a better man than I. :)

Good luck in your search!

Yeah I hear ya on the triple digit thing. After this particular run-in with the police, well, more like a run-from the police in the STi, I decided enough was enough. The car was so powerful that it really just wasn't necessary. :eek:

It sounds like you had yourself quite a ride there as well. The L was my daily driver before I got the STi, and I just never sold it. Trusty thing still runs like a top though.

I'd love to get back into a new Subaru someday. I just really need to get my career straightened out first. :o

I won't comment about evading the police (I'm sure there is a statute of limitations and I don't think I've passed it) :)

Before the WRX I owned a 98 RS coupe with the Gold wheels. So I am missing the subie community. There isn't the "family" feel within the Frontier community. I have been looking to possibly unload the frontier and get into an 08-09 suby, but with gas prices being what they are, unloading a truck now is next to impossible without lossing your shirt. I don't think a WRX or STI would be in my future, but rather an Outback wagon XT, Forester XT.

Like I said good luck with your career. The installers that work for my company all really like it. Look to apply at a Firedog or Geek Squad to get your foot in the door, or try a local AV shop. The pay may not be great at first but if you truely enjoy it you'll make it work.

BTW what is your degree in?

Ugh, political science, what else? :(

I've tried applying for every type of position you could imagine that involves government or law with absolutely no luck. In college I dreamed of being an attorney, hence the degree, but changed my mind as I got older and kind of just stuck with the major. I'm currently a part-time instructor at a local community college. Not much fun, I'll tell ya.

I just did some soul searching and thought about things that I really love. Cars is of course a big one for me, but I've never desired to be a mechanic. Home theater and home audio is another. I figure, while I'm still young I might as well give something that I actually enjoy a shot and see what happens. That's what prompted me to get on here and ask some of you CEDIA guys about the business.

It's all up in the air really. This must be one of those "quarter-life crisis" things. :rolleyes:

Oh and a Forester XT...:droooool:!!

I'm not a "CEDIA Guy" i'm a Human Resources Manager for an electronics and home furnishings retailer based out of the mid west. Blah. It's a job. But like you, cars and home audio/theater have always been hobbies of mine.

Our basic installers start around 30K per year and based on experience can get closer to 40 for a Lead A/V install position. Your local wages may differ though.

That sounds about right. There are a lot of places to go from there though...you could transition into engineering (which is what I did), or get into project management...or even sales. LOTS of money in sales...but everyone in the building will hate you. :D

Frank

Yeah I've always thought I would love the engineering side of it, but it just seems kind of counter-productive now to go back for another 4 year degree after already finishing one. It would be nice to get on with a company that would help with the cost.

What do you guys recommend for someone with limited experience, especially in the electrical field? I would like to sit for the level 1 installer test in about two weeks but I'm not sure I'd be ready. There is also an instructor led review right before the test that would help, but I'm not sure it would be enough for me to pass. Any thoughts? Thanks again!

Yeah I've always thought I would love the engineering side of it, but it just seems kind of counter-productive now to go back for another 4 year degree after already finishing one. It would be nice to get on with a company that would help with the cost. Thanks for the help!

I have a B.A in history and a masters in theology. The key is that I have lots of experience. Only *one* guy in the engineering department had an actual degree in engineering, and he was an electrical engineer. Two of the others were from install and the other two were from sales.

What I'm saying is that you may not need an engineering degree necessarily; just start with a company and work your way into engineering.

Frank

Frank, I really appreciate it, that's very encouraging advice for sure. I'm seriously thinking about taking the instructor-led review and installer I exam in two weeks. This field is definitely a serious passion in my life, so why not pursue it? :)

If you have no experience - you are better off taking the slower paced training school that leads to the exam. Search the archives someone recently posted about it. These posts tend to pop up once a month....I think in the last one I suggested CEDIA bootcamp as an alternative to the class. At any rate you may find you have no skilz for holding a drill and pulling wire....but at least you will get to defer student loans for a while...

The review/exam is intended for installers that have their feet wet to certify their work - not those who wannabe an installer.

CEDIA average wages several years ago was $25K installer, $50K designer. Of course cost of local housing and experience determines your over/under. Of course you could add on a 0 to those numbers if you did get a lawyer gig... and more likely to have the fancy cars rather than work at homes that have fancy cars in the garage.

Engineering degrees are generally required for commercial A/V design - this is not the case for home A/V design. They just call them engineers even though they may just be a HS/AS level tech and got a BS from the school of hard knocks. In general it means the guy in the back room drawing up the plans in CAD. (yes it is a male dominated profession - even though as this forum shows - she plays a big part in many AV/theater decisions!)

Other than what CEDIA recommends on their site, are there any other essentail reading materials that would help me along to being ready for the review/test?

I've already ordered Sound System Engineering and will try to read that in full as well as some other things to get more prepared.

The problem with cedia is they are all about the money now,just because someone has a cedia cert dosent mean a thing,sure it will help with a job maybe,but from what i have seen in the last few years is it is all about the money,you need to keep 30 ceus in 3 years which by the time you pay for airfare,hotel,etc you will have thousands of dollars in that, I have my cedia cert and I think i am going to let it go because I just cant afford it,training etc and i know many people that dont have cedia cert that know a ton more than the ones that do,like i said i think cedia is just getting all about the dollar.

Cedia certifications are overrated. It took me an half hour to wear down the Avad rep about this and he finally agreed that it was a flawed setup.

The Whole Cedia AV upper end market is dying, if not fatally wounded. I jumped back into grad school shortly after my "successful" A/V career. Success for some is not for others.

$25K.. pff.. that is nothing for the work involved.. and I had contracts with almost every brand name out there.

You will lose.. Amazon/Walmart will win.

My advice is to avoid this market. If you really want get a job at your local dealer before they go out of business, but do not get too invested. The niche market to be successful is too niche. Get a better job and be more efficient with your life.