Tough Love or Debbie Downerism?

[AccelR8]

You decide.

Many, many years ago I thought I wanted to be a gunsmith. After looking into it I decided otherwise.

Using data available today, here’s information for where I live. Housing costs, incomes, salaries for this area are very near the national averages. A bit lower actually.

Median household income; $95,209

Per capita income; $51,477 (it’s important to note that this includes the entire population, every man, woman and child including babies. Old people, students, unemployed. Not just wage-earners.)

Median gunsmith salary; $47,596

So, your income will be just about 50% of the median household income. No problem, it just means that your domestic partner better have an income that’s equal to or better than yours if you want to have an average lifestyle. Or be willing to live in a rented apartment, drive old cars, and have cheap (or no) vacations.

If you have a spouse and two kids and yours is the only income yo will be at 158% of the poverty level and that’s not a good place to be.

Of course these are all averages and there are exceptions. And we all, myself included, believe we can “make it,” we are all above average. But remember, 50% of the people are below average! I may be among the best at some things and among the least successful at others.

Market forces and economic realities are powerful things to work against and it takes a very, very bright and innovative person to beat them.

 

[AccelR8]

Just for fun here’s median salaries for 3 arguably similar occupations:

Journeyman Plumber $61,220
Journeyman Electrician $67,500
Tool and Die Maker $66,240

 

[Sniperhandle]

Those are probably old numbers, The Gunsmith can write off quite a bit of stuff, The others you posted are most likely punching the clock. But like I have said, for the time and equipt invested in, The average Gunsmith doesn't make enough for time involved.

Exceptions are guys like LRI or SAC.

 

[AccelR8]

Those are probably old numbers

From 2021.

 

[DRK]

Just for fun here’s median salaries for 3 arguably similar occupations:

Journeyman Plumber $61,220
Journeyman Electrician $67,500
Tool and Die Maker $66,240

Around these parts, you are looking at $90k to be a journeyman electrcian, assuming you don't work a lot of OT. Toolmakers same thing.

I start paying anyone who can show up and read a tape measure $25/hr plus benefits. $50k/year isn't much these days.

 

[AccelR8]

Around these parts, you are looking at $90k to be a journeyman electrcian, assuming you don't work a lot of OT. Toolmakers same thing.

I start paying anyone who can show up and read a tape measure $25/hr plus benefits. $50k/year isn't much these days.

Yes. I specifically chose journeyman which as you know is not the highest level. Kind of in the middle, and I also chose the median. The range is actually quite broad. Plus as I noted earlier in a reply those data are from 2021.

I was trying to be fair and try to compare to a general gunsmith with maybe 4 or 5 years in.

 

[AccelR8]

Not to go off on a tangent, and I think I've written about this here before, but where I work one of the tool makers retired. He was 67. about a year before he retired they started looking for a replacement. They said we want someone who's about 30 years old. Has enough school and tool and die experience that he knows all the basics and then he can work with the guy who is retiring and learn all the unique and specific things we do here. And then we'll take good care of him and he'll stick around and we'll all benefit.

After a year of searching they wound up hiring a guy who is 57. There were simply no qualified younger people around. I think being a machinist, an aspiring tool and die maker would be a fine occupation but what I'm hearing is many, most, of the younger people just ain't got what it takes to be able to understand "things" at the level required.

I would think if one wants to be a gunsmith, first set your sights on being one of the best gunsmith-machinists around, doing custom builds for people who can afford you and/or production. Not cleaning and fixing Remington 1100s and 700s for hunters. Then get schooling and training as a tool maker or machinist and make your living at that while you build clientele and/or your market. At some point you'll be well positioned to make the switch from employee to, well, something else. Shop owner? employer? Your own boss?

 

[john 800]

After a year of searching they wound up hiring a guy who is 57. There were simply no qualified younger people around. I think being a machinist, an aspiring tool and die maker would be a fine occupation but what I'm hearing is many, most, of the younger people just ain't got what it takes to be able to understand "things" at the level required.

For reference I am 41, and have worked as a auto, diesel or fleet mechanic since i was a teenager. My dad retired last year after working in manufacturing as a machinist, engineer, draftsman or price/cost quoute. Currently I work at a school transportation department driving and wrenching on school vehicles, and coach some middle school sports. My perception at the time I graduated in 2000 was that manufacturing in the us was dying so I am not getting into that. My dads friend and boss, the gm at the company he worked for tried several times to get me into that company when he had some positions he thought would be a good fit for me but I politely declined due to stability concerns. That is probably why you dont see young people in it. When I thought about getting into gunsmithing I had a really hard time finding people to talk to or any way to learn the trade. I would still entertain it if I could see a path to build or repair guns for a living.

 

[AccelR8]

I wouldn't mind seeing another barrel maker.

 

[Sniperhandle]

You have to have mechanical reasoning or you won't make it. You should be an all around Gunsmith, Not just a pipefitter.

 

[CharlieNC]

People certainly need to conduct a financial assessment of a potential career path, especially before borrowing many thousands of dollars for a college degree which offers few jobs and poor pay. There are numerous skilled jobs which provide many opportunities at great pay, with openings country wide. All the while, our public "education" system continues to deteriorate.

 

[LVLAaron]

There's a reason why most gunsmiths are retired from their "regular" job or do it part time. It's a passion hobby. I got into it because I wanted to, and could afford to... You do some good work and it eventually turns into people "needing" you to do things for them... build a customer base.

There aren't many full-time guys out there... LRI, GA, KW Precision, Wheeler, Gritters... I'm sure there are some others. None of them drive a Maserati and I'm sure none of them got started overnight.

 

[DRK]

I have 13 guys who work for me, all skilled trades. The problem is for a number of years in this country, there was a push for universal college and we did not train anyone to be an electrcian, a plumber, a toolmaker, etc. Now the guys doing those jobs are either retiring or dying and we have a crisis we saw 20-30 years in the making and chose to ignore!

 

[Kurz]

There aren't many full-time guys out there... LRI, GA, KW Precision, Wheeler, Gritters... I'm sure there are some others.

Depends on how small your circle of known gunsmiths is. Apparently you're limited to those gunsmiths that get the most press and put in appearances on forums. There's nothing wrong with that, it just limits the base.

Fortunately there are hundreds more gunsmiths that make a full time living building and repairing firearms, they just don't hit the 'well known' aspect of the trade. Many are even specialized in areas such as metal work, stock making, checkering, barrel making, etc. They simply concentrate on their profession for their clients while earning a living for their families. No they don't drive fancy sports cars or live in sprawling mansions but they are not destitute either. They are successful in earning a living but fly under the radar that so many concentrate on being a part of.

We have a whole campus at the local community college which specializes in gunsmithing, welding, automotive and mining technology. There is another campus which is strictly construction technology. Unfortunately the powers that be and the Liberal Arts department consider these to be the 'dirty' sector of technical training. But these departments are always full with waiting lists for the specialties.

Enjoy!

 

[CharlieNC]

Depends on how small your circle of known gunsmiths is. Apparently you're limited to those gunsmiths that get the most press and put in appearances on forums. There's nothing wrong with that, it just limits the base.

Fortunately there are hundreds more gunsmiths that make a full time living building and repairing firearms, they just don't hit the 'well known' aspect of the trade. Many are even specialized in areas such as metal work, stock making, checkering, barrel making, etc. They simply concentrate on their profession for their clients while earning a living for their families. No they don't drive fancy sports cars or live in sprawling mansions but they are not destitute either. They are successful in earning a living but fly under the radar that so many concentrate on being a part of.

We have a whole campus at the local community college which specializes in gunsmithing, welding, automotive and mining technology. There is another campus which is strictly construction technology. Unfortunately the powers that be and the Liberal Arts department consider these to be the 'dirty' sector of technical training. But these departments are always full with waiting lists for the specialties.

Enjoy!

Your grads will have numerous job offers while many of the liberal arts crew struggle to find a lower paying job.

 

[Southwest Action Works]

There's a reason why most gunsmiths are retired from their "regular" job or do it part time. It's a passion hobby. I got into it because I wanted to, and could afford to... You do some good work and it eventually turns into people "needing" you to do things for them... build a customer base.

There aren't many full-time guys out there... LRI, GA, KW Precision, Wheeler, Gritters... I'm sure there are some others. None of them drive a Maserati and I'm sure none of them got started overnight.

I think of it as a labor of love…. I make way more at my day job. Thankfully my day job isn’t as demanding as it once was I’m usually able to do both at the same time. I’m planning on retiring in the next 3-5 years and hoping my gunsmithing and stocks will afford me my shooting habit and travels.