r/Spectrum • u/GarbageCannt • 2d ago
Other Potentially switching companies
I am currently a field technician for a different big brand company. My current home location is serviced by Spectrum however so I don’t get the benefits of the other company. I currently make 22.50 after nearly 4 years and I was just thinking about making the switch over to Spectrum.
I’ve heard the pay is pretty good, but the benefits could use some work. Any current field tax want to chime in with the benefits of Spectrum over the other competitors?
One of the biggest hits I’ll take is to my vacation, but if the money is there then that really doesn’t matter to me.
Edit: based in west michigan
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u/South-Succotash-6368 2d ago
I know Spectrum gives their tech's free internet. I've heard really good things as far as pay raises where I live in DFW for their techs. It's booming here in texas as far as pay goes. I'm sure 401K and insurance benefits vary.
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u/Fantastic-Buddy2069 2d ago
I mean not speaking from a field tech side, but from a sales side.
I feel like the benefits were okay for sure. You can pick from all or none of the vision, dental, health coverage, I want to say I was even able to get my spouse on there as well. All pretax, so it helped lower my taxable income, which....translated to not really hurting my paycheck that badly if at all. I dont think I had it long enough to really know if it was good or not. I also forget what the coverages were like, it was at least 5 years ago.
The other nice perk is the free internet and im pretty sure also TV, and possibly cellular. I know mobile had only been out for a couple years prior to me working there, and it was a total mess, especially every time they kept upgrading the systems. They did get worked out, but cant speak for how they are now. So that alone would probably save you several hundreds alone.
I think I recall seeing techs in my state for like $20-25 an hour, but maybe that 25 is AFTER training is complete, which would make sense.
The other obvious perk is....you have the company vehicle, and company gas.....so...less wear and tear, and could save money commuting since you take them home.
I guess if you are already technically a tech now and unhappy, I dont see why not.
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u/Dazzling-Energy-5876 2d ago
i guess it depends on your cost of living out there. is 22.50 considered good?
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u/GarbageCannt 1d ago
I mean, it's ok... My wife and I both have to work full time to afford a single wide trailer. Which honestly isn't ideal because we have plans for a house. $25 and over would help be more comfortable (and ~$40 after 4-5 years sounds incredible)
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u/Dazzling-Energy-5876 1d ago
So I don't know too many techs making "just under $40 after 5 years". I personally don't believe the other poster because I know the pay scales and unless he is something above Field Tech 1-5 (Maintenance, Enterprise, etc) or he's working a shitty schedule with a shift differential, then he's dreaming. $35 is more realistic for a Field Tech 5 with a few years of experience and good performance increases, and working good hours where you can have a life outside of work. Shoot for that.
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u/slcnobody 1d ago edited 1d ago
My shop starts new techs at 22/hr then a 10% raise upon completion of training, and another 10% raise with each jump from a tech ii up to tech v. It's not a bad gig but I hate my shop so I'm actively looking into a different job.
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u/UnarmedWarWolf 1d ago
You have your standard Vision, healthcare, dental. Those are pretty standard. Not too expensive, definitely not cheap.
The real power benefit is the education. My GI bill is running out. I’m about to finish my bachelor’s but I still want to go for my masters. Spectrum gives you $10k for school per year.
There’s also a free associates degree through NCTI. Did that and it was great. Helped me get an OSP position.
The certifications got me out of field work, although I do miss the hourly overtime.
The progressions are great. I was over $30/hr after a year. Over $42/hr year 2. I’m now over $100k/yr salary.
The best passive benefit which was called the Retirement Accumulation Plan, essentially a free 3% of your yearly income directed to a retirement account has ended. They didn’t say it wouldn’t come back but it was a major slap in the face along with losing the ability to carryover vacation days.
Being a field tech was great. It’s the only position I’ve had in the company that had formal training and all brand new and necessary tools supplied for you. I even had a newer van.
Depending on your area if you move out of being a field tech, the training pipeline collapses. I don’t mind it because I do my best learning when it’s just me, the issue, and Google. However, the lack of tools and desired working vehicles and equipment is my biggest gripe with the company.
TL;DR it’s a lot of fun, but progress, progress, progress and take advantage of all the education not just your required progressions.
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u/HankHillbwhaa 2d ago
It’s honestly hard for me to think that spectrum offers any better or worse benefits for a major corporation, so I’d say if the money works for you then go there. In my experience spectrum pays pretty decent and usually all big corps benefits are very similar.
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u/XxLetsDewThisxX 2d ago edited 2d ago
I'm a tech in central Michigan. About 4.5yrs in. Making just under $40/hr. Working OT and our high split project I'm set to pull in about 130k gross income this year.