Do you get paid??

Tammyfh

New member
I was wondering if you can get paid as a tech? I'm getting to be very obsessed and am very tempted to get certified for fun.... my husband doesn't understand how I can think that would be fun ;)

We're at a position that extra income would be nice and would probably help me convince him to let me do it. Either way I just keep soaking up as much info as I can :D
 
ADS

BW1426

Well-known member
I don't get paid. The vast majority of techs on here do not get paid for their services.
 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
Nope. Someone bought me lunch once.... And I'm still due a banana bread. When people ask to pay me I ask them to donate to SafeKids. All happy. :)

Wendy
 

Starlight

Senior Community Member
I do!!!

But not much, and I wind up donating/giving away an insane amount of seats, so it kinda evens out.

I get "tips" from some customers... occasionally $5-10, but more often, weird random stuff like once I got a folding tunnel thing for my kids, and once I got a bag full of clothes someone was taking to the thrift store, i've got like 6 crashed/expired seats (for training), 3 SR's that were in great condition... Someone gave me $45 once, that was nice. But I never expect anything.

Probably my fav thing... once I was asked to throw a dirty Britax cover away. Yes, I'll admit it, I washed it, it came clean, so I sold it. LOL
 

TXAggieTech

Active member
Nope, never got paid. But I do spent hundreds a year on car seats that we give out! I guess that is money going the wrong direction...

When I sell a seat on Craigslist I make learing how to install it a requirement and won't sell to someone ffing under 2 or 30. I did have one mom give me an extra $20 but DH and I spent several hours with her and helped with 6 seats in 2 vehicles.
 

jen_nah

CPST Instructor
Yes, I do get paid but I am a lucky one. I get paid from my work not the families. Our service to the families is free. I work for a major hospital here locally and we run a Safe Kids chapter so we have a permenant fittings station on the hospital campus we run 3 times a month and then do area events. I get paid for all of it. I am an injury prevention specialist/clinical educator so my job description isn't just car seats only. I work on all other preventable injuries (water, bike, pedisterian, motor vehicle, in home, etc...) but I also do clinical education too (CPR, child birth, new parent classes, training nurses, etc...).
 

leighi123

Active member
I get paid in cookies. When we do seat checks here the host provides food - usually sandwitches and cookies, Im a vegetarian so usually I cant eat anything but the cookies...yummm!

Other than that I dont get paid - I do have some stickers, a badge and a shirt now from safekids. :)
 

BookMama

Senior Community Member
Paid positions are few and far between.

This is all too true. I don't do private checks (except for friends/family once in a while) but I do participate in seat check events about once a month. Lunch is usually provided, and sometimes we get a free shirt. That's as much as I ever get paid.

However, I would encourage you to look into it anyway. It's very gratifying volunteer work! (And I would bet that most volunteers don't love their "jobs" the way that we do! :p)
 
Last edited:

Jeanum

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus
Staff member
I'm not doing this for pay, but I do appreciate the pizza/food/water that is typically provided at check events. Knowing every seat we check can make a difference is a great reward. :D
 

bethng

Active member
I get a $100 stipend from safekids for each seat check event I work. But it's not like there are seat check events every weekend. Once a month maybe? Once every two months? No set schedule. I didn't know about the stipends until after I signed up for the class. I don't do this for money. Never charge for a private check either. Never will. Just the fact that a parent is letting me help them get their seats in correctly is pay enough. If they want to give money to someone they can donate it to safekids. Someday perhaps someone will be an an accident and their child will walk away injury free because of their properly installed seat. That will be the big payoff!
 

Nisha

New member
I don't get paid and I do it "just for fun"!

I do usually get free food at a seat check and a mileage check (with a $50.00 cap - and I usually drive over 70 miles one way) and free shirts/visors/etc.

It's all totally worth it!
 

fyrfightermomma

New member
I do get paid. However it is part of my job (firefighter). I do go in after hours so it's not part of my daily wages, it's extra. The only techs around here are firefighters and they do all get paid.


I am paid for my hours by my employer though, not the actual family. Checks are free obviously. If they donate money it goes into our seat check fund to buy extra seats and supplies.

I do appreciate the food at public checks though :) And when we do safekids checks around here we get a $30.00 Kohl's Gift card everytime because they sponsor it
 

Victorious4

Senior Community Member
As Jen_nah mentioned, the only time I've been paid was through my job: I worked @ a women's clinic where I taught childbirth education which included carseat safety (insurance paid as office visit).

When families themselves offer to pay, I refuse. The families fill out a donation form so the $ goes directly to SafeKids.
 

Tammyfh

New member
Thanks for responding! I would never even think to charge the families. But I also figured having a paid job doing it wouldn't be likely either. I could hope ;) LOL

I tend to do a lot of volunteer things that have money going in the wrong direction so my husband doesn't get too encouraging when I find a new hobby.

Do you know if there's a way to get a scholarship for the class??
 

Nisha

New member
Do you know if there's a way to get a scholarship for the class??

I did for mine - the 2 local Safe Kids chapters split my National fee that goes to SK) and the local coordinator waive my local fee since I am "un-employed".
 

tens00

New member
Interesting that you asked this. I want to get certified so badly but don't have the time to take off from work to do so. The classes just are at tough times for me. I want to do this for fun and to keep kids safe as well!
 

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Forum statistics

Threads
219,656
Messages
2,196,898
Members
13,530
Latest member
onehitko860

You must read your carseat and vehicle owner’s manual and understand any relevant state laws. These are the rules you must follow to restrain your children safely. All opinions at Car-Seat.Org are those of the individual author for informational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect any policy or position of Carseat Media LLC. Car-Seat.Org makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. If you are unsure about information provided to you, please visit a local certified technician. Before posting or using our website you must read and agree to our TERMS.

Graco is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org! Britax is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org! Nuna Baby is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org!

Please  Support Car-Seat.Org  with your purchases of infant, convertible, combination and boosters seats from our premier sponsors above.
Shop travel systems, strollers and baby gear from Britax, Chicco, Clek, Combi, Evenflo, First Years, Graco, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, Safety 1st, Diono & more! ©2001-2022 Carseat Media LLC

Top