Wages for cnc programmer - nova scotia

[scottishgrant]

Hi all,

I am a CNC Programmer/machinist originally from Scotland, with 10yrs experience.

Hopefully moving to Canada soon with my family. Wondered if anyone would know what sort of wages to expect in Nova Scotia or Manitoba as either a chargehand or CNC Programmer?

I have looked at a couple of websites which have average payrates, but it would be good to hear from someone who has first hand experience!

thanks, Grant

[Geof]

This is not an answer to your question but an incredulous diversion of your thread. You are contemplating moving from New Zealand to Nova Scotia or Manitoba???

But I will give you a guesstimate on hourly rates: between about $17 and (maybe) $30.

From your perspective in NZ that may look okay and I guess given the cost of housing, etc in those locations it is okay...but do you know how cold and miserable it gets in the winter?

Don't let me discourage you, I grew up in NZ, moved to Canada many decades ago and have never regretted it. Except occasionally in the winter when I think that at precisely the same time of year I used to be sitting on a surfboard in NZ.

[scottishgrant]

Hi Geof,

thanks for the wages info. It does get pretty cold in Scotland (which is where i am from) so i cant wait for some real cold weather!!!

been a very hot summer here in NZ. Had contemplated going to OZ, but the HEAT!! bring on the snow!!!

[Geof]

Where in Scotland? I spent a year in Aberdeen and it did get chilly occasionally.

Maybe I should not ask...but why Nova Scotia or Manitoba? Jobs here are much more available in Alberta or British Columbia. I will admit housing costs are a bit horrifying but not much worse than in NZ, at least around Auckland.

Bring on the snow you say; have you ever experienced minus 40? Which you may in Manitoba. I have! One winter in Ottawa and I scurried back to Vancouver with my badly frostbitten tail between my legs.

[dertsap]

i thought nova scotia currency was fish , 5 lbs / hr
20 lbs of fish = 1 loaf of bread , 12 pack of beer and 1/2 tank of gas

[Geof]

Wrong province, that is Newfoundland.

[dertsap]

i thought theirs was screech http://www.screechrum.com/
thats the impression i get from the way my newfie buddy talks about it

or maybe that was what he was refering to as his liquid assets

[scottishgrant]

i was just south of aberdeen but worked and lived in aberdeen for a couple of years. worked for a sub contract oil firm called Belmar Engineering.

Learned a lot of good stuff there too!

The main reason for NS or MB is the cheaper housing. we really want to be able to buy a nice house and it seems like it may be a struggle in BC or AB. I have spotted some good jobs there, but not sure if the wages would equate to the cost of a mortgage.

Still keeping a little bit of an open mind though.

[dertsap]

you'll get a good bang for your buck at which ever place you go , i understand Manitoba is well on its way up in housing costs ,so its not as cheap as it was a while back

[Geof]

Originally Posted by scottishgrant i was just south of aberdeen but worked and lived in aberdeen for a couple of years. worked for a sub contract oil firm called Belmar Engineering. Learned a lot of good stuff there too! The main reason for NS or MB is the cheaper housing. we really want to be able to buy a nice house and it seems like it may be a struggle in BC or AB. I have spotted some good jobs there, but not sure if the wages would equate to the cost of a mortgage. Still keeping a little bit of an open mind though.

I was in Aberdeen pre-oil; 1969-70 and worked for DAFS as an instrument technician.

You are correct about the housing cost here in BC; fortunately I bought at a low spot just after the Asian financial crash in the late 1990's. Keep your options open though. I don't think it is conceivable that prices here can hold up past the Olympics.

[forrey45]

Hi Grant.
I'm from the UK originaly been hear for 20+ years and I am thinking about a move to NZ. Can I ask why you want to leave?.

On the wages I'm in southern Ontario and as Geof said $17 to $30 is about right I have been at both ends, do not forget dental and pension a lot of places do not have this type of thing and getting less all the time.

On the cold front I lived up on the high dales in north Yorkshire for a couple of years and thought I knew all about cold and snow, wrong wrong wrong I knew nothing. Getting up @ 4:30am to clear the drive way to get the car out on to the road -26 C for the drive in (late due to weather not an excuse), coming home and not being able to get in the driveway because the snow plow has been along and put a 3.5 foot snowbank there!!!!!!
Spring 1 week maybe.
Summer very very short and very very hot and humid. I think that this is on par with the worst of the winter at least in the winter you can put more clothes on.Now this southern Ontario and I would not move to MB or AB or the east coast, west coast yes if could get a good job and place to live I was out there 18 years ago but the jobs were very seasonal hence being here, my wife who is a canuck would not go to any wear but the west coast or out of the country to a temperate climate.
Now don't get me wrong there is a lot of good things about the county weather and lack of rugby aside. I guess I should stop now and go shovel some snow.
Forrey.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by forrey45 Hi Grant. I'm from the UK originaly been hear for 20+ years and I am thinking about a move to NZ. Can I ask why you want to leave?.......Forrey.

One reason for leaving that influenced me is that New Zealand is very isolated and living costs are high compared to wages. I travelled to Canada as a young guy just out of apprenticeship and quickly came to the conclusion I could live in Canada and make enough money to visit NZ occasionally but not the other way around. It is a lovely place and you can have a fantastic life style with a bit of luck. Another reason is if you have aspirations to start your own business in NZ there is only a small potential market and it is not easy. Also the 'tall poppy principle' applies to some extent in NZ.