When a Gas Station Out pays the Machine Shop ⛽🛠️

Morning Machinist – “When Buc-ee’s Pays More”

It started with a simple screenshot: Buc-ee’s — the Texas‑born mega gas station chain — advertising cashier and stocking jobs at wages that match (or beat) what many machinists take home.

The post’s author didn’t mince words:

And the machinist community had thoughts.

💵 Pay Reality Check

For some, it confirmed what they’ve been saying for years: the pay in many shops hasn’t kept pace with reality.

👨‍🏭 “There’s no shortage of welders — just a shortage of welders willing to be paid less than a gas station cashier.”

🛠️ “It’s become trendy to push young people toward the trades — but why, when they pay crap and have lousy benefits?”

📊 Others pointed out that in their area, Buc-ee’s wages outpace 80% of local machine shops. And more than one person said $18/hour is now the minimum for any reliable worker — skilled or not.

🚫 Buc-ee’s Ain’t Easy

Some machinists defended the trade by pointing out what Buc-ee’s work is really like:

• 📵 No phone, no earbuds, no eating on the clock — instant termination.

• ⏱️ Clocking out for bathroom breaks in some locations.

• 🍽️ Lunch eaten standing, no chairs.

Others said they wouldn’t trade the physical demands and lack of personal freedom for a cashier’s wage.

🔄 Trade Comparisons

The discussion spilled into broader comparisons:
🔧 Some machinists said they’d have been better off going into plumbing or HVAC.
🏗️ Others in those trades pushed back, describing days spent crawling through 130° attics, trudging through frozen mud, or breathing in rodent‑infested dust.

Then came the reminder that not all machinist jobs are cushy. One machinist described programming 30,000‑lb parts in a 100° shop with no break room. And a shop owner chimed in, noting that while machining offers more consistent conditions than construction trades, wages and benefits still determine whether a shop keeps its talent.

🌎 The Global Squeeze

One shop owner explained the competitive bind:

Another machinist pointed to the bigger economic picture:

And some kept it simple:

✊ The Union Card

Finally, one comment cut to the chase on why these debates never seem to move the needle:

💡 The bigger picture?

This wasn’t just a gripe about Buc-ee’s wages. It was a raw conversation about the value of skilled labor 🛠️, the reality of working conditions, and the choices machinists make when deciding where — and how — they want to work. And while everyone had their own perspective, one thing was clear:

Wages, conditions, and respect are inseparable.