First big difference in shop tech vs road tech. Road techs in our dealership make more money. The reason ? Diversity. Most work in the elements. Most are dealing with the customer decision maker face to face. We work on any type of equipment, no matter who or what makes it. So pay scale really depends on the tech. If you are worth it, you'll get paid. But be prepared in this day and age for the ultimate question, CAN YOU BRING CUSTOMERS ! If you can, you'll get paid. If you can't, then you just aren't that valuable because the dealer has to pay you more then he would a new trainee or transfer technician. Lets face it, money talks. I know techs who are marginal at diagnostic/troubleshooting but customers love them. I know techs who can fix anything but the chip on their shoulder and attitude of I am the greatest prevent them from obtaining customers and keeping them long term. As far as the next generation, you have to find them and it aint easy. But it can be done, especially now with a bad economy. You have to have your own training program and be willing to spend the money and invest in this project or you will keep getting the bad pennies and keep tryin to polish it. Not all young guys are computer geeks. They are out there, just have to really put an emphasis on it and work at it.