Automobile Collision Repairers
Overview
Introduction
Automobile collision repairers, also known as collision repair technicians, repair, replace, and repaint damaged body parts of automobiles, buses, and light trucks. They use hand tools and power tools to straighten bent frames and body sections, replace badly damaged parts, smooth out minor dents and creases, remove rust, fill small holes or dents, and repaint surfaces damaged by accident or wear. Some repairers also give repair estimates. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are approximately 142,060 automotive...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Salary ranges of collision repairers vary depending on level of experience, type of shop, and geographic location. The median annual salary for automotive body and related repairers was $42,730 in May 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. At the lower end of the pay scale, repairers with less experience and repairers who were employed by smaller shops tended to earn less; experienced...
Work Environment
Collision repair work is generally noisy, dusty, and dirty. In some cases, the noise and dirt levels have decreased as new technology, such as computers and electrostatic paint guns, are introduced. Automobile repair shops are usually well ventilated to reduce dust and dangerous fumes. Because repairers weld and handle hot or jagged pieces of metal and broken glass, they wear safety glasses, ma...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for automotive body and glass repairers will grow at an average pace through 2028. Demand for collision repair services is expected to remain strong as the number of cars in the nation grows. This demand, paired with technology that will require new skills, translates into a healthy job market for those willing to undergo the training needed...
