Salary Range: Average-$16,500 to $35,700
Auto body repairers are skilled workers who repair dented and damaged automobiles. Usually cars are damaged in traffic accidents. Some cars are damaged when they are being shipped to car dealers to be sold. Auto body repairers strip off the damaged parts and straighten out parts bent in collisions. They install new parts and knock or bump out minor dents.
Most auto body repairers work for car and truck dealers and manufacturers as well as auto body shops. Generally, they work on cars and small trucks. However, some repairers work for trucking companies or bus lines, where they repair trucks, truck trailers, or buses. The repairer's supervisor decides which parts are to be replaced and which are to be repaired. Supervisors also estimate how long the job will take, which allows them to determine the cost of labor. Supervisors write down the cost of the parts and labor on an estimate form. This cost also includes a percentage of all the costs of running the business. The estimate is given to the customer or insurance company. When the insurance company or customer agrees to the estimate, the auto body repairer begins the work.
Sections of the automobile that have been badly damaged are removed. If the frame has been bent, it is straightened with special machines. New sections of Repairers who work for auto manufacturers and dealers take formal training courses sponsored by the manufacturers. These courses last at least 5 days. During the courses, experts demonstrate how to use tools and repair damaged cars. Repairers are also taught to make quick and accurate cost estimates of damage to automobiles.
Getting the Job
The best way to enter this field is to apply for a job as a trainee at an auto body shop. You can also apply for jobs with large auto dealers and auto manufacturers and check the want ads in your local newspaper.
Employment Outlook
Auto body repairers can be promoted to supervisors of their shops. Many also open their own shops if they have the necessary funds to do so. Nearly one out of four auto body repairers is self-employed.
The employment outlook for auto body repairers is good. The number of repairers is expected to increase through the year 2006. Driver-training courses, improved highways, and better safety features on automobiles may contribute to some decline in the number of new jobs available. However, growth is expected because of an increasing number of vehicles and traffic accidents and the in-creased popularity of lighter-weight cars, which are vulnerable to more collision damage than older, heavier designs.
Working Conditions
Repairers may work alone or with a helper. They must be able to work independently, without supervision. Repairers work between 40 and 48 hours a week, usually between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.
Auto body repairers work in shops in every state in the country. The shops are often dusty and dirty. Repairers often have to work in cramped positions and lift heavy objects. They must be strong and able to work calmly despite very loud noises. Because of the nature of the work, they may get cuts from sharp metal edges, burns from torches, and injuries from power tools.
Earnings and Benefits
The annual average salary for auto body repairers ranges from $16,500 to $35,700. Some repairers earn a base salary plus a commission. The commission is usually a percentage of the cost of labor. When repairers work for a commission, their wages depend on how much work they are given and how fast they complete it. The more work they do, the more money they make. Repairers who work for trucking companies and other firms that have their own vehicles are usually paid at an hourly rate. Those who belong to unions are paid wages on a union scale.
Most auto body repairers who are not self-employed get holiday and vacation pay and insurance benefits. Some are covered under retirement plans.
