Auto Body Technician Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an auto body technician. You can use our job description template in this article to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an auto body technician.
Who is an Auto Body Technician?
An Auto Body Technician is in charge of fixing external damage to cars that have been in some collision. This is very hands-on work that typically occurs in a noisy or crowded auto body repair shop or vehicle dealership. Being responsible for activities like straightening bent frames, pulling dents, installing new panels, and applying fresh paint makes the job physically demanding. The work that needs to be done on a given car may be modest or considerable overall, and an auto body technician’s duties sometimes entail determining the level and kind of damage. Depending on your level of seniority, you might also manage employees.
Because every collision is unique and results in varying damage degrees, auto body technicians must be skilled at fixing metal and plastic. Because repaired cars must pass stringent safety standards before being handed back to owners or car dealers, they must have an eye for adjusting safety restraints within a damaged vehicle. Such technicians typically perform either minor or extensive repairs at specialized vehicle body repair facilities.
As an auto body technician, you will repair vehicles’ exteriors. To do this, you might straighten, fill, or replace body panels, fenders, and bumpers. You might also change out cracked windows and windshields, and mix, match, and apply paint. Smaller stores are more likely to have you work in each of these areas, whereas larger shops may want you to specialize in one of them. In some cases, you might affix a brand-new body to an outdated frame. Performing damage assessments, calculating the cost of body repairs, managing paperwork, keeping records, and helping with mechanical repairs when the bodywork is not required are additional potential responsibilities.
Auto Body Technician Job Description
Below are the auto body technician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of the Auto Body Technician include the following:
- Identify the root cause of any malfunction and make repairs.
- Save, tag, and return all parts needed for warranty repairs to the parts department.
- Record the work that was done and suggested on the repair order.
- Conduct road tests on automobiles or consult the test technician, but ensure those client vehicles should not be utilized for individual errands when necessary.
- Ensure to maintain the cleanliness, integrity, and settings of the customer’s vehicle’s comfort, convenience, and audio systems.
- Recognize, adhere to, and stay current with local, state, and federal laws that impact service operations.
- Use all tools and equipment properly and safely as instructed by safety training.
- Notify management of any challenges or issues that make it impossible to perform quality work.
- Wear and maintain all necessary personal protective equipment for safety and health.
- Fulfill all requirements set forth by laws and regulations governing paint, thinners, and other dangerous
- Establish and maintain a relationship with the client by being aware of and accommodating their needs.
- Perform in the promised land or bring about change there.
Qualifications
- A high school certificate, GED, or its equivalent
- Proven training and experience as an Auto Body Technician
- Possess necessary certification
- Valid driver’s license
Essential Skills
Here are the skills you require to excel in your career as an auto body technician:
- Customer Service
- Estimating
- Communication
- Frame Repair
- Detail-orientation
- Troubleshooting
- Organizing
- Automotive Maintenance
- Problem-solving
- Parts Purchasing
- Painting
- Time Management
- Vehicle Body Repairs
- Vehicle Systems
- Welding
Customer Service
For you to communicate with customers and describe the repair procedure, you need to have strong customer service abilities. Active listening, empathy, and patience are qualities of good customer service. These skills can be used to make appointments, estimate repair costs, and respond to customers’ inquiries regarding the state of their vehicles.
Estimating
The capacity to estimate how long it will take you to do a task. You can stay on track with repair orders and manage your time better with this ability. You can enhance your efficiency by determining which jobs are most crucial with the use of estimation.
Communication
The ability to transfer clear and succinct information transfer is communication. In order to gather all the necessary details regarding a vehicle’s damage and come to an agreement on what repairs are required, auto body specialists must be able to communicate with their clients, coworkers, and insurance agencies. They must also be able to communicate technical information regarding the repair procedure to their managers and fellow workers.
Frame Repair
The process of fixing a broken vehicle’s frame is known as frame repair. This entails scraping off any previous paint, joining new metal to the frame, then painting the repaired area again. When auto body technicians observe that an accident has weakened a car’s frame, they employ this talent. If the damage isn’t too bad, they could also advise customers to have their frames repaired.
Detail-orientation
Your ability to pay attention to detail will help you do your job well. To ensure the quality of your work and the safety of other road users, auto body technicians must pay close attention to the specifics of each repair. For instance, before painting the parts of a repaired automobile door, ensure they are all properly aligned.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting skills include the capacity to troubleshoot. An auto body technician may investigate problems with an automobile’s electrical system or engine. This ability also aids you in deciding how to proceed when fixing a car so you can do your work appropriately.
Organizing
Being organized means being able to keep track of your tasks and equipment. Auto body technicians must be organized to complete their work on schedule and locate the necessary materials when they need them. Additionally, organization aids in maintaining your attention on a task, which enables you to generate high-quality work.
Automotive Maintenance
Auto body technicians need to have a working knowledge of car maintenance since it helps them comprehend how to fix and maintain the automobiles they work on. To ensure that your customers’ automobiles continue to run well after repairs, you might need to learn how to perform normal maintenance, such as changing the oil or rotating the tires.
Problem-solving
Having the capacity to recognize and address problems is problem-solving. You could run across difficulties when fixing a car. For instance, you need to be able to spot potential dangers and take preventative measures if you are working on an automobile with electrical components. Additionally, you must troubleshoot any issues that appear while performing the repair.
Parts Purchasing
The ability to recognize and order the appropriate parts for a vehicle is known as parts purchasing. Auto body technicians employ this expertise when fixing vehicles to ensure they have everything they need to finish a job. Knowing how to interpret diagrams and determining which parts are required for each car component are also necessary for purchasing parts.
Painting
Paint is applied to vehicles by auto body professionals using their painting skills. For the paint to adhere correctly and look uniform, they must understand how to prepare a car’s surface.
Time Management
Time management is the ability to schedule and monitor your work so that you can finish projects by the due date. Because auto body technicians sometimes have several assignments with varied deadlines, this ability is crucial.
Vehicle Body Repair
The process of returning a vehicle’s exterior to its pre-accident state is known as auto body repair. This entails removing dents, covering up scratches, and repainting the vehicle. Auto body experts employ their expertise in auto body repair to assist customers in restoring the original appearance of their automobiles. They apply their knowledge when fixing their autos.
Vehicle Systems
The components that make up an automobile’s automotive systems cooperate to provide power, control, and safety. Auto body technicians use their understanding of automotive systems to fix or replace a vehicle’s broken parts. For instance, to install a radiator correctly, an auto body specialist needs to know how it operates.
Welding
Auto body technicians join and seal metal body parts using their welding expertise. Additionally, they employ these abilities to fix damaged portions of a vehicle’s structure or body, employing various welding techniques according to the material they are dealing with.
How to Become an Auto Body Technician
Below are the steps to take to become an Auto Body Technician:
Step One: Research
It is crucial to be certain that becoming an auto body technician is a job you’ll enjoy. Research the position to ensure you are satisfied with its work requirements before choosing this career route. For instance, the physical demands and fume exposure of an auto body technician’s job make it unsuitable for those with health issues. The need for auto body technicians in your area, the typical salary, and pertinent regulations governing the profession are other things to look into. You can learn more about the position by browsing online employment boards or asking seasoned professionals.
Step Two: Finish your Education
Most vocational schools require applicants to have a secondary school diploma to enroll. You might enroll in a technical club or program in secondary school to develop skills ahead of your career. Numerous technical clubs in secondary schools plan excursions to or internships at car lots and vehicle repair facilities. Your move into a job as an auto body technician will be made easier by these experiences.
Step Three: Obtain a Relevant Certificate
Comprehensive instruction in the abilities and information required of auto body technicians is provided via vocational training programs. Because of this, many employers require vocational qualifications as part of the application process. Vocational schools offer courses on car alignment, paint jobs, electrical and mechanical components, mechanical repairs, and how to utilize auto repair tools. Most vocational programs last between a few months and a year. An associate’s degree in automotive technology is another option. This qualification may be helpful when applying for a supervisory position or a major auto repair facility.
Step Four: Gain Knowledge and Experience
Before beginning a career as an auto body technician, field experience is crucial, as it is for most practice-based occupations. You can develop your skills and get comfortable utilizing common tools and equipment by getting practical experience. Under the watchful eye of skilled professionals, it also permits you to make mistakes that won’t significantly impact the company. Starting an internship or apprenticeship program at a nearby auto repair company is the greatest way to get relevant experience. During your apprenticeship, you can pick up skills in account management, record keeping, and customer service.
Step Five: Become a Specialist
A specialization is a particular area of your job in which you have honed your skills via persistent attention. A specialty can help you improve your career quickly and be more relevant to your industry. Auto body technicians can select from various specializations. Additionally, technicians may focus on particular areas of repairs, such as painting or dent removal. To strengthen your résumé, you might also work on earning qualifications in specific areas of vehicle maintenance.
Step Six: Create a Résumé
For career advancement and applying for jobs, your resume is essential. A resume is a succinct document that lists your important professional accomplishments. List all relevant education, work experience, and abilities you have obtained over your career to make a resume. Choose the most recent and pertinent qualifications after carefully reviewing the job description. Then, do the necessary sections and fill them with the relevant data. Make sure to be clear when describing your job responsibilities and accomplishments. Where you can, quantify your accomplishments with numbers and percentages. Finally, make sure to carefully format and revise your CV.
Where to Work as an Auto Body Technician
Auto body technicians frequently work on the primary bodies of cars in auto repair and customization businesses, whether to change the paint and look or to ensure everything is functioning.
Auto body technicians also work in car body repair shops at dealerships, independent repair facilities, or fleet workshops. They can open their shops as well.
Auto Body Technician Salary Scale
The average auto body technician makes $53,230 yearly or $25.59 an hour in the United States. Most experienced workers earn up to $94,999 yearly, while entry-level roles start at $40,950.
In the United Kingdom, the average gross pay for auto body technicians is £29,533, which equates to $14 per hour. Additionally, they receive a £904 bonus on average. The typical wage for an entry-level auto body technician is £21,992. The average pay for a senior-level auto body technician is £35,813.
In Canada, an auto body technician makes, on average, $58,500 a year, or $30 an hour. Most experienced workers can earn up to $82,897 per year, while entry-level roles start at $49,725 annually.
The average wage for an entry-level auto body technician is €29.765 in Germany. The average pay for a senior-level auto body technician is 48.70.
In Australia, the average gross pay for auto body technicians is AU$ 70,004, which equates to AU$ 34 per hour. Additionally, they receive an AU$2,142 bonus on average. An entry-level auto body technician makes an average salary of AU$ 52,215 with 1-3 years of experience. The average pay for a senior-level auto body technician is AU$ 85,028.
In Ireland, an auto body technician makes an average pay of €39,770.
The average monthly salary for an auto body technician is roughly ₦126,000. The pay scale runs from ₦60,200 to ₦197,000 in Nigeria.