Duties and responsibilities
A collision technician is an auto body technician that is responsible for providing auto body repair specifically after an accident. Their typical duties and responsibilities include:
- Examining cars, that have been in an accident, for damage
- Giving customers price estimates for the repairs
- Ordering and installing the appropriate parts
- Keeping paperwork up to date
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Painting and finish the car if it has any scratches
Qualifications
Collision technicians will most likely need a high school diploma. It will also be advantageous to have completed programs in automotive body repair at a technical college. Although not essential, it is recommended that all auto body technicians, which includes collision technicians, gain certification as it shows competence and usually brings higher pay.
Skills and relevant work experience
To become a collision technician, you will need skills and talents such as:
- Physical fitness and stamina, as collision technicians will need to stand up for long periods of time, lift heavy materials or work in small and cramped spaces
- Attention to detail, as restoring damage requires someone who can notice even the smallest imperfections
- Customer-service skills, as collision technicians must be understanding, courteous and be able to communicate ideas, problems and solutions to paying customers
- Time management skills, as collision technicians will need to ensure that repairs are they are completed before the deadline
- Dexterity, as collision technicians will have to carefully fix dents or paint work issues using various tools . This requires a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination
- Critical thinking skills, as collision technicians must be able to accurately evaluate vehicle damage and determine necessary repair strategies
Hours
The majority of collision technicians will work full time. They may have to work evenings, weekends and overtime if necessary to meet deadlines.
Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for automotive body repairers (which includes collision technicians) was $43,580 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,710, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $73,470.
Progression
The employment of all auto body technicians is expected to grow 2% from 2019 t0 2029, which is slower than the average for all occupations. However, once in the profession, collision technicians can progress to more senior roles. Some technicians may also open their own repair shop, which gives them more autonomy, flexibility and control.