About the Job Title "Collision Technician"

Collision Technician Job Description

A collision technician is an auto body technician that is responsible for providing auto body repair to automobiles that have been in an accident. Although there are no formal educational requirements to become collision technician, those with a college education and certification will have the best employment opportunities. 

Collision Technician Job Profiles: This is a general writeup based on our research into Collision Technician positions in the Auto Body Technician career area. For individual, real-life job profiles of actual people with this type of job, check out our job profiles page.

What's it like to be a Collision Technician?

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
  •  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.

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