Auto Body Tech?

[brwntom]

I got offered an apprentice ship for an auto body tech. I work with my hands a lot so I think this would be good for me. I do not know the salary range for this. Does any one have any idea of what it would be?

Tom

 

[adsm08]

What I say here applies to pretty much every part of the automotive field these days.


The pay to aggravation ratio is not worth it.

 

[rockin86ranger]

I say go for it, it is a tedious job but if you are good and do the job right you can make a good chunk of change. I am a certified auto tech but I don't do it because i can't be bent over all the time (Kills my back)

 

[brwntom]

Just something for me to think about. I will be finding out more soon hopefully. One of my good friend's dad owns a large body shop around here. 7 shops. It will be a good job Im thinking.

 

[ZMan]

A lot depends on the area and the type of pay. A good flat-rate aka commission tech can make anywhere between 40-100k a year. Painters usually make more on average than body guys be aware of that, but the stress is a little higher as well. I'm a flat-rate painter, but I work on a "team" with a body guy, so we put our hours in a pot and split it (my case isn't 50/50, I get a little more), this doesn't make as much as a normal flat rate tech. A lot depends on the shop as well, right now my area is really slow, but our shop has managed to stay somewhat steady because we do good work and are a direct repair facility for a lot of insurance companys.

I also want to put this out there that being a body tech is not like being a mechanic, theres a good chance that you will make a lot more money as a body tech than as a mechanic, because of how the pay works and the fact we are getting paid by insurance companies most of the time, not just customers out of their pocket.

Don't expect to make a lot of money until you've been doing it a while though.

 

[brwntom]

I dont plan on making a lot of money doing it right away. I know there will be a lot to learn. but I want to get a start on my life. Ive been graduated from high school for about a year now. I go to a local college and work in sales part time, but that is not quite enough for me. I want to do big things with my life, better start now.

 

[det107]

I also want to put this out there that being a body tech is not like being a mechanic, theres a good chance that you will make a lot more money as a body tech than as a mechanic, because of how the pay works and the fact we are getting paid by insurance companies most of the time, not just customers out of their pocket.

Don't expect to make a lot of money until you've been doing it a while though.

This is just about right. I got a job as a prep man at first. I would take off damaged panels & repair/prime them if it justifies the costs. Sometimes the insurance company will pay for a new panel(s) & will go that route. Other duties would be getting vehicle ready for paint (feather edge & tack wipe) & clean-up/ detail car before customer picks it up.
I left the auto body field to enter the meat-cutting business which paid more-