Auto Body Mechanic Schools, Salaries, and Job Data
Auto Body Mechanics Job Overview
Auto body mechanics primarily repair damaged vehicles. Their job requires them to fix vehicles bodies, replace heavily damaged parts that cannot be fixed and remove dents in the body of an automobile. They have to handle all kinds of vehicles, including trucks, cars, buses, tractors and pick-up trucks.
Auto Body Mechanics Schools and Degrees
To become a auto body mechanic, you need a high school diploma or a GED at the entry level. In order to repair newer automobiles, special training and education is a must. Post secondary vocational schools or community colleges offer candidates collision repair programs. Courses in physics, electronics, English, chemistry, mathematics and computers can prove to be extremely helpful in furthering one’s career in this profession. In addition, throughout his/ her career, an auto body mechanic needs to attend continuing education programs and training in order to keep up with new technology.
Job Requirements
Candidates can earn the certification offered by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence by passing the ASE Master Collision Repair and Refinish Exams. Passing all the four exams will mean that the candidate becomes an ASE Master Collision Repair and Refinish Technician. In order to retain this certification, auto body mechanics have to take the examination every 5 years.
In addition to academic qualifications, auto body mechanics need to have proper knowledge handling computer and in basic mathematics. They must also pay attention to detail when repairing the damaged parts of an automobile.
Nature of Work
Knowledge of the various automotive construction and repair techniques is essential when dealing with damaged vehicles. The extent of the damage must be considered and then the required parts are ordered by auto body mechanics. They either repair the parts of the vehicles or replace parts in cases where repair is not possible.
Auto body mechanics usually work indoors where it can be very noisy. The work is usually strenuous and can be dirty. Auto body mechanics usually work for about 40 hours a week, but longer hours are often required in cases of emergency or when there is a backlog of repair work. Working on weekends is also quite common for auto body mechanics.
Auto Body Mechanics Jobs and Outlook
According to the US Department of Labor, auto body mechanics held about 152,790 jobs in the US in 2007. Employment is the highest in the following industries:
Automotive Dealers
Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Stores
Automotive Repair and Maintenance
Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplied Merchant Wholesalers
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
The mean hourly wage for auto body mechanics in the US is about $18.53, while the mean annual wages are around $38,530.
Job Numbers and Growth
The official count of auto body mechanics in 2008 was 183,000. Workers have recently faced a high level of unemployment. The unemployment rate for employees? About 4% recently.
Area Job Conditions
You'll see a lot of auto body mechanics in Palm Coast (Florida), Great Falls (Montana), and Framingham (Massachusetts), and comparatively fewer in Longview (Texas), Brownsville (Texas), and Kennewick (Washington).
Wages for Workers are highest in Anchorage (Alaska), Boulder (Colorado), and Santa Rosa (California), and lowest in Cape Coral (Florida), Sherman (Texas), and Yuma (Arizona).
Training and Education
Employees normally have long-term on-the-job training before landing a job. Degrees are held by 3% of current auto body mechanics. Post-secondary schooling was enough for 23% of workers. Education topped out at high school for 74% of employees. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.
Part-Time Work and Self-Employment
Part-time work suffices for 6% of auto body mechanics. Workers working on their own make up 14% of the total.
Auto Body Mechanics by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.