Collision Repair Careers | Auto Body Repair Jobs | What is Auto Body Repair?
Auto Glass Repair Jobs - What is the Job of Auto Glass Specialists? What do Auto Body Repair Jobs Involve?
Auto body repair shop workers are responsible for fixing damage that occurs as a result of vehicle collisions, and a collision repair workers responsibility is to restore the body of a motor vehicle to like new condition. Among the jobs of an automotive body repair worker will include repairing trucks, cars, buses, tractor trailers, and motor homes.
Body shop job workers can also be called collision repair technicians and they will straighten out dents or bent parts, and replace parts that are too damaged to be fixed. The first step for the car body shop worker to take is to figure out the extent of the collision damage and what it will take in order to fix the motor vehicle.
After determining the extent of the accident damage, an automotive body shop worker will usually offer a rough car body repair price quote to the client, order the necessary car parts, and then they will begin to fix the motor vehicle body. Body shop jobs may also have to use alignment machines in order to align damaged components, using computer technology in order to determine vehicle alignment.
After completing a car alignment, a auto body repair worker is to then fix the damage to the auto frame. If the car is made out of metal, a body shop worker will use a metal cutting gun in order to remove the damaged sections and weld car replacements. Small dents on a cars exterior are usually smoothed out using hammers, or plastic can be used in order to fill small car dents.
It is increasingly common for vehicles to use plastic parts or fiberglass for the frames, and many car frames will now come in sections that can be easily replaced if a part of the section is damaged. Alternatively, a body shop repair worker can use very hot water or air in order to press the section back into shape.
Auto glass repair workers are responsible for removing broken windshield glass or cracked windshields and then replacing the damage glass with a new window frame. An auto glass specialist will first remove the existing damage glass and then replace it using a moisture proofing compound and rubber strips in order to protect the edges from cracking.
Most auto body shop repair is done in assembly line fashion where one worker straightens out frames and another can repair a door or fender. In a smaller auto body shop, a auto glass worker may also have the dual role of paint restoration on damaged parts.
Working Conditions for Auto Body Repair Jobs - How is the Working Environment for Auto Glass Repair Technicians?
Body shop repair jobs and auto glass repair workers usually work indoors most of the day in a relatively noisy environment that can be stressful and dirty. Workplace hazards in an auto body repair shop include metal cuts, burns from heated metal, injuries from tools, and toxic paint fumes.
Safety is a priority in an auto body shop, and the workplace itself is usually kept clean with the odds of being injured at about 4% a year. It is common for automotive repair shop workers to work 40 hours a week, which can involve working on weekends.
Auto Body Repair Schools Training - How to Become a Car Body Shop Worker - How to Receive Auto Glass Repair Training
Auto body repair training can usually be gained from a two year college program at a community college or educational program. Auto body repair programs will typically teach an individual how to remove dents, how to align motor vehicles, eventually progressing on to more difficult tasks such as restoring engines or carburetors.
While it is becoming increasingly uncommon, some auto body repair workers may receive on the job training with no college experience, and this process can take 3 to 4 years in order to become skilled. Continuing education is essential for an auto repair shop worker, as electronic systems in cars become more complex.
Collision Repair Jobs - How to Obtain Auto Glass Repair Certification
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offers voluntary car repair certification for auto body repair shop workers. Auto repair certification can involve up to four ASE master collision repair exams in addition to two years of hands on car repair experience. The ASE exam must be retaken every five years in order to maintain certification.
Over time, an auto repair shop worker will learn more advanced skills and they may decide to open up their own body repair shop.
Auto Body Repair Shop Employment - What are the Future Employment Prospects for Auto Body Repair Jobs?
Over the next decade, body shop repair jobs should experience employment growth of about 12%, as the amount of vehicles on the road increase. Since most new automobiles are of a lighter weight design, severe body damage from small collisions will lead to an increase in repairs.
Due to the high cost of repair work, and the lower prices of cars, some motor vehicles may simply be scrapped due to the sophistication of their electrical components and the damage that occurs when air bags are deployed. Minor automotive damage frequently goes unrepaired due to insurance deductibles.
The benefits of becoming a car body repair worker include excellent job prospects due to fewer people entering the field, and those auto glass repair workers with college training will have the best prospects for employment. Body repair workers weather economic downturns well, as people decide to repair their motor vehicles rather than purchase new ones.
Auto Body Repair Salary Pay Scale - How Much Do Auto Body Repair Jobs Earn?
In 2006, body shop repair jobs had median hourly earnings of $16.92, with those working for car dealerships earning $17.85, and those working in automotive maintenance earning $16.66.
Automotive glass repair jobs and car glass installers had median hourly earnings of $14.77, and those working in automotive repair shops earned $14.80 an hour.
Most body repair shop workers are employed in independent body shops and most jobs are paid on commission, so the amount of money that can be made repairing cars depends on how fast the individual is. Most car repair employers will usually guarantee a minimum weekly salary.
Car repair helpers or auto glass trainees will typically only earn 50% of the earnings of the more skilled car repair worker. Benefits will vary depending on the business, but they are increasingly common for those working in collision repair, due to the need to retain skilled auto repair workers.