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As long as there are cars on the road, there are bound to be accidents that cause damage to vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's latest data, more than 6 million car accidents occur each year in the United States.
There are even more car accidents causing damage that aren’t reported to police, from getting rear-ended in a parking lot to seemingly minor collisions that can still cause major automotive body damage. According to Allstate, the average driver will experience a collision once every 10 years.
Based on this data, we can see that the role of technicians who specialize in repairing collision-damaged vehicles is essential. If you have a passion for the automotive industry, enjoy working with your hands and have an eye for detail, a career as a collision repair technician, also known as an auto body repair technician, may be for you. For those skilled in the trade, this can be a career path with exceptional potential.1
If you’ve ever considered a career in collision repair, you’ve probably wondered how much technicians make. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual median salary for automotive body and related repairers in the United States was $47,670 in May 2022.28 This means half of collision repair technicians earned more and half earned less.
Keep in mind that salary depends on several factors, including experience, employer, demand and cost of living in the area. While the number stated above is an average of the earnings of all collision repair technicians in the U.S., it can be helpful to look at the average salaries of technicians in each of the 50 states as reported by BLS. This insight can help you to understand how salaries vary across the country so you can plan out your next career move.
Keep reading to get a closer look at the annual median collision repair salaries for automotive body and related repairers (median wages reported by the BLS in May 2021; no BLS data available for the District of Columbia):
CNBC ranks Alaska as the fifth-most expensive state to live in. Drivers here encounter hazards such as unpaved highways, dirt roads and icy roads in winter. Some routes are single-lane drives, and there are also wildlife crossings to watch out for, like moose walking into roads. Challenges like these can cause accidents and vehicle damage, creating a need for skilled auto body repair techs.
California is the second-most expensive place to live in the U.S., CNBC reports, but cost of living can vary significantly throughout the state. Driving hazards also vary depending on where you are. Due to accidents in situations ranging from rush hour traffic in Los Angeles to cars speeding down highways on road trips, collision repair technicians are needed throughout the state.
Having the largest urban city in the East Coast, Massachusetts sees a lot of traffic — and accidents — on its roads. In addition, according to U.S. News & World Report, prominent industries in Massachusetts are education, health services, manufacturing and technology.
A 2019 study ranked North Dakota drivers as the worst in the country, reports KVRR. The analysis found nearly 30% of drivers here have had some sort of road issue. Challenges include impaired driving, rural roads, and icy and snowy conditions in winter.
With the snowy climate, collisions can be more common in this Rocky Mountains state. According to AutoInc., Colorado is one of the more back-logged states in the country for collision repairs, with it taking an average of 2.3 for a customer to get an appointment. That means collision repairs are in demand, and Colorado might be a great state to live and work.
Rhode Island has plenty of opportunity for those looking to become auto body repair technicians. The state ranks as one of the worst states in the country to drive in. Some of the contributors to this include bad traffic and high car-ownership costs.
In a land with open, beautiful wilderness, Wyoming is also the ninth most likely state to come into collision with a deer. According to State Farm’s annual deer collision study last conducted in 2019, the chances of hitting a deer are 1 in 88. Wyoming also has a good population of insured motorists, according to AutoInc, which is good news for collision repair technicians.
New York still ranks as one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S., with a 2021 CNBC report putting it at No. 2 on the list. With a combination of city, suburban and rural drivers, there are plenty of accidents happening on the day-to-day that auto body technicians need to fix.
Connecticut also lands in the top 10 of the most expensive states to live in, with CNBC ranking it No. 8. Connecticut drivers have consistently ranked low for safety in the country. In 2018, a safe driving report ranked Connecticut drivers as the worst in the country after the state's drivers were ranked 49th in 2017.
With transportation being a top industry in Oregon (newsmax.com), plus a very wet climate, Oregon is set up to be a great place for collision repair technicians. Portland, Oregon was also listed as a top place to live according to Business Insider. And fun fact: Bend, Oregon, is home to the last operating Blockbuster video rental store in the country.
Wherever there are cars on the road, accidents are bound to happen. This creates a need for auto body repair technicians who can step in and repair the damage.
If working on cars and trucks and restoring them to their original condition sounds like an appealing job, UTI can help you toward a career. UTI’s Collision Repair & Refinish Technology program is designed to teach you the skills needed to reshape and restore a wide range of vehicles.
To learn more, visit our program page and request information to get in touch with an Admissions Representative today.
Thinking about becoming a collision repair technician? Learn about the many career opportunities in the collision industry in this post.
Technicians are required to have a basic tool set they can rely on. Check out this complete collision repair tool list.
Ever wonder what a collision estimator does? Click here to learn all about what this career entails and if it’s right for you.
1) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
2) For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.
28) UTI’s Collision Repair & Refinishing Technology (CRRT) Program prepares graduates for entry-level positions using the provided training, primarily as collision repair technicians. Estimated annual salary shown above is for Automotive Body and Related Repairers as published in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wages. Entry-level salaries are lower for UTI graduates. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary. UTI graduates’ achievements may vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on economic factors, personal credentials, work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer, and their compensation programs. Some UTI graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than as a collision repair technician, such as appraiser, estimator and inspector. Salary information for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: The average annual entry-level salary range for persons employed as Automotive Body and Related Repairers (49-3021) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $30,400 to $34,240 (Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development, May 2020 data https://lmi.dua.eol.mass.gov/lmi/OccupationalEmploymentAndWageSpecificOccupations#). Salary information for North Carolina: The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the hourly median wage for skilled collision repair technicians in North Carolina is $22.35 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wages, Automotive Body and Related Repairers). The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish entry-level salary data. However, the 25th and 10th percentile of hourly earnings in North Carolina are $18.80 and $14.95, respectively.
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