Auto body detailer vs paint technician

The differences between auto body detailers and paint technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a paint technician has an average salary of $37,602, which is higher than the $27,378 average annual salary of an auto body detailer.

The top three skills for an auto body detailer include customer vehicles, vacuums and loose dirt. The most important skills for a paint technician are work ethic, fiberglass, and paint guns.

Auto body detailer vs paint technician overview

	Auto Body Detailer	Paint Technician
Yearly salary	$27,378	$37,602
Hourly rate	$13.16	$18.08
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	13,170	28,982
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 62%	High School Diploma, 45%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	-	-

Auto body detailer vs paint technician salary

Auto body detailers and paint technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Auto Body Detailer	Paint Technician
Average salary	$27,378	$37,602
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $34,000	Between $29,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City	-	Santa Clarita, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Ball
Best paying industry	-	Construction

Differences between auto body detailer and paint technician education

There are a few differences between an auto body detailer and a paint technician in terms of educational background:

	Auto Body Detailer	Paint Technician
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 62%	High School Diploma, 45%
Most common major	Automotive Technology	Automotive Technology
Most common college	-	-

Auto body detailer vs paint technician demographics

Here are the differences between auto body detailers' and paint technicians' demographics:

	Auto Body Detailer	Paint Technician
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3%	Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 1.7% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 1.8% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between auto body detailer and paint technician duties and responsibilities

Auto body detailer example responsibilities.

Attain ICAR and ASE master technician status.
Include mixing and measuring of various chemicals, also sanding, and sandblasting, bondo work, and dent repair.
Straighten, repair, and replace automotive body parts and frames; including metal straightening, bondo work, and welding.
Provide professional automobile detailing services with a variety of cleaning techniques and products to ensure the desired level of superior cleanliness.
Utilize sophisticate diagnostic equipment to troubleshoot and correct vehicle computer, electrical, and mechanical, problems.

Paint technician example responsibilities.

Use of booms, and hoists.
Use and conduct proper care of PPE.
Remove and replace chrome moldings and trim.
Help troubleshoot any issues with the painting systems.
Control CNC machine to run the assembly line.
Paint PrepperI work as a paint prepper for Nalley BMW.

Auto body detailer vs paint technician skills

Common auto body detailer skills

Customer Vehicles, 59%
Vacuums, 28%
Loose Dirt, 7%
Auto Body Repair, 6%

Common paint technician skills

Work Ethic, 11%
Fiberglass, 9%
Paint Guns, 7%
Ladders, 6%
Painting Equipment, 5%
Safety Procedures, 4%

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Auto Body Detailer
Auto Body Detailer vs Paint Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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