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Auto body detailer vs refinish technician

The differences between auto body detailers and refinish technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a refinish technician has an average salary of $45,014, 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 refinish technician are paint brushes, body shop, and stencils.

Auto body detailer vs refinish technician overview

Auto Body DetailerRefinish Technician
Yearly salary$27,378$45,014
Hourly rate$13.16$21.64
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs13,17028,813
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 62%High School Diploma, 37%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

Auto body detailer vs refinish technician salary

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

Auto Body DetailerRefinish Technician
Average salary$27,378$45,014
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $34,000Between $31,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between auto body detailer and refinish technician education

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

Auto Body DetailerRefinish Technician
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 62%High School Diploma, 37%
Most common majorAutomotive TechnologyAutomotive Technology
Most common college--

Auto body detailer vs refinish technician demographics

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

Auto Body DetailerRefinish Technician
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 94.7% Female, 5.3%Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3%
Race ratioBlack 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, 7.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 1.8% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between auto body detailer and refinish 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.

Refinish technician example responsibilities.

  • Apply all primers, sealers, basecoats and top coats as required.
  • Compose written reports of data collect from patient evaluation and present to department chief for thorough analysis of patient diagnosis.
  • Experience with both PPG and DuPont paint mixing systems, their applications, and all paint prep processes.

Auto body detailer vs refinish technician skills

Common auto body detailer skills
  • Customer Vehicles, 59%
  • Vacuums, 28%
  • Loose Dirt, 7%
  • Auto Body Repair, 6%
Common refinish technician skills
  • Paint Brushes, 38%
  • Body Shop, 20%
  • Stencils, 16%
  • I-Car, 9%
  • OEM, 8%
  • Coats, 3%

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