How to hire an auto body technician

Auto body technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring auto body technicians in the United States:

There are currently 80,180 auto body technicians in the US, as well as 17,467 job openings.
Auto body technicians are in the highest demand in Indianapolis, IN, with 13 current job openings.
The median cost to hire an auto body technician is $1,633.
It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new auto body technician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an auto body technician, step by step

To hire an auto body technician, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire an auto body technician, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step auto body technician hiring guide:

Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
Step 3: Make a budget
Step 4: Write an auto body technician job description
Step 5: Post your job
Step 6: Interview candidates
Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new auto body technician
Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an auto body technician do?

An auto body technician is responsible for assessing vehicle damage and conducting repairs after evaluating the cost estimates. Auto body technicians' duties include replacing auto parts, which caused malfunctions, determining the extent of damage, and testing the engine performance to ensure that it is safe for use after the appropriate modifications. Auto body technicians must also adhere to the client's specifications, especially on upgrading features and installing systems that would improve the engine's performance.

Learn more about the specifics of what an auto body technician does

Post an auto body technician job for free, promote it for a fee

Identify your hiring needs

Before you post your auto body technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an auto body technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

Determine employee vs contractor status

Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

Hiring the perfect auto body technician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

This list presents auto body technician salaries for various positions.

Type of Auto Body Technician	Description	Hourly rate
Auto Body Technician	Automotive body and glass repairers restore, refinish, and replace vehicle bodies and frames, windshields, and window glass.	$12-26
Paint Technician	The responsibilities of a Paint Technician primarily depend on their place or industry of employment. In the automotive industry, a Paint Technician specializes in painting new vehicles, conducting paint repairs, or providing custom paint services... Show more	$13-23
Technician	Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with... Show more	$11-27

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Spray Guns
- Customer Service
- Collision Repair
- ASE
- Repair Vehicles
- Work Ethic
- Repair Orders
- I-Car
- Customer Satisfaction
- Body Shop
- Hand Tools
- Respirators
- Repair Process
- Vehicle Bodies
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Attain ICAR and ASE master technician status.
- Replace inner and outer body panels using MIG and spot welding machines.
- Repair all makes and models (big jobs/small jobs) A/C work.
- Disassemble cars fenders, chrome trim, badges.
- Load aluminum body side onto jig for automate welding.
- Steel, aluminum, and fiberglass repair and fabrication.
More auto body technician duties

Make a budget

Including a salary range in your auto body technician job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An auto body technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

For example, the average salary for an auto body technician in Indiana may be lower than in California, and an entry-level auto body technician usually earns less than a senior-level auto body technician. Additionally, an auto body technician with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

Average auto body technician salary

$39,232yearly

$18.86 hourly rate

Entry-level auto body technician salary

$27,000 yearly salary

Updated December 31, 2025

Average auto body technician salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	California	$54,777	$26
2	Illinois	$46,161	$22
3	Michigan	$44,011	$21
4	Maryland	$43,776	$21
5	New York	$43,309	$21
6	Pennsylvania	$41,658	$20
7	South Carolina	$40,425	$19
8	Washington	$40,180	$19
9	Texas	$40,092	$19
10	North Carolina	$39,550	$19
11	Alabama	$38,561	$19
12	Georgia	$38,198	$18
13	Ohio	$38,154	$18
14	Nebraska	$37,295	$18
15	Florida	$36,764	$18
16	Missouri	$35,761	$17
17	Kansas	$35,752	$17
18	Colorado	$35,693	$17
19	Arizona	$35,444	$17
20	Wisconsin	$35,429	$17

Average auto body technician salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	W&W	$49,976	$24.03	3
2	SMART	$43,619	$20.97
3	Lyft	$43,376	$20.85
4	The Niello Company	$43,189	$20.76
5	Haldeman Ford East Windsor	$43,022	$20.68	3
6	Polk County Sheriff's Office	$42,659	$20.51
7	Continental Auto Group	$41,876	$20.13
8	E.J. Krause & Associates	$41,383	$19.90	2
9	Arlington Toyota	$41,302	$19.86	6
10	Southern Auto Group	$41,279	$19.85	3
11	Monster Products	$41,194	$19.80
12	Parkway Ford Inc	$40,764	$19.60	1
13	Courtesy Ford	$40,255	$19.35
14	Alliant Technologies	$39,862	$19.16
15	Carsmetics	$39,858	$19.16
16	Collision Revision of Plainfield Inc	$39,780	$19.13
17	Phil	$39,328	$18.91
18	South Motor Company Of Dade County	$39,308	$18.90
19	Franklin Automotive	$39,307	$18.90
20	ACME AUTO INC.	$39,307	$18.90

Writing an auto body technician job description
A job description for an auto body technician role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an auto body technician job description:
Auto body technician job description example
We are an established automotive repair shop that values and respects our employees . We pay our Collision Repair Technicians / Auto Body Repair Technicians a competitive wage of $25.00 - $35.00/hour , depending on experience. Our team also enjoys great benefits , including paid time off (PTO) and sick time. Occasionally, we also offer Chicago Bulls tickets. Plus, we make it easy to apply with our initial quick mobile-optimized application . If we have your attention, please continue reading!

ABOUT B & G AUTO REPAIR

When it comes to cars, there's very little that our skilled technicians can't handle. Our amazing team does it all, from small- and large-scale repairs to frame adjustments and vintage vehicle restorations. We work on both domestic and imported cars, providing same-day turnaround service when possible. Whether a client is dealing with engine problems, needs bodywork done, or has any other issue with their vehicle, they know to come to B & G Auto Repair to get the job done right!

Our company is small but mighty. With our skilled team behind us, there's nothing we can't accomplish. That is why we value every employee and their contributions. In addition to our great work culture , we offer our team competitive pay , generous benefits , and an environment where they can thrive.

ARE YOU A GOOD FIT?

Ask yourself: Are you extremely observant and detail-oriented? Do you have strong problem-solving skills? Can you work well independently and with a team? Are you highly motivated to excel? Do you prioritize safety and accuracy while working? If so, please consider applying for this position today!

YOUR LIFE AS A COLLISION REPAIR TECHNICIAN / AUTO BODY REPAIR TECHNICIAN

Our automotive repair shop is open Monday - Thursday from 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM, Friday from 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Saturday from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

As a Collision Repair Technician / Auto Body Repair Technician, you are vital to our company's operations. You skillfully perform a variety of bodywork and collision repair services that make our clients' cars look like new and get them back on the road. Using our frame machine, you carefully lift each car and maneuver it so you can perform the necessary repairs.

You address and solve everything from minor dents to complex suspension or rear-end damage. When needed, you also meticulously weld damaged parts. You enjoy fixing up our customers' cars and take pride in a job well done!

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
- Collision repair experience
- Proficiency in welding
- Collection of personal tools
If you can meet these requirements and perform this job as described above, we would be happy to have you as part of our automotive repair team!

Location: 60473

Job Posted by ApplicantPro
Post your job
To find the right auto body technician for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
- Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with auto body technicians they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit auto body technicians who meet your education requirements.
- Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
Post your job online:
- Post your auto body technician job on Zippia to find and recruit auto body technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
During your first interview to recruit auto body technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.
It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new auto body technician
Once you've decided on a perfect auto body technician candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.
It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.
Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new auto body technician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.
Go through the hiring process checklist
- Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
- Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
- Define job responsibilities and requirements
- Establish budget and timeline
- Determine hiring decision makers for the role
- Write job description
- Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
- Promote the job internally
- Process applications through applicant tracking system
- Review resumes and cover letters
- Shortlist candidates for screening
- Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
- Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
- Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
- Conduct background checks on top candidates
- Check references of top candidates
- Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
- Extend offer to top candidate(s)
- Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
- Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
- Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
- Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an auto body technician?

Recruiting auto body technicians involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $39,232 per year for an auto body technician, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for auto body technicians in the US typically range between $12 and $26 an hour.

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Auto Body Technician
How to hire an Auto Body Technician

Updated December 31, 2025

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How to hire an auto body technician