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How to hire an automotive refinish technician

Automotive refinish technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring automotive refinish technicians in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire an automotive refinish 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 automotive refinish technician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an automotive refinish technician, step by step

To hire an automotive refinish technician, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire an automotive refinish technician:

Here's a step-by-step automotive refinish 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 automotive refinish technician job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new automotive refinish technician
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring an automotive refinish technician, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    An automotive refinish technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, automotive refinish technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of automotive refinish technicians.

    Type of Automotive Refinish TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    Automotive Refinish TechnicianPainting and coating workers paint and coat, often with machines, a wide range of products, including cars, jewelry, and ceramics.$12-27
    Front End MechanicUnlike front-end specialists that have to specialize in the repair of just one system in a vehicle, front-end mechanics perform essential care and maintenance in a vehicle. Their job ranges from changing oil, checking out fluid levels, and rotating tires to fixing or replacing worn-out parts in a vehicle such as brake pads, wheel bearings, and sensors... Show more$15-27
    Instrument Technician ApprenticeAn instrument technician apprentice is responsible for performing installation and repairs on various electrical equipment and instruments such as control panels and motors, all while under the supervision and directives of a senior or master technician. Typically, their tasks revolve around conducting regular maintenance checks, coordinating with other technicians, organizing supplies, operating electrical tools, and understanding various electronic principles... Show more$12-27
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • R
    • PPG
    • Dealership Procedures
    • Painting Process
    • Coats
    Responsibilities:
    • Inspect cars, service and repairs specializing in BMW repairs, manage shop, price and order parts, customer service
    • Implement PLC programming and troubleshooting procedures while also initiating and executing process improvements and conducting parts research when necessary.
    • Disassemble components and repair or replace damage parts of engine, transmission, a/c and various other assemblies.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your automotive refinish technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An automotive refinish technician can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, automotive refinish technicians' average salary in oklahoma is 27% less than in new york.
    • Seniority. Entry-level automotive refinish technicians 53% less than senior-level automotive refinish technicians.
    • Certifications. An automotive refinish technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an automotive refinish technician's salary.

    Average automotive refinish technician salary

    $40,513yearly

    $19.48 hourly rate

    Entry-level automotive refinish technician salary
    $27,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 27, 2025
  4. Writing an automotive refinish technician job description

    A job description for an automotive refinish 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 automotive refinish technician job description:

    Automotive refinish technician job description example

    We are a growth-minded company that invests in our employees and their potential . We pay our entry-level Assistant Refinish Automotive Technicians a competitive wage of up to $19.00/hour , depending on skill level and experience. Our auto body refinishing team also enjoys great benefits , including company assistance in paying for health insurance (after 3 months), company matched savings plan (after 3 months), paid holidays, training, and education opportunities as well as 1 week of paid vacation and 3 paid personal days after one year of employment. Plus, we make it easy to apply with our initial quick mobile-optimized application . If we have your attention, please continue reading!


    ABOUT W & W COLLISION CENTER

    Our company originally began in 1973 as W & W Body Shop, an idea shared by two brothers who were both car enthusiasts. Starting with only two bays and a few tools, we have since grown tremendously to become one of the highest quality auto body shops in the North Georgia Mountains. Our mission is to be our community's first choice for collision repair because we care about the Family in the Car. It's not just a car, it's Your Family! After a brief retirement in 2012, we reopened as W & W Collision Center so we could keep our legacy and continue to serve our community!

    Our family-owned business emphasizes satisfaction for our customers and growth for our employees. We are highly team-oriented , so it is vital for our employees to be able to successfully work together. Our shop cannot thrive without a strong team, which is why we offer our employees ongoing training opportunities so they can develop their skills. We also provide our team with great pay and generous benefits .


    ARE YOU A GOOD FIT?

    Ask yourself: Can you take direction from others? Are you highly detail-oriented? Do you keep your work area clean and organized? Are you proactive and willing to help however possible? Do you work well as part of a team? If so, please consider applying for this entry-level Assistant Refinish Automotive Technician position!


    YOUR LIFE AS AN ASSISTANT REFINISH AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN

    This entry-level auto body refinishing typically works Monday – Friday, 7:50 AM - 5:30 PM .

    As an Assistant Refinish Automotive Technician, you provide critical support for our technicians as you service vehicle exteriors. In this role, you assist your team with preparing cars for paint, refinishing them, and polishing them before returning them to our customers. Under technician direction, you sand the parts and panels that need paint and prepare the panels for prime. Before applying the primer, you cover the car and mask panels to ensure the paint only stays where it should.

    You diligently apply primers, sealers, the basecoat, and clear coat as well as blend panels as needed. For the finishing touches, you use finishing abrasives, sanding products, and buffing equipment to refine all finished textures. When needed, you help our technicians perform other duties as well. You take pride in helping your team make our customers' cars look like new!


    WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

    • Willingness to complete I-CAR and other training
    • Ability to lift, squat, kneel, bend, and manage parts in excess of 70 pounds
    • Valid driver's license and a clean driving record
    • Ability to pass a background check and drug test upon hire
    • Must be able to work full-time in Alto, GA.

    If you can meet these requirements and perform this entry-level auto body refinishing job as described above, we would be happy to have you as part of our team!

    Location: 30510



    Job Posted by ApplicantPro
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right automotive refinish technician for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your automotive refinish technician job on Zippia to find and recruit automotive refinish technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting automotive refinish technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new automotive refinish technician

    Once you've selected the best automotive refinish technician candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new automotive refinish technician first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. 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 automotive refinish technician?

Before you start to hire automotive refinish technicians, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire automotive refinish technicians pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $40,513 per year for an automotive refinish 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 automotive refinish technicians in the US typically range between $12 and $27 an hour.

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