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How to hire a body shop technician

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

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a body shop 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 body shop technician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a body shop technician, step by step

To hire a body shop technician, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a body shop technician:

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

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

What does a body shop technician do?

A body shop technician specializes in repairing and restoring the exteriors of vehicles. It is their responsibility to assess vehicle damage reports, conduct inspections, develop plans, provide cost estimates, remove damaged parts and attach new ones, realign frames and structures, perform installations and upgrades, and refinish surfaces. They may also assist clients by answering inquiries, providing them with vehicle care advice, and recommending upgrades. Moreover, a body shop technician typically works in a group setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.

Learn more about the specifics of what a body shop technician does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the body shop technician you need to hire. Certain body shop technician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

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

    Hiring the perfect body shop 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.

    The following list breaks down different types of body shop technicians and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Body Shop TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    Body Shop TechnicianAutomotive body and glass repairers restore, refinish, and replace vehicle bodies and frames, windshields, and window glass.$12-31
    Paint TechnicianThe 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
    TechnicianTechnicians 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
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Body Shop
    • OSHA
    • Refinish
    • Hand Tools
    • Customer Service
    • Repair Orders
    • I-Car
    • Work Ethic
    • Collision Repair
    • Repair Vehicles
    • Customer Vehicles
    • Chrome
    • Vehicle Body
    • Customer Satisfaction
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Perform panel repairs all around with the use of bondo and glaze.
    • Have worked with everything from bondo and paint prep all the way to welding support pieces together.
    • Maintain a safe, clean work area and follow all establish safety guidelines, ensuring conformance with OSHA.
    • Complete prep and refinish to factory or customer specifications.
    • Enter invoices electronically using CCC one and store invoices inside their specific file.
    More body shop technician duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your body shop technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A body shop technician salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, body shop technicians' average salary in indiana is 51% less than in maine.
    • Seniority. Entry-level body shop technicians earn 61% less than senior-level body shop technicians.
    • Certifications. A body shop technician with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a body shop technician's salary.

    Average body shop technician salary

    $42,116yearly

    $20.25 hourly rate

    Entry-level body shop technician salary
    $26,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025

    Average body shop technician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Connecticut$62,267$30
    2New Hampshire$61,494$30
    3Massachusetts$59,437$29
    4Delaware$55,777$27
    5Virginia$52,564$25
    6Pennsylvania$52,014$25
    7New York$50,713$24
    8California$50,658$24
    9Georgia$49,254$24
    10Nevada$48,175$23
    11Illinois$47,991$23
    12Florida$47,398$23
    13Washington$45,492$22
    14Arizona$44,116$21
    15Maryland$43,766$21
    16North Carolina$42,852$21
    17Texas$40,359$19
    18Utah$39,862$19
    19Minnesota$38,008$18
    20South Carolina$37,254$18

    Average body shop technician salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1DATTCO$84,607$40.68
    2Mayor Ethan Berkowitz$76,595$36.82
    3GPAC$73,136$35.16
    4Bruce Transportation Group$70,132$33.72
    5Peterson Holding$60,204$28.948
    6Subaru$56,318$27.085
    7Freightliner Trucks$55,170$26.525
    8H&K Group$53,538$25.749
    9Sanborn$53,272$25.61
    10Miller Transportation$51,997$25.002
    11First Student$51,454$24.7422
    12Jordan Ford$51,423$24.72
    13Colton RV$50,036$24.066
    14World Class Automotive Group LP$49,989$24.0311
    15Bud Clary Auto Group$49,776$23.9310
    16Evans Inc$49,679$23.881
    17Bob Bell Automotive$48,876$23.502
    18Walker Automotive$48,695$23.412
    19First Transit$48,357$23.25
    20Pacifico Ford, Inc.$47,578$22.871
  4. Writing a body shop technician job description

    A good body shop technician job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a body shop technician job description:

    Body shop technician job description example

    The success of General RV Center is rooted in our exceptional team, which has been growing since 1962. Our sustained growth has been fueled by our family values and passion for the RV lifestyle. Today, General RV Center stands as the Nation's Largest Family-Owned RV Dealer, with locations nationwide and a global presence through our Internet Sales team.

    Our Technicians are part of the heartbeat of our company keeping families camping and creating lifelong memories. Our growing service team plays a vital role in the experience we provide to our customers and maintaining our successful service center.
    + Examine units to assess damage and estimate repair costs.

    + Develop plan for effective and proper vehicle repair.

    + Provide repairs including fiberglass, plastic, welding, sheet metal bonding, mechanical and painting.

    + Inspect units for quality and company standards.

    + Communicate with customers in a friendly and professional manner.

    + Prior automotive, Marine, or RV body experience.

    + Ability to multitask and complete tasks in a timely and efficient manner.

    + Reliable and strong work ethic.

    + Ability to lift 50lbs unassisted.

    PERKS

    General RV offers the opportunity to build a career, make a difference, and be part of an exciting industry. We boast a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance options, paid vacations and a 401k with company matching.

    About General RV

    General RV was founded when Abe Baidas converted a Detroit gas station into a small RV sales and manufacturing facility in 1962. From those humble roots, we've grown into the nation's premier RV dealer. We've helped millions of families experience the RV lifestyle. With the support of our talented employees, General RV now operates fourteen Supercenters in seven states in addition to an inspection facility in Indiana. We are proud of our history and are now in the third generation of family ownership. Since 2014, General RV Center has been named by Crain's Detroit as one of Michigan's largest and fastest growing privately held companies.

    #IND1


    External Company Name: GENERAL RV CENTER

    External Company URL: www.generalrv.com

    Street: 13150 SW 16th AVE
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right body shop 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 body shop technician job on Zippia to find and recruit body shop technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with body shop technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 body shop technician

    Once you've decided on a perfect body shop 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new body shop 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 a body shop technician?

Recruiting body shop 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 $42,116 per year for a body shop 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 body shop technicians in the US typically range between $12 and $31 an hour.

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