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How to hire a collision repair technician

Collision repair technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring collision repair technicians in the United States:

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

How to hire a collision repair technician, step by step

To hire a collision repair 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 a collision repair technician:

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

    First, determine the employments status of the collision repair technician you need to hire. Certain collision repair 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?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a collision repair technician to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a collision repair technician that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of collision repair technician salaries for various roles:

    Type of Collision Repair TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    Collision Repair TechnicianAutomotive body and glass repairers restore, refinish, and replace vehicle bodies and frames, windshields, and window glass.$13-31
    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
    Auto Body TechnicianAn 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... Show more$12-26
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Body Shop
    • Collision Repair
    • ASE
    • Auto Body Repair
    • Repair Vehicles
    • Repair Procedures
    • Spot Welding
    • I-Car
    • Aluminum
    • Repair Process
    • Vehicle Body
    • OEM
    • MIG
    • Customer Vehicles
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Provide consistent sheet metal reconstruction, repair, rust and car component removal to OEM.
    • Develop acute attention to detail and high level of dexterity require for repair of intricate mechanisms common in photographic equipment.
    • Enter invoices electronically using CCC one and store invoices inside their specific file.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your collision repair technician job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A collision repair technician salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, collision repair technicians' average salary in indiana is 49% less than in maine.
    • Seniority. Entry-level collision repair technicians earn 55% less than senior-level collision repair technicians.
    • Certifications. A collision repair 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 collision repair technician's salary.

    Average collision repair technician salary

    $43,760yearly

    $21.04 hourly rate

    Entry-level collision repair technician salary
    $29,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 13, 2025
  4. Writing a collision repair technician job description

    A collision repair technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a collision repair technician job description:

    Collision repair technician job description example

    For 35 years, Avondale Group has grown to become one of the most respected family-owned automotive groups in the world. We pride ourselves on creating an elevated client experience from purchase, to service, to collision repair, to subscription and beyond. The sincere and endless commitment to our employees drives our success and the inclusive culture makes
    Avondale Collision a truly special place!

    We feel honored that we attract, nurture, respect and retain the most talented people in the industry! We do so by providing a world-class, high-quality work environment where productivity, innovation, and personal and professional growth lead to success and lasting, meaningful relationships. It would be our sincere pleasure to show you this, first-hand. EXCELLENT MEDICAL INSURANCE AND LIFE BENEFITS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
    Your Choice of Medical Plans (we reduced employee healthcare expense through our self-insured plans for our employees and their families for 2022) Dental Vision FREE Company Paid Life Insurance FREE Employee Assistance Program Support for all employees 401K Retirement Plan Paid Holidays/Vacation/Paid Time Off We are proud to have a state-of-the-art, well lit, air-conditioned & heated collision and repair center in a world class environment - and - we are investing $10 Million dollars in making our Fixed Operations center, even better. We recognize that technicians are the lifeline of our business! We gladly pay for the ongoing training and advancement of our technicians and reward them financially and with excellent benefits for employees and their families. Avondale Collison and Repair technicians will also have the opportunity to work on some of the most intriguing brands and vehicles in the world while having the following responsibilities. We Happily Offer Relocation Expenses to Qualified Out of Area Candidates Avondale is proud to represent Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter Commercial Vehicles, Porsche, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls Royce, McLaren, Maserati and Koenigsegg. Responsibilities Operating knowledge in measuring systems Celette and Car-O-Liner
    Diagnoses and repairs unibody structural damage
    Diagnoses and repairs full frame vehicles
    Replaces and repairs body panels
    Replaces damaged wiring harnesses, or reinstalls harnesses after body repair
    Removes and reinstalls interiors
    Knows and understands the Avondale Privacy and Information Security Policies, and adhere to the requirements

    Qualifications EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
    High school diploma or GED; and six months to one year related experience and/or training; or
    equivalent combination of education and experience.
    CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS (Including Driver's License)
    Operator's Driver's License (must be insurable)
    PHYSICAL DEMANDS The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

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  5. Post your job

    To find the right collision repair 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 collision repair technicians they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit collision repair 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 collision repair technician job on Zippia to find and recruit collision repair technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with collision repair 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.

    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.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new collision repair technician

    Once you've found the collision repair technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    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.

    To prepare for the new collision repair 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 collision repair technician?

Before you start to hire collision repair 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 collision repair 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 $43,760 per year for a collision repair 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 collision repair technicians in the US typically range between $13 and $31 an hour.

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