Auto body technicians

NOC
72411

- Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators

Auto body and glass technicians repair vehicle body parts and interiors and repair or replace automotive glass. Damage repair estimators assess damage to a vehicle and estimate the cost of repair.

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Quick facts

3-Year Outlook

Good
Good

3-Year Job Openings

114
 

Median Hourly Wage

$22.73
$15.30
Low
$29.00
High

Average Salary

$46,400
 

Typically Required

College or apprenticeship

Employed

599
 
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Job details

Full NOC Description

Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians repair and restore damaged motor vehicle body parts and interior finishing; repaint body surfaces; repair and/or replace automotive glass and repair defective automobile body parts and damage to the bodies of newly assembled cars. Damage repair estimators assess the degree of damage to a vehicle and estimate the cost of parts and labour. They are employed by automobile dealerships, automobile body repair shops, automobile appraisal centres and by motor vehicle manufacturers. This unit group also includes metal repairers.

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians
  • Review damage report and estimates of repair cost and plan work to be performed
  • Repair and replace front end components, body components, doors and frame and underbody components
  • Hammer out dents, buckles and other defects using blocks and hammers
  • Operate soldering equipment or use plastic filler to fill holes, dents and seams
  • Remove damaged fenders, panels and grills using wrenches and cutting torch and bolt or weld replacement parts into place
  • Straighten bent frames using frame and underbody pulling and anchoring equipment
  • File, grind and sand repaired body surfaces using hand and power tools
  • Mask and tape auto body surfaces in preparation for painting
  • Mix paint, blend and match colours
  • Apply primers and repaint surfaces using brush or spray guns
  • Repair and replace glass components such as windshields, windows and sunroofs
  • Repair or replace interior components, such as seat frame assembly, carpets and floorboard insulation
  • Inspect repaired vehicles and test drive vehicles for proper handling.
  • Automobile damage repair estimator
  • Inspect vehicle and estimate the costs and times for the repair and restoration of the vehicle
  • Write report on damage and cost estimate
  • Plan and coordinate work processes with the technicians
  • Follow automobile industry safety norms and standards
  • Provide customer service, such as answering all customer inquiries and explaining the complete repair process
  • Follow up with insurance companies for claim related correspondence
  • Order parts and material
  • Maintain accurate documentation and obtain customer signatures
  • Oversee final repairs for appearance and quality of work.

    • Also Known As

    • auto body and collision technician
    • auto body repairer
    • automobile damage repair estimator
    • automotive body mechanic
    • automotive glass technician
    • automotive painter - motor vehicle repair
    • automotive painter apprentice
    • metal finisher - motor vehicle manufacturing
    • metal repairer - motor vehicle manufacturing
    • motor vehicle body technician - truck
    • painter - motor vehicle repair
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    Requirements

    Employment Requirements

    Auto body and collision technicians
  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a three- to four-year auto body and collision damage technician apprenticeship program or a combination of over three years of work experience in the auto body and collision technician trade and completion of a professional or college automotive body repair program is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
  • Trade certification for auto body and collision technician is compulsory in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
  • Auto body repairer certification is compulsory in Ontario and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
  • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified auto body and collision technician upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
  • Automotive refinishing technicians
  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Completion of a two- to three-year automotive painter apprenticeship program or a combination of one year of work experience in the automotive refinishing technicians trade and completion of a high school or college automotive painting program is usually required for automotive refinishing technicians trade certification.
  • Automotive refinishing technicians certification is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
  • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified automotive refinishing technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
  • Automotive glass technicians
  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Auto glass industry certification is usually required.
  • Apprenticeship training and trade certification for automotive glass technicians is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia.
  • Automobile damage repair estimator
  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • A combination of two- to three-year of relevant automotive experience and education is usually required.
  • Metal repairers, motor vehicle manufacturing
  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • One to two years of on-the-job training are provided.

    • Provincial Regulation

    • Provincially Regulated: Yes
    • Compulsory: No
    • Red Seal: Yes

    Regulation Body

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    Employment by Sex

    The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

    Data legend

    4.2%
    Female
    95.8%
    Male
    Employment by age

    The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

    Data legend

    8.5%
    15-24
    24.6%
    25-34
    10.2%
    35-44
    17.8%
    45-54
    28.0%
    55-64
    11.0%
    65+
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    Employment by highest level of education

    The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

    Data legend

    15.4%
    No Certificate, Diploma or Degree
    30.8%
    High School, Diploma or Equivalent
    26.5%
    Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma
    27.4%
    College or University Below Bachelor Level
    0.0%
    University - Bachelor Level or Above
    Employment by Industry

    The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

    Data legend

    79.5%
    Other services (except public administration)
    10.3%
    Retail trade
    3.4%
    Wholesale trade
    6.8%
    All Other Industries
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    Employment by Economic Regions

    The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

    Data legend

    15.30%
    Northeast
    28.80%
    Southeast
    21.20%
    Southwest
    14.40%
    Central
    20.30%
    Northwest
    Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

    Economic Regions

    The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

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    Annual Average Salary by Economic Regions

    The following graph shows the average salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

    Data legend

    $42,000
    Northeast
    $44,000
    Southeast
    $60,000
    Southwest
    $39,000
    Central
    $50,000
    Northwest
    Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

    Economic Regions

    The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

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    Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

    The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

    Northeast

    $20.00
    $15.00
    Low
    $25.00
    High

    Southeast

    $22.73
    $15.30
    Low
    $29.00
    High

    Southwest

    $22.73
    $15.30
    Low
    $29.00
    High

    Central

    $22.73
    $15.30
    Low
    $29.00
    High

    Northwest

    $22.41
    $18.81
    Low
    $27.23
    High
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    Salary

    The following shows the average salary of everyone who worked full-time and year-round in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

    New Brunswick

    $46,400

    Newfoundland

    $51,200

    Prince Edward Island

    $38,000

    Nova Scotia

    $46,400

    Canada

    $59,050
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    Employment Outlook

    The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

    Three Year Outlook

    Total Openings: 3-Year

    114
     

    New Jobs: 3-Year

    46
     

    Retirements/Deaths: 3-Year

    68
     

    Ten Year Outlook

    Total Openings: 10-Year

    271
     

    New Jobs: 10-Year

    85
     

    Retirements/Deaths: 10-Year

    188
     
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