Automobile mechanics have been around since the first car took to the road. People need their cars to get to work and school and to run errands, and industries need their trucks to move around raw materials and finished products. Keeping these automobiles on the road is serious business. It's not a secret that cars and trucks have become much more technologically complex over the past few decades, which has only increased the demand for skilled automotive workers with the specialized knowledge needed to fix them. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2026, there will be a need for almost 50,000 more skilled automotive workers than there were in 2016. These jobs are well-paid. For example, a diesel motor engineer can expect to make up to $100,000 a year.
The average automotive repair technician makes almost $50,000 each year. What this job entails depends on where the person works. Those employed by small shops typically have a wider range of duties as they complete maintenance and repair tasks on customers' vehicles. Those employed by larger shops typically have more specialized duties and the chance to become highly skilled at one specific part of automotive repair. No matter where they work, they will use electronic diagnostic equipment to help them diagnose the issues present in a car or truck. The daily tasks of auto repair techs often include testing a vehicle's systems and individual parts to identify issues. They should know how to perform basic maintenance on various vehicles, including tune-ups, oil changes, and tire rotations. It's important to know how to take apart, clean, repair, and reassemble various car parts as well. They also need to be able to explain to customer service advisors and customers what was wrong with the car or truck, what repairs are needed, and how much these repairs will cost.
Customer service advisors are responsible for the customer's experience with the service department or shop. They are the customer's primary point of contact when bringing in their car, getting updates about issues and target repair dates, paying for repairs, and picking up their vehicle. Most service advisors make about $40,000 annually. Along with maintaining client contact and coordinating with various repair departments, they are also typically responsible for maintaining scheduling and running reports. It's their duty to shepherd vehicles through the repair process. It's vital that advisors understand vehicles, repairs, and procedures of their employers and that they have fantastic organization and communication skills.
People who decide to specialize in automobile bodywork can expect to make a salary between $30,000 and $80,000 depending on their experience and skill set and where they live. This job goes by several names, including collision repair technician, car body mechanic, auto body tech, body shop tech, or automotive body specialist. Not only do auto body specialists need to understand how to repair damage to a car's body and paint job, but they also need excellent communication skills. A big part of their job is communicating with customers and insurance companies about the damage the car sustained, how it will be fixed, and how much it will cost to fix it. This includes preparing written estimates to submit to insurance adjusters, usually in coordination with the collision estimator.
Larger dealerships and car repair shops employ dedicated collision estimators. Their job typically includes duties like inspecting damaged vehicles and assessing how much frame, body, and panel damage the car has sustained. Once they have that information, they determine how much the repairs will cost. Many modern body shops and estimators use specialized software that helps them properly price out the needed work and also gives them information about how much the involved insurance companies are typically willing to pay for these repairs. Communication is a vital part of their job. They have to stay in regular communication with the repair techs, insurance adjusters, and customers. They also must maintain good records about each car and the work done. They also typically write up the contracts for insurance companies to sign and are responsible for following up with insurance adjusters to make sure that the claims are paid. Along with cars that are damaged in accidents, they oversee and estimate the cost of repairs for vehicles damaged by flooding, hail, or other natural disasters. The average estimator makes about $67,000 a year.