Collision & Repair Technology

Types of Degrees Collision & Repair Technology Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many autobody/collision and repair technology/technician graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Undergraduate Certificate	2,446
Basic Certificate	1,503
Associate Degree	537
Bachelor’s Degree	1

What Collision & Repair Technology Majors Need to Know

O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to autobody/collision and repair technology/technician and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in autobody/collision and repair technology/technician should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Skills for Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician Majors

autobody/collision and repair technology/technician majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Time Management - Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities for Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician Majors

As you progress with your autobody/collision and repair technology/technician degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

What Can You Do With a Collision & Repair Technology Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with autobody/collision and repair technology/technician:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Automotive Body and Related Repairers	8.5%	$42,730
Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers	6.6%	$34,170
Painters, Transportation Equipment	6.5%	$42,280

Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Collision & Repair Technology?

This major attracts more men than women. About 87% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of autobody/collision and repair technology/technician majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	14
Black or African American	36
Hispanic or Latino	105
White	330
International Students	7
Other Races/Ethnicities	45

Geographic Diversity

Students from other countries are interested in Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician, too. About 1.3% of those with this major are international students.

How Much Do Collision & Repair Technology Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Average salaries range from $36,370 to $46,460 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to autobody/collision and repair technology/technician. This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Collision & Repair Technology

Some careers associated with autobody/collision and repair technology/technician require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for autobody/collision and repair technology/technician careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	10.5%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	49.8%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	28.3%
Some College Courses	7.7%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	3.8%
Bachelor’s Degree	0.4%

Online Collision & Repair Technology Programs

In 2020-2021, 362 schools offered a autobody/collision and repair technology/technician program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	274	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	32	0
Associate’s Degree	167	3
Bachelor’s Degree	0	0
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	0	0
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Collision & Repair Technology Worth It?

The median salary for a autobody/collision and repair technology/technician grad is $46,460 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 16% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $131,200 after 20 years!

Trades Related to Collision & Repair Technology

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to autobody/collision and repair technology/technician.

Major	Number of Grads
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician	28,872
Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician	8,471
Airframe Mechanics & Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician	6,148
Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician	2,392
Medium/Heavy Vehicle & Truck Technology/Technician	2,243
Motorcycle Maintenance & Repair Technology/Technician	1,073
Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician	804
Marine Maintenance/Fitter & Ship Repair Technology/Technician	655
General Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Technologies	430
High Performance & Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic	382
Small Engine Mechanics & Repair Technology/Technician	218
Engine Machinist	133
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician	112
Other Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Technologies	94

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Airman 1st Class Nigel Sandridge under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.