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Collision & Repair Technology

Types of Degrees Collision & Repair Technology Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Collision & Repair Technology can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	2,771
Associate’s Degree	590
Master’s Degree	2,043

What Collision & Repair Technology Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Collision & Repair Technology emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Collision & Repair Technology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Collision & Repair Technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mechanical — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 2.5 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 2.6 / 7.
• Production and Processing — Importance 2.7 / 5; level 2.2 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 2.4 / 5; level 2.4 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Collision & Repair Technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.
• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Time Management — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 2.7 / 7.
• Operation and Control — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Collision & Repair Technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Manual Dexterity — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Control Precision — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Visual Color Discrimination — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Collision & Repair Technology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.0 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.9 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	3.7 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.7 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.7 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	3.6 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.6 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	3.5 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.5 / 7
Processing Information	3.4 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Collision & Repair Technology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Windows	Operating system software	—
Accounting software	Accounting software	—
Maintenance management software	Facilities management software	—
Scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
Robotic painting software	Industrial control software	—
Inventory control software	Inventory management software	—
Inventory management systems	Inventory management software	—
Materials requirement planning MRP software	Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Collision & Repair Technology graduates include:

• Enamel Dipper
• Furniture Dipper
• Abrasive Coating Machine Setup Operator
• Paraffiner
• Spray Foam Applicator
• Saturator Tender
• Laminating Press Operator
• Dip Painter
• Vehicle Painter
• Prefinish Operator
• Automotive Paint Prepper (Auto Paint Prepper)
• Production Finisher
• Rust Proofer
• Redipper
• Painter

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Collision & Repair Technology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	60.3%
Less than a high school diploma	21.0%
Postsecondary certificate	15.5%
Some college courses	2.6%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	0.5%
Bachelor’s degree	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Collision & Repair Technology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 87.5% of Collision & Repair Technology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	684	12.5%
Men	4,780	87.5%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Collision & Repair Technology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	2,068	37.8%
Asian	115	2.1%
Hispanic or Latino	2,085	38.2%
Black or African American	684	12.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native	134	2.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	8	0.1%
Two or More Races	192	3.5%
Race Unknown	148	2.7%
International Students	30	0.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Collision & Repair Technology Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Collision & Repair Technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$37,744
4 years	$43,612
5 years	$49,558

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $49,558 — roughly 31% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Collision & Repair Technology Programs

Distance learning are documented by IPEDS for Collision & Repair Technology. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	1	6

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Collision & Repair Technology Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Collision & Repair Technology graduates earn a median of $43,612 four years after completion — roughly 15% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General	74,567
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician	41,728
Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician	9,859
Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician	7,637
Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician	3,372
Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician	2,100
Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician	896
Marine Maintenance/Fitter and Ship Repair Technology/Technician	799
Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician	719
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General	630
High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic	470
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technology/Technician	412

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.