Salary Question For my field.

[VegetaRules]

Okay, I'm currently in school at Griffin Tech for Auto Collision. I will be learning; Welding,Painting,Dent repair,ect. Now I do currently have a great job, but I am wondering if once I finish would I be initially making less doing what I'm going to school for.

Also my intent was to go back upon completion, & do auto mechanics in a particular make( probably Toyota, or Honda). Or should I maybe graduate & look towards, painting only, or welding only, ect.

So this is for anyone with good to great knowledge of this field, & I'd especially like to hear from the Site Sponsors who know for sure, I.E: Spray Glo.
Thanks in advance....Vegeta

[quickdodge®]

Through research, I found that the average salary for an auto body repairman would be around $38k/year. Later, QD.

[cornercarver78]

i used to work in a body shop (i only got paid hourly) but some body tech's make ALOT more than that. Just depends on how good you are and where you work. It is an industry where reputation and experience are alot more important than having training from a school though. (you probably knew this already, just saying.). If i were you i'd quit qoing to school and try to find a job in a good shop as a painter's assistant. I think painting is probably the most fun, and you don't get covered in grease everyday (not that i's an easy job)

[quickdodge®]

but some body tech's make ALOT more than that.

Exactly. SOME do. That's where that word "average" comes into play. I didn't say all. Later, QD.

[VegetaRules]

Thanks QD. Now to the last guy, I had an offer like that, but what happens when I try to get a job at a real job, that wants real certification? Thats my only problem. There's thousands of mechanics, but only ASE certified ones get the great jobs.

I'm 30 already, so I didn't want to get a job like that, & then be stuck in a certain pay scale because of lack of certifications. See in school I'll get all my I-car certifications, which is why I'm still there.

I'm sure it'd be easier to stop school, & do that, but I didn't wanna topout under what my max could be. So if I wanted to work at Spray glo, would they give me more money for being good, not certified, or certified & above average. lol

So thats kind of my question. Better to quit, apprentice, hope for the best, or finish & what I'd be looking forward too. I do most assuredly appreciate the thoughtful advice. QD, you're still the man!! .....Vegeta

[PorcheEater]

yea get your financial aid from a trucker

[cornercarver78]

QD- wasn't trying to argue with you, just saying some are way above that average.

and i didn't think you had to go to a tech school to get certified. I could be wrong though lol.

[quickdodge®]

QD- wasn't trying to argue with you, just saying some are way above that average.

That's why there is an average. Some are way below and some are well above. I know you weren't arguing, homie. Trust me, when I saw that number, it surprised me. I figured they would get a little more than that on average.

Seems you'd make more money being a mechanic than body shop, Veg. From what I know, they do better on the pay check than $38k. Later, QD.

[VegetaRules]

Yeah QD, after I went to some Salary-type sites, thats what I came-up with as well. Well, it's mid-semester, so I may just look into that afterwards as planned, because I still like to paint & RICEOUT Honda's!! LMAO .....Vegeta..QD will rep you when the board allows me too again. lol

[quickdodge®]

Yeah QD, after I went to some Salary-type sites, thats what I came-up with as well. Well, it's mid-semester, so I may just look into that afterwards as planned, because I still like to paint & RICEOUT Honda's!! LMAO .....Vegeta..QD will rep you when the board allows me too again. lol

Lolol. It's all good, homeboy. If you play your cards right, there's nothing to say that you can't open up a body shop/mechanic shop and do it all right there. Later, QD.

[quickdodge®]

"The national average salary for an auto technician in 2002 was $41,588, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association."

Later, QD.