auto body repair = good career? Beállítások

[bining]

I've had a job in alot of the auto industry. i've worked in repair shops, i've sold cars, delivered them, worked in parts departments. i've always been into cars since i was a little kid and thought i would end up a mechanic. but after working in the repair shops i realized i didn't want to be wrenching on motors when i was 50. so i went into sales but it was just a **** job. good money but long hours and your treated like **** and not only your boss's hate you but your customers do too. which brings me to painting and body repair. i like to think i'm pretty meticulous in my work and i'd love to be able to do some crazy paint jobs but really as a career i dont think i would mind everyday body repair. i've never worked in a body shop tho so i have no idea what its like. Is it a career choice that can yield somewhere in the 40-50K per year salary. salary isn't that important as i do have another business that i do for money but i dont want to be working for nothing either. Anyway to you experienced auto body workers...how do you like your job?

[Guest_Guest_bining_*_*]

if you get with a good shop or a reputable dealership and be there long enough yea

[Guest_maskcharcoal_*]

I've been painting for 2 years, and will have made around 55k this year. I work at a smaller shop, and we havent been very busy. Good friend of mine works at a dealership, and has made 118k this year painting. The bad thing about the bodywork industry is most every shop is full of drug attics and alcoholics, which makes work tough at times. In my area, bodymen are hard to come by, and make around $20 an hour commission, and can turn 80 hours a week easily. Painters are dime a dozen, so it's a little tougher getting started. I started out doing prep work, and worked my way up. I enjoy what I do, but I'm trying to get on at a plant, mainly for the benefits and work atmosphere. I don't see myself 40 years from now still spraying paint.

[Guest_bobstay_*]

yea i used to work for a shop and made dirt (9 an hour) but then i realized they made almost 40 dollers an hour on the work i did and quite. now i build cars on my own and do custom work and clear an average of 500 a week after i figure in my exspensis and i'm in college and only 21. so if u do good enuff work u will make money

[Guest_smokestackqueer_*]

If you can "fast" on to your arsenal and still keep "meticulous" you'll do well. Here in FL the good shops do okay year round, so you can usually make a steady living. I'm with static on the addict statement. I worked at a collision shop for six months befor eI moved to Orlando to go to school and everyone on the place was hooked on pharmies, along with a few coke and crackheads, drunks, combination of the above etc.

[fillerjupiter]

if your going to get into it be a painter at a dealership, the painter where i work can knock out about 100hours in a good week. thats a hell of a check, but be aware he also has 20hour weeks when it gets slow. More details here Auto body repair

[Guest_bobstay_*]

People stop buying new cars and insurance pays to keep the ones they have on the road. High end build/paint/custom will take a dip but those who do 70% or more insurance work will be busier than they have in the last 10 years.

The shop I'm at opened during the ression in the late 70's and haven't slowed since - if anything we are getting busier again because of the slow economy. We just did a hood, bumper and right quarter panel on a 1996 Subaru for insurance. That thing was a pile of junk overall but insurance won't total it. Same for the Escalade that had no right side from the front fender to the rear tail light. No total. Full repair. Their kids had already trashed the interior but again, insurance won't total.

In 1982 we were seeing worse in the market overall but insurance paid to repair my pos after someone crashed into me. That happened three times (yea, not a fun year) but they paid every time because I couldn't afford to not have a car so I kept my insurance and pos car.
Same thing is going to happen again. People will keep their cars longer and keep insurance instead of buying new or insurance paying for new.

[Guest_dlivid_*]

I don't agree with the druggie statement, I work at a shop where most don't even drink and they've been there 9-17 years. Then again the owners take good care of you when you bust *** doing it right the first time, makes a difference.

Working paint prep and finish right now and start is 30K, caps at 45K. Paint bay is commission at this shop and we are behind on getting cars out, its so damn busy this time of year in particular. Paint lead is over 100K a year (probably closer to 120K) and he's been doing it for 30 years.

Body depends on what part you are on. Frame/suspension or skins? Some shops cut it down to each section and pay up to $35 an hour with benefits though you can go commission on that as well if you want. Just depends on how busy they are year round.

Think of it this way: if the economy tanks, what will still be paying and busy? Which of your friends will be on unemployment while you are working?
Sometimes its a good measure of what and where you want to be in 5 years.