OCCUPATION: AUTO BODY REPAIRER
Name: Damon Haugen
Company: Autobody by Caldwell
Thumbs up: “What I like is being on my own. I don’t get paid hourly. It’s commission, so pay depends on how you work. The less you talk the more you make. I also like not doing the same thing every day. Every car and every wreck is different.”
Thumbs down: “We don’t get raises. The labor rate is a lot lower than mechanics’ and it’s a lot harder work. But it’s a job that pays well without having a college education.”
Advice: “Listen to the old timers. They know the ins and outs and they know tips that seem unorthodox but really work.”
Salary range: Commission compensation is the norm in Southern California. In the state, Orange County has the highest earnings potential, from $6 to $36 per hour depending on experience.
Fringe benefits: Haugen’s employer offers medical and dental insurance and paid vacations to its employees. “Most other shops don’t have that, but the owner is a real good guy.”
Hours: Regular hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but Haugen usually comes in at 7 a.m. and leaves at 6 p.m.
Educational and training requirements: “Most of this business is practice. You learn by doing.” Haugen is certified by Mercedes-Benz of America. Many community colleges offer training programs, and the machinist union offers a formal, four-year apprenticeship program. Information on the program can be obtained from the state Department of Industrial Relations, division of apprenticeship standards.
Expected demand: There should be a moderate increase over the next several years as the industry grows. Many of these new jobs will be partly generated by the increasing number of lighter vehicles that are prone to greater damage.
Job description: Auto-body repairers are skilled craft workers who repair vehicle parts damaged by collision, rust or other causes. Repairs include hammering out dents with special metal-working tools and smoothing the area by filing, grinding or sanding. When necessary, they align bodies, straighten frames, replace window glass and remove and install body parts.
Major employing industries: Independently owned shops.
Advancement: There is little opportunity for advancement in small shops. Repairers with years of experience can move on to manager or supervisor in larger shops. Some eventually open their own businesses.
For more information: Call or visit the job service window at any office of the state Employment Development Department. In Orange County, the offices are at 900 E. Pacifico Ave. in Anaheim, (714) 978-7421; 233 E. Commonwealth Ave. in Fullerton, (714) 680-7800, and 1001 S. Grand Ave. in Santa Ana, (714) 558-4294.
