by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 264 U.S. colleges awarded 5,353 degrees and certificates in Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician. Certificates are the most popular award, at 50% of graduates. College Factual ranks 170 schools in its 2027 Best Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $37,805 one year after completing, rising to $54,355 after four years.
A major in Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician involves the study of Autobody/collision And Repair Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Repair, Reconstruct And Finish Automobile Bodies, Fenders, And External Features. Includes Instruction In Structure Analysis, Damage Repair, Non-Structural Analysis, Mechanical And Electrical Components, Plastics And Adhesives, Painting And Refinishing Techniques, And Damage Analysis And Estimating. Examples: [Auto Body Refinisher], [Auto Body Technician], [Automotive Collision Repair Technician], [Automotive Painter], [Automotive Refinishing Technician], [Motor Vehicle Body Painter], [Motor Vehicle Body Refinisher], [Motor Vehicle Body Refinisher Sub-Trade], [Painting (Autobody)].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician draws strong interest, with 5,353 degrees awarded annually. 264 colleges award autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degrees, an average of 20 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 172.
By level, the 5,353 awards include 2,679 certificates, 633 associate degrees and 1,981 master’s degrees.
Women earned 16% of autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degrees and certificates in the latest year (833 of 5,353). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (2,082) and White (1,986), and international students earned 30.
College Factual ranks 170 schools in its 2027 Best Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician Schools ranking, including 37 for associate degrees. It also ranks autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools within 23 states. In all, 264 colleges offer autobody/collision & repair technology/technician programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common autobody/collision & repair technology/technician credential is the certificate: 2,679 of the 5,353 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to autobody/collision & repair technology/technician call most for Operations Monitoring, Monitoring and Quality Control Analysis, and for knowledge of Mechanical, Customer and Personal Service and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Arm-Hand Steadiness and Manual Dexterity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,679 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 633 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,981 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to autobody/collision & repair technology/technician, at 60.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage 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: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician, with an average median salary of $73,309; the strongest outlook belongs to Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers, at 12.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Paraffiner, Spray Foam Applicator, Saturator Tender and Laminating Press Operator.
The occupation related to autobody/collision & repair technology/technician with the most projected jobs is Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, at 836,825.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 836,825 | 9.2% |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairers | 547,821 | -4.2% |
| Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers | 419,867 | 12.5% |
| Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage | 67,376 | 8.6% |
Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician graduates earn a median $37,805 one year after completing their program, $54,355 after four years and $49,650 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,805 |
| 4 years | $54,355 |
| 5 years | $49,650 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to autobody/collision & repair technology/technician is Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage, with a median salary of $119,691.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage | $119,691 |
| Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers | $76,815 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairers | $50,670 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,060 |
Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician has 17 similar majors in the Mechanic & Repair Technologies field, which together award 76,271 degrees a year; the largest are Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (46,331), Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician (10,172) and Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician (9,434). Browse all Mechanic & Repair Technologies majors or the full list of college majors.
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