Body Shop Manager Salary

A body shop manager is in charge of overseeing work performed within their body shop; the body shop may be its own business or part of a larger organization (such as an automotive dealer). The manager handles scheduling, oversees the body shop mechanics and their work, and generally supervises the day-to-day operations of the business. They must hire high-quality employees, as well as oversee training for new personnel to ensure that all equipment and work is performed in as safe a manner as possible. The manager also performs inspections of work done at the body shop to ensure that all quality- and time-related standards are met. This may include tasks such as careful examination of exterior surfaces of vehicles and checking all paint work done to ensure that it matches existing colors accurately, among others.

The manager also typically works with a dedicated scheduling employee to ensure that service timelines that are quoted to customers are as accurate as possible. This helps the manager schedule employees to ensure the shop can meet the expected work volume for each day. The manager also oversees all estimates given to customers, ensuring they offer an accurate assessment of labor hours and parts so that the shop earns its necessary margins on all work without overcharging customers and earning a negative reputation.

To work as a body shop manager, a person typically must have extensive practical experience in this mechanical specialty. They usually need a high school diploma or equivalent, along with some vocational school training as well. The manager also generally needs an in-depth understanding of business practices and accounting as well. The manager typically works in an automotive shop environment during the shop's hours of operation. (Copyright 2017 PayScale.com)