For students in the Maricopa County Community College District, the Collision Repair Technician Program allows an opportunity to explore auto body mechanics while also feeding their creativity.

“In the automotive industry, you can be as creative as you want: people like to express themselves with their vehicles,” said Naythanyal Herrera, student at the Maricopa Community Colleges, in a prepared statement.

“I’ve always wanted to work on vehicles and also have the enjoyment of being able to paint and mix the two together. It’s great to see all the different paths people can have in this career.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Automotive Body Repairers saw a median annual wage of $45,350 in 2020, with industry employment spanning 179,700 in 2019.

Earning a workforce education in this field can provide students an exceptional pathway to a career, according to Brent Cooper, Senior Instructor in the Auto Body/Collision Repair program.

“Here in the Valley, there are literally hundreds of job opportunities,” said Cooper. “Our students learn everything they need to go into a repair shop entry-level and hopefully bypass at least three years worth of normal labor in this workforce.”