DealersEdge Professional Forums

How do you pay your body shop estimators? We have it set at a $1000 base w/ 3% of the gross. I am in Southern California if that makes a difference. Anyone else that can help, I think we pay on the "low" side.

We also pay a base salary but we pay a percentage of gross less policy, other salaries, and other supplies. Our estimator pretty much doubles as asst body shop manager as well.

thanks....anyone else?

helpers1,

That sounds like Net.

ctvolvo - Those 3 catagories of expenses are approx. 17% of our total body shop expense.

we pay all of our estimators on a percentge of total parts, labor, and sublet sales with a bump of 1/2 percent at certain sales levels. I expect the Manager to watch the grosses. The salary is $1,500. There are many Independant shops in the area and they dictate wages.

We pay straight commission, usually 4 - 5% of total sales. We allow a $1500 - $2000 draw on the 1st and they collect their commission less draw on the 15th.

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John Shoemaker

Gross, net, and expenses are the manager's job to control. Paying a % of the total repair order is the industry standard. An estimator has no control over gross. The insurance companies dictate the labor times, paint times, sublet mark up, and parts prices.
Give the estimators sales goals based on total sales and if the goal is exceeded, throw in a bonus.
We have 5 estimators in 3 Body Shops. The lowest paid guy made 44K and the highest made 65K.

Large shop in Chesapeake Va. We have 5 Advisors that all make 250 week salary and a weekly commission. Commission % is based on experience and is calculated on total sales of tickets closed. Our pay week is from Wed to Tues and advisors get paid commission every Fri for all their tickets closed by Tues night. This works very well and helps to get more tickets closed on a weekly basis and not to wait till end of month to close tickets.