BC Industry Survey Finds Licensed Glass Tech Pay Ranges from $22 to $45 per Hour

The Automotive Retailers Association of British Columbia released a workforce compensation survey on May 30, 2023, that, while focused on the Canadian market, offered data points relevant to auto-glass shop owners throughout North America. The survey examined pay rates and compensation structures among the ARA's auto glass division members.

Among the headline findings: licensed glass technicians were paid at rates ranging from a low of $22 per hour to a high of $45 per hour, with 41 percent of surveyed ARA members paying between $30 and $33 per hour. The spread reflects wide variation in market conditions, shop size, skill expectations, and whether technicians are expected to perform ADAS calibrations in addition to standard installation work.

The survey found that 88 percent of responding members paid technicians on an hourly basis rather than piece-rate or commission structures. Apprentice technicians typically earned 50 to 75 percent of licensed technician pay. Only 30 percent of members offered any form of performance incentive — split among bonuses, profit sharing, and tool allowances or training upgrades.

The data also showed that 80 percent of ARA division members posted their door rates, and of those: 54 percent posted rates higher than their insurance reimbursement rates; 61 percent had posted rates between $70 and $99 per hour; and a smaller but growing group posted above $100, with some above $125.

For U.S. shop owners, the ARA survey captured a wage dynamic that was appearing in their markets as well. The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2023 put the mean hourly wage for U.S. automotive glass installers and repairers at $22.12, with a median of $21.79 and a 90th-percentile rate of $29.81. The gap between what top performers in BC were earning and the U.S. national median suggested that shops willing to pay above-market wages were likely drawing from a higher-quality talent pool.

The survey identified ADAS calibration as an opportunity to add revenue that would also support higher technician compensation. Very few shops surveyed offered calibration services, suggesting that those investing in the capability had a near-term pricing advantage before the market normalized.