Automotive Body and Related Repairers

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 49-3021.00United States

Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $52,799
Projected change: +4.6%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 169.04K jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What automotive body and related repairers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.
Inspect repaired vehicles for proper functioning, completion of work, dimensional accuracy, and overall appearance of paint job, and test-drive vehicles to ensure proper alignment and handling.
Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.
Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.
Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.
Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.
Chain or clamp frames and sections to alignment machines that use hydraulic pressure to align damaged components.
Cut and tape plastic separating film to outside repair areas to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces during repair procedure and remove tape and wash surfaces after repairs are complete.
Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.
Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.
Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.
Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.
Remove small pits and dimples in body metal, using pick hammers and punches.
Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders.
Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.
Fit and secure windows, vinyl roofs, and metal trim to vehicle bodies, using caulking guns, adhesive brushes, and mallets.
Adjust or align headlights, wheels, and brake systems.
Remove damaged panels, and identify the family and properties of the plastic used on a vehicle.
Replace damaged glass on vehicles.
Apply heat to plastic panels, using hot-air welding guns or immersion in hot water, and press the softened panels back into shape by hand.
Clean work areas, using air hoses, to remove damaged material and discarded fiberglass strips used in repair procedures.
Soak fiberglass matting in resin mixtures and apply layers of matting over repair areas to specified thicknesses.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $34,139
25th percentile: $43,140
50th percentile: $52,799
75th percentile: $68,705
90th percentile: $91,333

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $52,799 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+4.6%average or slower

2025169,036 jobs

2035 projected176,818 jobs

7,782 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 65.3%
Certificate: 34.7%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Lifting Ability
Painting
Vehicle Inspection
Hammers
Auto Body Repairs
Power Tool Operation
Windshield
Plasma Cutting
Hydraulic Jacks
Hand Tools
Blueprinting
Front Office
Polishing
Welding
Development Environment
Refinishing
Oil and Gas
Automotive Services
Structural Work
Upholstery

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Auto Body Technicians13,092 postings
02Body Shop Technicians1,533 postings
03Body Technicians1,405 postings
04Auto Body Painters868 postings
05Paint Preppers594 postings
06Collision Body Technicians587 postings
07Refinish Technicians568 postings
08Body Shop Estimators553 postings
09Auto Body Paint Technicians528 postings
10Collision Technicians434 postings
11Auto Body Paint Preppers391 postings
12Collision Repair Technicians385 postings
13Auto Body Estimators357 postings
14Apprentice Technicians307 postings
15Auto Body Detailers295 postings
16Repair Specialists262 postings
17Apprentice Auto Body Technicians198 postings
18Automotive Painters170 postings
19PDR Technicians163 postings
20Shop Helpers154 postings

Top employers

01Carvana2,329 postings
02Boyd Group International2,034 postings
03Caliber Holdings1,736 postings
04Gerber Collision & Glass1,727 postings
05Caliber1,379 postings
06Crash Champions1,202 postings
07Caliber Collision645 postings
08Gerber Payroll Services601 postings
09Classic Collision463 postings
10Dent Wizard390 postings
11Chevrolet297 postings
12Gerber Collision288 postings
13Safelite AutoGlass257 postings
14Jhcc Holdings252 postings
15Tesla213 postings
16Master Collision Repair177 postings
17Joe Hudson's Collision Center166 postings
18Penske156 postings
19Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers123 postings
20Classic Collision Corporate Services114 postings

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