Automotive Body and Related Repairers
Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
Also called: Auto Body Customizer, Auto Body Detailer, Auto Body Estimator (Automotive Body Estimator), Auto Body Man, Auto Body Mechanic, Auto Body Paint Prepper (Automotive Body Paint Prepper)
Median pay
$54,890
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$36,910 – $87,940
People employed
149,310
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 2.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 3.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 4.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 5.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 6.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 7.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Exposure to hazardous conditions
- Long hours on your feet
Automotive Body and Related Repairers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Automotive Body and Related Repairers salary in every state →
What automotive body and related repairers do
- 01File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.
- 02Inspect 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.
- 03Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.
- 04Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.
- 05Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.
- 06Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from automotive body and related repairers
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers86% · −2%
- Tire Builders83% · +5%
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers81% · +19%
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers80% · +2%
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders80% · −12%
Change into automotive body and related repairers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders81% · $48,250
- Tire Builders80% · $57,390
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers79% · $39,630
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons79% · $61,290
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas79% · $46,960
Majors that lead here
- Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.