Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

How to become an Automotive Body and Related Repairer

Official title: Automotive Body and Related Repairers

Also called: Auto Body Man, Auto Body Repair Technician (Auto Body Repair Tech), Auto Body Repairman, Automotive Body Technician (Auto Body Tech), Body Man, Body Technician (Body Tech), Collision Repair Technician (Collision Repair Tech), Collision Technician (Collision Tech), Frame Man, Refinish Technician (Refinish Tech)

Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.

Main tasks

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.
Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.

How to become one

Most employers prefer to hire automotive body and glass repairers who have completed a training program in automotive body or glass repair. Still, many new automotive body and glass repairers begin work without previous training. Industry certification is becoming increasingly important.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Automobile Body Repairer.
Apprenticeship: Service Mechanic (Auto Mfg).
Apprenticeship: Truck Body Builder.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $54,890 a year The middle half earn $45,750 to $69,200.
About 163,200 people work in this job now, and about 169,300 are projected by 2035. (+3.7%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Automotive Body and Related Repairer?

How much does an Automotive Body and Related Repairer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $54,890 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $45,750 to $69,200.

Is an Automotive Body and Related Repairer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 163,200 to about 169,300 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Automotive Body and Related Repairer?

Usually not. Only 4% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Automobile Body Repairer.

Will AI change the work of an Automotive Body and Related Repairer?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.