Automotive Body and Related Repairers
Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
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)
Median pay (national)
$51,680
$36,390–$87,040 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
155,220
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1.6%
~14,600 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for automotive body and related repairers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $87,040 versus $36,390 at the bottom 10% — 2.4x. The median of $51,680 leaves roughly 68% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1.6% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 14,600 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $62,570, +21% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $20,940 — a 199% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.
- Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Windows
- Accounts receivable software
- Appointment scheduling software
- Automotive and Accounting Software by R*KOM Invoice Writer
- AutoZone ALLDATA
- Collision damage estimation software
- Collision damage measurement software
- Equipment management information software
- Materials management software
- Microsoft OneNote
- Paint mixing and matching software
- Swan River Estimiser Pro
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Transportation
- Engineering and Technology
- Public Safety and Security