Occupation salary profile

Automotive Body and Related Repairers

SOC 49-3021 BLS OEWS May 2025

Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames. Excludes “Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers” (49-3022) and “Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” (51-9124).

National median · BLS
$54,890
▲ +6.21% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$59,690
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
149,310
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Automotive Body and Related Repairers

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$36,910
25th$45,750
Median (50th)$54,890
75th$69,200
90th — top pay$87,940

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Automotive Body and Related Repairers

BLS projects employment of automotive body and related repairers to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 12,600 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
163,200 → 169,300
+6,100 jobs
Projected change
+3.7%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
12,600
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
8.5% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Automotive Body and Related Repairers

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Repairing3.3
  • Troubleshooting3.1
  • Active Listening3.0
  • Critical Thinking3.0
  • Monitoring3.0
  • Operations Monitoring3.0
  • Quality Control Analysis3.0
  • Speaking3.0
  • Time Management3.0
  • Active Learning2.9
Top knowledge areas
  • Mechanical3.6
  • Customer and Personal Service3.3
  • Production and Processing3.1
  • Mathematics3.0
  • English Language3.0
  • Transportation3.0
  • Engineering and Technology2.8
  • Public Safety and Security2.6
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordAccounts receivable softwareAppointment scheduling softwareAutomotive and Accounting Software by R*KOM Invoice WriterAutoZone ALLDATACollision damage estimation softwareCollision damage measurement softwareEquipment management information softwareMaterials management softwareMicrosoft OneNotePaint mixing and matching softwareSwan River Estimiser Pro

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: 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.

About the job

What automotive body and related repairers do

  • 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.
Also called
Auto Body ManAutomotive Body Technician (Auto Body Tech)Body ManBody Technician (Body Tech)Auto Body Repair Technician (Auto Body Repair Tech)Auto Body RepairmanCollision Repair Technician (Collision Repair Tech)Collision Technician (Collision Tech)Frame ManRefinish Technician (Refinish Tech)
More job titles for this occupation (67)
Auto Body CustomizerAuto Body DetailerAuto Body Estimator (Automotive Body Estimator)Auto Body MechanicAuto Body Paint Prepper (Automotive Body Paint Prepper)Auto Body Paint Tech (Automotive Body Paint Technician)Auto Body RepairerAuto Body Service MechanicAuto Body Shop Tech (Automotive Body Shop Technician)Auto Body StraightenerAuto Body WorkerAuto Bumper MechanicAuto Bumper StraightenerAuto Detailer (Automotive Detailer)Auto Manufacturing Service Mechanic (Automotive Manufacturing Service Mechanic)Auto RebuilderAuto RefinisherAuto Repair Tech (Automotive Repair Technician)Auto Seat Cover InstallerAuto Slip Cover InstallerAuto Vinyl Top InstallerAutobody TechnicianAutomobile Body CustomizerAutomobile Body RepairerAutomobile RepairerAutomotive MetalsmithAutomotive Technician (Auto Tech)Body MechanicBody SanderBody Shop EstimatorBody Shop FloorpersonBody Shop PainterBody Shop Tech (Body Shop Technician)Body Shop WorkerBody SpecialistBody StraightenerBody Work Auto TrimmerBody WorkerBumper StraightenerCar Body MechanicCar CustomizerCar RefinisherCollision Body Tech (Collision Body Technician)Collision MechanicCollision WorkerCustom Car BuilderFender MechanicFender RepairerFender WorkerFiberglass Autobody RepairerFrame StraightenerFrame TechnicianLeak RepairerMeasure TechnicianMechanical and Auto Body Car CheckerMetal BumperMetal WorkerPanel BeaterRattle RepairerRepair TechnicianService MechanicShop TechnicianSqueak RepairerTrim MechanicTruck Body BuilderTruck Body RepairerVehicle Body Sander

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.