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Automotive Body and Related Repairers
Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
Other titles employers use
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)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Repairing
- Troubleshooting
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Subjects to know
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
Useful strengths
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Visualization
- Manual Dexterity
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.8 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 4.2 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.4 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 5.0 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 65%
- A certificate or some college 35%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Operating system software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Accounting software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 17,400
- Job openings each year
- 1,530
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 4.2%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 17,400 | 1,530 | 4.2% |
| Texas | 15,720 | 1,450 | 12.9% |
| Tennessee | 9,970 | 1,020 | 41.4% |
| New York | 9,790 | 130 | 14.6% |
| Florida | 9,560 | 870 | 11.2% |
| North Carolina | 6,770 | 620 | 11.2% |
| Ohio | 6,720 | 570 | — |
| Pennsylvania | 6,430 | 560 | 1.4% |
| Illinois | 6,360 | 560 | 2.9% |
| Georgia | 5,670 | 530 | 16.0% |
| Michigan | 5,110 | 430 | −2.5% |
| Indiana | 4,750 | 410 | — |
| New Jersey | 4,080 | 350 | 1.0% |
| Missouri | 3,990 | 340 | 1.0% |
| Minnesota | 3,700 | 320 | 3.4% |
| Virginia | 3,500 | 300 | — |
| Maryland | 3,320 | 300 | 8.1% |
| Arizona | 3,260 | 300 | 13.6% |
| Washington | 3,230 | 330 | 10.6% |
| Colorado | 3,160 | 280 | 6.0% |
| Wisconsin | 3,030 | 260 | 3.8% |
| South Carolina | 2,300 | 210 | 7.0% |
| Iowa | 2,270 | 200 | 4.6% |
| Oklahoma | 2,230 | 190 | — |
| Alabama | 2,150 | 190 | 3.9% |
| Louisiana | 2,120 | 190 | 3.4% |
| Connecticut | 2,050 | 180 | 2.5% |
| Kansas | 1,990 | 170 | 3.1% |
| Utah | 1,950 | 190 | 25.0% |
| Oregon | 1,630 | 150 | 7.2% |
| Kentucky | 1,440 | 130 | 2.1% |
| Nebraska | 1,430 | 130 | 5.1% |
| Mississippi | 1,400 | 120 | 4.5% |
| Arkansas | 1,320 | 120 | 3.9% |
| Massachusetts | 1,270 | 110 | 2.4% |
| Nevada | 1,050 | 100 | 11.7% |
| Rhode Island | 990 | 90 | 5.3% |
| Idaho | 980 | 90 | 7.7% |
| New Mexico | 940 | 80 | 5.6% |
| South Dakota | 910 | 80 | 8.3% |
| Montana | 780 | 70 | 11.4% |
| West Virginia | 780 | 70 | 1.3% |
| New Hampshire | 720 | 60 | 2.9% |
| North Dakota | 710 | 60 | 7.6% |
| Maine | 690 | 60 | −2.8% |
| Puerto Rico | 610 | 60 | 13.0% |
| Vermont | 410 | 40 | 2.5% |
| Delaware | 390 | 30 | −4.9% |
| Wyoming | 350 | 30 | 9.4% |
| Alaska | 330 | 30 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Compare every college offering vehicle maintenance and repair technologies/technicians