Automotive body and related repairers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,910 | $17.74 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $54,890 | $26.39 |
| Mean (average) | $59,690 | $28.70 |
| 90th percentile | $87,940 | $42.28 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Automotive body and related repairers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $52,040 | $33,060 | $72,880 | 1,810 | 0.89 |
| Alaska | $61,680 | $46,370 | $81,060 | 270 | 0.86 |
| Arizona | $54,510 | $37,210 | $81,150 | 2,750 | 0.88 |
| Arkansas | $49,310 | $36,070 | $76,550 | 1,140 | 0.91 |
| California | $66,860 | $41,910 | $97,480 | 14,050 | 0.8 |
| Colorado | $59,880 | $38,280 | $97,630 | 3,120 | 1.13 |
| Connecticut | $58,220 | $44,650 | $78,270 | 1,850 | 1.14 |
| Delaware | $48,780 | $33,840 | $74,370 | 340 | 0.73 |
| District of Columbia | $62,640 | $40,950 | $97,510 | 30 | 0.05 |
| Florida | $48,600 | $36,390 | $93,170 | 9,220 | 0.97 |
| Georgia | $51,190 | $36,140 | $97,080 | 4,680 | 1 |
| Hawaii | $60,540 | $34,190 | $83,580 | 450 | 0.74 |
| Idaho | $49,200 | $36,610 | $93,040 | 850 | 1.04 |
| Illinois | $52,020 | $34,460 | $77,730 | 5,750 | 0.98 |
| Indiana | $51,160 | $36,610 | $82,290 | 3,780 | 1.23 |
| Iowa | $49,400 | $37,690 | $85,730 | 1,830 | 1.22 |
| Kansas | $48,920 | $36,880 | $82,310 | 1,530 | 1.11 |
| Kentucky | $46,080 | $28,360 | $80,770 | 1,680 | 0.87 |
| Louisiana | $47,150 | $30,910 | $76,100 | 1,660 | 0.89 |
| Maine | $50,350 | $37,820 | $72,080 | 680 | 1.11 |
| Maryland | $56,100 | $38,370 | $114,490 | 2,930 | 1.1 |
| Massachusetts | $59,300 | $45,200 | $77,400 | 3,060 | 0.88 |
| Michigan | $56,880 | $37,360 | $84,050 | 5,010 | 1.18 |
| Minnesota | $60,970 | $41,500 | $92,900 | 2,910 | 1.03 |
| Mississippi | $49,500 | $31,110 | $73,810 | 1,380 | 1.24 |
| Missouri | $60,540 | $36,240 | $81,630 | 4,350 | 1.54 |
| Montana | $57,500 | $34,830 | $72,850 | 500 | 1.02 |
| Nebraska | $54,130 | $36,860 | $72,730 | 1,120 | 1.14 |
| Nevada | $60,520 | $45,070 | $126,920 | 1,020 | 0.68 |
| New Hampshire | $52,790 | $43,910 | $78,880 | 750 | 1.14 |
| New Jersey | $62,400 | $45,760 | $83,210 | 3,720 | 0.9 |
| New Mexico | $48,260 | $36,220 | $78,060 | 810 | 0.97 |
| New York | $47,670 | $37,580 | $81,970 | 8,530 | 0.92 |
| North Carolina | $50,520 | $36,630 | $83,250 | 5,180 | 1.09 |
| North Dakota | $55,160 | $36,970 | $98,600 | 680 | 1.65 |
| Ohio | $49,080 | $36,770 | $78,370 | 5,950 | 1.12 |
| Oklahoma | $48,810 | $29,980 | $76,180 | 2,330 | 1.42 |
| Oregon | $60,000 | $40,920 | $92,700 | 1,660 | 0.88 |
| Pennsylvania | $53,660 | $34,840 | $78,310 | 6,650 | 1.14 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,260 | $21,840 | $58,850 | 650 | 0.72 |
| Rhode Island | $72,490 | $46,820 | $93,600 | 800 | 1.67 |
| South Carolina | $53,290 | $37,540 | $78,110 | 2,140 | 0.97 |
| South Dakota | $49,460 | $39,180 | $74,110 | 800 | 1.82 |
| Tennessee | $47,460 | $34,950 | $70,310 | 3,970 | 1.26 |
| Texas | $51,700 | $34,140 | $78,570 | 14,070 | 1.04 |
| Utah | $50,200 | $32,660 | $78,040 | 1,590 | 0.95 |
| Vermont | $50,900 | $38,510 | $74,140 | 320 | 1.11 |
| Virginia | $57,760 | $36,950 | $124,120 | 3,720 | 0.94 |
| Washington | $58,340 | $40,830 | $133,140 | 2,330 | 0.68 |
| West Virginia | $47,090 | $33,900 | $62,840 | 670 | 1 |
| Wisconsin | $56,660 | $38,200 | $75,500 | 2,690 | 0.95 |
| Wyoming | $49,200 | $40,550 | $70,140 | 200 | 0.75 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for automotive body and related repairers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 12,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 8.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for automotive body and related repairers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Accounts receivable software
- Appointment scheduling software
- AutoZone ALLDATA
- Automotive and Accounting Software by R*KOM Invoice Writer
- 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
Transferable skills for career changers: Repairing, Troubleshooting, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: 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).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do automotive body and related repairers make?
The national median annual wage for automotive body and related repairers was $54,890 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $36,910 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $87,940. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do automotive body and related repairers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is automotive body and related repairers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of automotive body and related repairers to change +3.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 12,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay automotive body and related repairers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Rhode Island ($72,490), California ($66,860), District of Columbia ($62,640). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.