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Automotive body technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $36,910lowest 10% earn less
- $45,75025th percentile
- $54,890median
- $69,20075th percentile
- $87,940top 10% earn more
An automotive body technician, which BLS calls an automotive body and related repairer, had a median pay of $54,890 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow at about the same pace as all occupations over the next decade[2][3].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +3.7%[2]
- Openings per year
- 12,600[6]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[7]
How much do automotive body technicians make?
In May 2025, the median pay for Automotive Body and Related Repairers was $54,890 a year, or $26.39 an hour[1]. That means half of the workers made more than this and half made less. The average was $59,690 a year, or $28.70 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].
BLS publishes percentile wages, which are boundaries and not a starting salary[9]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,910 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $45,750[4]. The 75th percentile was $69,200 and the 90th percentile was $87,940[4]. In hourly terms, those boundaries were $17.74, $21.99, $33.27 and $42.28[10].
These figures come from OEWS, which covers wage and salary workers. It leaves out the self-employed and does not count what employers spend on benefits like health insurance or retirement[11]. In 2025, 8.5% of these workers were self-employed[12]. About 149,310 people held wage and salary jobs in May 2025[13].
Pay by state and city
Rhode Island had the highest state median at $72,490, based on 800 jobs[14]. California came next at $66,860, then the District of Columbia at $62,640, New Jersey at $62,400 and Alaska at $61,680[14].
Texas had the most jobs, with 14,070, just ahead of California with 14,050[15]. Florida (9,220), New York (8,530) and Pennsylvania (6,650) followed[15]. Their medians were $51,700 in Texas, $48,600 in Florida, $47,670 in New York and $53,660 in Pennsylvania[14].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA had the highest median at $78,060[16]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,800) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($76,740) came next[16].
The metro area with the most jobs was New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, with 8,150 jobs and a median of $57,920[17]. Chicago had 4,450 jobs and a median of $52,040[17].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island[14] | $72,490 | 800 |
| California | $66,860 | 14,050 |
| District of Columbia | $62,640 | 30 |
| New Jersey | $62,400 | 3,720 |
| Alaska | $61,680 | 270 |
| Minnesota | $60,970 | 2,910 |
| Hawaii | $60,540 | 450 |
| Missouri | $60,540 | 4,350 |
| Nevada | $60,520 | 1,020 |
| Oregon | $60,000 | 1,660 |
| Colorado | $59,880 | 3,120 |
| Massachusetts | $59,300 | 3,060 |
| Washington | $58,340 | 2,330 |
| Connecticut | $58,220 | 1,850 |
| Virginia | $57,760 | 3,720 |
| Montana | $57,500 | 500 |
| Michigan | $56,880 | 5,010 |
| Wisconsin | $56,660 | 2,690 |
| Maryland | $56,100 | 2,930 |
| North Dakota | $55,160 | 680 |
| Arizona | $54,510 | 2,750 |
| Nebraska | $54,130 | 1,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $53,660 | 6,650 |
| South Carolina | $53,290 | 2,140 |
| New Hampshire | $52,790 | 750 |
| Alabama | $52,040 | 1,810 |
| Illinois | $52,020 | 5,750 |
| Texas | $51,700 | 14,070 |
| Georgia | $51,190 | 4,680 |
| Indiana | $51,160 | 3,780 |
| Vermont | $50,900 | 320 |
| North Carolina | $50,520 | 5,180 |
| Maine | $50,350 | 680 |
| Utah | $50,200 | 1,590 |
| Mississippi | $49,500 | 1,380 |
| South Dakota | $49,460 | 800 |
| Iowa | $49,400 | 1,830 |
| Arkansas | $49,310 | 1,140 |
| Idaho | $49,200 | 850 |
| Wyoming | $49,200 | 200 |
| Ohio | $49,080 | 5,950 |
| Kansas | $48,920 | 1,530 |
| Oklahoma | $48,810 | 2,330 |
| Delaware | $48,780 | 340 |
| Florida | $48,600 | 9,220 |
| New Mexico | $48,260 | 810 |
| New York | $47,670 | 8,530 |
| Tennessee | $47,460 | 3,970 |
| Louisiana | $47,150 | 1,660 |
| West Virginia | $47,090 | 670 |
| Kentucky | $46,080 | 1,680 |
How to become an automotive body technician
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with no work experience needed and long-term on-the-job training[7]. In an O*NET survey of 14 workers, 42% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 35% said a post-secondary certificate and 23% said less than a high school diploma[18]. The survey is small, so treat these shares as a rough picture.
The training details below come from a handbook profile that covers a wider group, automotive body and glass repairers[19].
- First: consider a training program. Employers often prefer applicants who finished one, yet many new repairers start without it[20]. Programs in high schools, trade schools and community colleges mix hands-on practice with classroom lessons on topics such as electronics, cost estimates and welding[21].
- Next: learn on the job. New workers usually start by helping an experienced repairer with simple jobs such as small dents, then move to harder work such as straightening frames[22].
- Then: build independence. Some repairers are trained in as little as 1 year, but 2 or 3 years of hands-on training is generally needed to work independently[22]. Finishing a collision repair program usually shortens on-the-job training[23].
- Later: consider certification. It is not required, but BLS says it is recommended, usually brings higher pay and is sometimes required to move beyond entry-level work[24].
Trade and technical school programs usually give a certificate after 6 to 12 months of study[25]. Some community colleges run collision repair programs that last 2 years[25]. Repairers also keep training throughout their careers as vehicle technology and materials change[26].
What automotive body technicians do
O*NET describes the job as repairing and refinishing vehicle bodies and straightening frames[27]. Typical tasks include:
- Filing, grinding and sanding repaired surfaces smooth with power and hand tools[28].
- Fitting and welding replacement parts, then grinding the welds smooth[28].
- Priming and painting repaired surfaces[28].
- Masking bumpers, windows and trim before painting[28].
- Clamping frames to machines that use hydraulic pressure to realign damaged parts[28].
- Working out dents with hammers and dolly blocks[28].
- Checking finished vehicles for function, accuracy and paint quality, including a test drive[28].
- Reviewing damage reports and preparing repair cost estimates[28].
Job titles that workers reported include Collision Repair Technician, Auto Body Repair Technician and Body Technician[29].
Where they work
In the wider group, 60% of jobs were in the automotive body, paint, interior and glass repair industry, the largest employer group[30]. Body repairers usually work inside body shops, and these shops are often noisy[31]. The work can be physically demanding, and repairers sometimes work in awkward or cramped positions[32].
Most work full time[33]. When a shop has a backlog, overtime is common and can include evenings and weekends[33].
Job outlook
BLS projects growth of 3.7% between 2025 and 2035, taking employment from about 163,200 to 169,300 jobs, a gain of 6,100[2]. For all occupations combined, the projected growth is 3.5%[3]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the OEWS job count above[2].
About 12,600 openings are projected each year, on average[6]. Openings come from new jobs and also from workers who retire or move to other occupations[6]. Each year, 3.2% of workers leave the labor force and 4% move to a different occupation[34].
Is it a good fit?
The job does not require a college degree, since BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical entry education[7]. The median pay of $54,890 is a little above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][5]. Becoming fully independent can take 2 or 3 years of hands-on training[22]. The work can be loud and physically demanding[31][32]. Pay varies widely, from a 10th percentile of $36,910 to a 90th percentile of $87,940[4].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an automotive body technician make an hour?
- The median was $26.39 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $28.70 an hour[1][8]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $17.74 an hour[10].
- How long does it take to become an automotive body technician?
- BLS lists long-term on-the-job training[7]. The wider handbook profile says some repairers are trained in as little as 1 year, but 2 or 3 years of hands-on training is generally needed to work independently[22].
- Do you need a degree to be an automotive body technician?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education[7]. Trade school certificates take 6 months to 1 year, and some community colleges offer 2-year programs[25].
- Is automotive body work in demand?
- BLS projects growth of 3.7% by 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 12,600 openings a year are projected[6].
- What is the highest paying state for automotive body technicians?
- Rhode Island had the highest median at $72,490 in May 2025, followed by California at $66,860[14].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Automotive Body and Related Repairers in the US was $54,890 per year and $26.39 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Automotive Body and Related Repairers is projected to grow 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 163,200 to 169,300 jobs (a change of +6,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Automotive Body and Related Repairers: 10th percentile $36,910, 25th percentile $45,750, 75th percentile $69,200, 90th percentile $87,940. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 12,600 openings for Automotive Body and Related Repairers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Automotive Body and Related Repairers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Automotive Body and Related Repairers was $59,690 per year and $28.70 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Automotive Body and Related Repairers: 10th percentile $17.74, 25th percentile $21.99, 75th percentile $33.27, 90th percentile $42.28. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: 8.5% of Automotive Body and Related Repairers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 149,310 people were employed as Automotive Body and Related Repairers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Automotive Body and Related Repairers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Automotive Body and Related Repairers jobs: Texas 14,070; California 14,050; Florida 9,220; New York 8,530; Pennsylvania 6,650. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Automotive Body and Related Repairers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $78,060; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $76,800; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $76,740; Vallejo, CA $73,890; Modesto, CA $68,640; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $67,090; Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $66,340; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $64,590. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Automotive Body and Related Repairers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 8,150 (median $57,920); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 4,450 (median $52,040); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,270 (median $67,090); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 4,080 (median $57,280); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 3,410 (median $56,060); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 2,690 (median $55,690). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 49-3021.00 survey of workers (14 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 42%, Post-Secondary Certificate 35%, Less than a High School Diploma 23% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Automotive Body and Glass Repairers" covers Automotive Body and Related Repairers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Automotive Body and Related Repairers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Automotive Body and Related Repairers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 49-3021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: 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). O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of automotive body and glass repairers in 2025: Automotive body, paint, interior, and glass repair 60%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Automotive Body and Related Repairers: 3.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.