Automotive Body and Related Repairers
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Dented panels are beaten out with hammers and dolly blocks; frames and sections are chained to hydraulic alignment machines to pull the structure back into shape. Replacement parts are fitted and welded, then welds are ground smooth before surfaces are filed, sanded, primed, and painted with spray guns, after bumpers, windows, and trim are masked. Finished vehicles are checked for fit, paint quality, and handling, including a test drive for alignment; supervisors usually set which parts to restore and how long the job should take. Suits people who like physical shop work, judging surfaces by eye, and finishing a repair so it looks and handles right.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$54'890
Median Wage Market Position
$54'890
What you might do
- Hammer out dents against a dolly block
- Weld new body panels into place
- Pull frames straight with hydraulic alignment machines
- Grind, file, and sand repaired surfaces smooth
- Mask trim, then prime and spray-paint panels
- Test-drive vehicles to check alignment and handling
Skills that matter
- Frame alignment with hydraulic machines
- Welding and grinding replacement parts
- Priming and painting repaired surfaces
- Hammering out dents with dollies
- Checking paint, fit, and handling
- Taking supervisors' direction on parts and time
AI & the future of this role
Straightening frames, matching finishes, and restoring damaged panels require tactile skill and on-site judgment that robots rarely handle well. Estimating software may assist planning, yet custom bodywork and paint still depend on experienced hands.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details