Body Repair Technicians

Impact: Direct

Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames. This includes repairing dents, replacing damaged parts, and painting surfaces to restore vehicles to their original condition.

What the day looks like

People interaction
Moderate
Team vs solo
Team-oriented
Client facing
Sometimes
Impact visibility
High
Travel
None
Schedule flexibility
Rigid
Remote work
On-site Only
Typical work hours
40 hours/week
Stress level
Moderate

At a glance

Median salary
$48,000
Entry-level
$35,000
Senior
$65,000
Growth by 2033
2%
Demand
Stable
Freelance potential
Moderate
Salary growth potential
Medium
Typical student debt
$10,000 - $20,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

  • Welding
  • Painting
  • Frame Straightening
  • Dent Repair

Soft skills

  • Attention to Detail
  • Problem-Solving
  • Manual Dexterity

Technical complexity: High

How to get there

Minimum education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Licensing
No
Years to mid-career
3-5 years
Years to senior
7-10 years
Career switching
Moderate

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

    Where you can go from here

      Typical progression

      1. Start as an apprentice, advance to technician, then senior technician, or shop manager.

      Future outlook

      Automation probability
      Medium
      AI disruption risk
      Low
      Demand trend
      Stable

      How people feel about it

      Overall satisfaction
      3.5/10
      Meaning
      3.5/10
      Work-life balance
      3.5/10
      Prestige
      5/10
      Social perception
      Moderate

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