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What Does it Take to Be an Automotive Body Repairer?
Career Description Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
Life As an Automotive Body Repairer: What Do They Do?
- Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.
- Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.
- Read specifications or confer with customers to determine the desired custom modifications for altering the appearance of vehicles.
- Cut openings in vehicle bodies for the installation of customized windows, using templates and power shears or chisels.
- Apply heat to plastic panels, using hot-air welding guns or immersion in hot water, and press the softened panels back into shape by hand.
- Soak fiberglass matting in resin mixtures and apply layers of matting over repair areas to specified thicknesses.
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Automotive Body Repairer Needed Skills
When polled, Automotive Body Repairers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Related Job Titles
- Automobile Body Repairer
- Custom Car Builder
- Auto Seat Cover Installer
- Body Straightener
- Auto Body Man
Job Outlook for Automotive Body Repairers
In the United States, there were 160,400 jobs for Automotive Body Repairer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 13,700 new jobs for Automotive Body Repairer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 17,100 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Automotive Body Repairer are Utah, Washington, and Idaho. Watch out if you plan on working in Kansas, Maine, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for an Automotive Body Repairer
The typical yearly salary for Automotive Body Repairers is somewhere between $25,960 and $71,970.
Automotive Body Repairers who work in Alaska, Hawaii, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Automotive Body Repairers in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $42,960 |
| Alaska | $61,440 |
| Arizona | $48,740 |
| Arkansas | $41,500 |
| California | $51,320 |
| Colorado | $49,410 |
| Connecticut | $50,970 |
| Delaware | $41,230 |
| District of Columbia | $45,800 |
| Florida | $41,600 |
| Georgia | $47,460 |
| Hawaii | $51,230 |
| Idaho | $45,270 |
| Illinois | $46,690 |
| Indiana | $41,910 |
| Iowa | $41,730 |
| Kansas | $41,350 |
| Kentucky | $43,540 |
| Louisiana | $41,870 |
| Maine | $38,200 |
| Maryland | $53,340 |
| Massachusetts | $50,790 |
| Michigan | $48,430 |
| Minnesota | $46,730 |
| Mississippi | $41,520 |
| Missouri | $47,640 |
| Montana | $43,460 |
| Nebraska | $42,290 |
| Nevada | $42,660 |
| New Hampshire | $45,660 |
| New Jersey | $49,180 |
| New Mexico | $39,180 |
| New York | $46,460 |
| North Carolina | $50,950 |
| North Dakota | $52,320 |
| Ohio | $43,230 |
| Oklahoma | $38,400 |
| Oregon | $43,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,080 |
| Rhode Island | $48,460 |
| South Carolina | $40,280 |
| South Dakota | $40,140 |
| Tennessee | $41,180 |
| Texas | $45,910 |
| Utah | $42,120 |
| Vermont | $43,540 |
| Virginia | $53,060 |
| Washington | $53,530 |
| West Virginia | $37,800 |
| Wisconsin | $43,970 |
| Wyoming | $47,190 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Automotive Body Repairers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Automotive Body Repairers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Windows
- Appointment scheduling software
- Inventory management software
- Accounting software
- Palm OS
- Accounts receivable software
- Materials management software
- AutoZone ALLDATA
How to Become an Automotive Body Repairer
What education or degrees do I need to become an Automotive Body Repairer?
What work experience do I need to become an Automotive Body Repairer?
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being an Automotive Body Repairer may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Automotive Body Repairer in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- Rail Car Repairers
- Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Nigel Sandridge via Public domain
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