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Automotive Body and Related Repairers in Michigan
Considering working as an Automotive Body and Related Repairers in Michigan? Here’s what the data says. Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames. Excludes “Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers” (49-3022) and “Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders” (51-9124).
What do Automotive Body and Related Repairers Make in Michigan?
For a automotive body and related repairers working in Michigan, the median annual wage is $48,630 per year (or roughly $23.38/hour).Earnings range from $36,000 at the 10th percentile to $77,900 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| 25th percentile | $41,630 | $20.01 |
| Median (50th) | $48,630 | $23.38 |
| 75th percentile | $61,080 | $29.36 |
| 90th percentile | $77,900 | $37.45 |
The job concentration index in Michigan compared to the national average — is 1.16, meaning that automotive body and related repairers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, automotive body and related repairers earn a median of $50,670 per year ($24.36/hour), below the Michigan median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 572,108 automotive body and related repairers nationwide. In Michigan alone, around 5,150 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 1,930 automotive body and related repairers.
Top Michigan Metros for Automotive Body and Related Repairers
The metro areas below employ the most automotive body and related repairers in Michigan.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2,410 | $57,020 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 600 | $48,590 |
| Flint, MI | 220 | $47,960 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 190 | $48,520 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 170 | $46,700 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 120 | $47,090 |
| Saginaw, MI | 110 | $46,890 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | 90 | $46,660 |
| Jackson, MI | 60 | $47,890 |
| Traverse City, MI | 60 | $48,830 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 50 | $48,650 |
| Bay City, MI | 50 | $48,480 |
| Monroe, MI | 50 | $48,940 |
| Niles, MI | 50 | $47,570 |
| Midland, MI | 30 | $48,220 |
Top States for Automotive Body and Related Repairers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most automotive body and related repairers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 14,670 |
| Texas | 12,980 |
| Florida | 10,560 |
| New York | 8,080 |
| Tennessee | 6,850 |
| Illinois | 6,320 |
| North Carolina | 6,230 |
| Ohio | 6,040 |
| Pennsylvania | 5,900 |
| Michigan | 5,150 |
| Georgia | 4,490 |
| Indiana | 4,480 |
| Missouri | 4,440 |
| Virginia | 4,030 |
| New Jersey | 3,970 |
| Minnesota | 3,190 |
| Colorado | 2,960 |
| Wisconsin | 2,900 |
| Massachusetts | 2,680 |
| Washington | 2,530 |
Highest-Paying States for Automotive Body and Related Repairers
These states pay the most for automotive body and related repairers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $62,570 |
| Connecticut | $60,890 |
| New Jersey | $60,390 |
| Alaska | $60,190 |
| Minnesota | $60,160 |
| Hawaii | $59,770 |
| Rhode Island | $59,600 |
| Massachusetts | $59,300 |
| South Carolina | $59,190 |
| Maryland | $59,140 |
Skills
The most important automotive body and related repairers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for automotive body and related repairers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Automotive Body and Related Repairers typically:
- 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.
- Cut and tape plastic separating film to outside repair areas to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces during repair procedure and remove tape and wash surfaces after repairs are complete.
- Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.
- Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.
- Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.
Work Activities
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Processing Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Thinking Creatively
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
Related Careers
Other careers like automotive body and related repairers include:
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
Also Known As
Auto Body Customizer, Auto Body Detailer, Auto Body Estimator (Automotive Body Estimator), Auto Body Man, Auto Body Mechanic, Auto Body Paint Prepper (Automotive Body Paint Prepper), Auto Body Paint Tech (Automotive Body Paint Technician), Auto Body Repair Technician (Auto Body Repair Tech), Auto Body Repairer, Auto Body Repairman, Auto Body Service Mechanic, Auto Body Shop Tech (Automotive Body Shop Technician), Auto Body Straightener, Auto Body Worker, Auto Bumper Mechanic.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 49-3021.00