Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Long-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Automotive body and related repairers work in a hands-on, technical career focused on restoring and repairing vehicles. National employment stands at 173,000, with projected growth of 1.6%, indicating a stable, ongoing need for these skills. This occupation combines mechanical abilities with fine motor skills, physical strength, and attention to detail, making it well-suited to people who enjoy practical, problem-solving work. Creativity and innovation also play a role, alongside project management and analytical thinking, as repairers evaluate damage and plan repair solutions. With a national median annual salary of $51,680 and 15,000 annual openings, this field offers consistent opportunities for both new entrants and experienced workers. The role can be a good fit for students and career changers who prefer a clear, skills-based path and want to build expertise through applied work rather than extensive formal schooling.
The national median annual salary for automotive body and related repairers is $51,680, providing a solid baseline for earning expectations in this trade. Salaries vary by location, with several states and metro areas offering higher median pay. For example, California shows a state median of $66,860, while Massachusetts and Colorado are both near or just below $60,000. Some metro areas stand out even more, such as San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median salary of $76,800, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, at $76,740. These figures suggest that choosing certain regions can significantly influence earning potential. Job seekers who are mobile may want to compare local pay levels with cost of living and personal preferences. Overall, the combination of a national median in the low $50,000s and higher-paying regional markets offers a range of financial outcomes within this occupation.
Automotive body and related repairers have national employment of 173,000, with projected employment growth of 1.6%. This projection indicates modest positive movement rather than rapid expansion or contraction. The occupation also shows 15,000 annual openings, which reflects ongoing replacement needs and opportunities for new entrants. For students, this means a consistent flow of positions to compete for after training or early work experience. For career changers, the combination of existing employment and projected growth suggests that the field is neither saturated nor disappearing. The steady outlook can be attractive for people who prefer a field with defined, hands-on skills and predictable demand. While growth is measured at the same 1.6% rate across the states and metro areas listed, overall opportunity can still differ locally based on pay levels and the number of positions available in each region.
Location can significantly shape the experience of automotive body and related repairers, both in pay and in the size of the local job market. Among the top states by opportunity score, California stands out with a median salary of $66,860 and employment of 14,050, giving it both relatively high pay and a large number of positions. Massachusetts and Colorado offer median salaries around $59,000, with employment just above 3,000, while Washington and New York provide different mixes of pay and employment levels; for example, New York has 8,530 employed at a median of $47,670. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, show median salaries above $76,000, the highest among the listed areas. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro has much higher employment (8,150) but a lower median salary of $57,920. These differences allow workers to weigh higher pay against market size and personal location preferences.
The typical education requirement for automotive body and related repairers is a high school diploma or equivalent, making this occupation accessible without a four-year college degree. Success in the role, however, depends heavily on a strong skill set. Top skills include fine motor abilities and physical strength and stamina, which support the hands-on nature of the work. Mechanical skills and being detail oriented are central to performing accurate repairs and producing quality results. Creativity and innovation, along with problem solving and decision making, help repairers evaluate damage and choose effective repair approaches. Project management skills support organizing work and meeting timelines, while science, mathematics, and critical and analytical thinking contribute to understanding repair processes and making sound technical judgments. For students and career changers, focusing on building these skills—through training programs, apprenticeships, or related work—can be an effective way to prepare for entry and long-term growth in this career.
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