An automotive body repairer restores vehicles damaged in collisions and accidents. You'll work with metal, fiberglass, and other materials to return cars to safe, roadworthy condition. It's hands-on, in demand, and you can start with a high school diploma.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
You repair and restore the structural and cosmetic damage to vehicles. This means assessing damage, removing dented or broken panels, straightening frames, and replacing parts. You work with specialized equipment and tools to reshape metal and fiberglass. You also prepare surfaces for painting and may coordinate with painters and other specialists. Throughout the job, you stay current with new vehicle designs and repair techniques, make decisions about the best repair approach, and communicate with customers about their vehicles.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Automotive Body and Related Repairers earn a median of $54,890 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 14,600 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most positions require a high school diploma or equivalent. From there, you can pursue on-the-job training through an apprenticeship or entry-level role at a collision repair shop, dealership, or body shop. Some people attend vocational or technical programs that combine classroom instruction in repair techniques with hands-on practice. As you gain experience, you'll develop the mechanical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail the work demands. Many employers value certifications in specific repair methods and vehicle systems.
Your path typically starts with a vocational program or apprenticeship at a repair shop. Both routes work, and the right choice depends on your timeline and learning style, so if you are weighing them, Pathly can map the automotive body and related repairer path that fits you and turn it into a step-by-step plan with your counselor.
Many automotive body and related repairers must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You're drawn to hands-on work with tools and equipment. You like solving practical problems, paying close attention to detail, and working through challenges methodically.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).