What is an auto body worker and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
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There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an auto body worker. For example, did you know that they make an average of $20.79 an hour? That's $43,244 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 5,000 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreAuto Body WorkerUS Average
Salary
3.4

Avg. Salary $43,244

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
4.8

Growth Rate 3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
7.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 1.83%

Black or African American 7.61%

Hispanic or Latino 19.38%

Unknown 4.19%

White 66.34%

Gender

female 13.56%

male 86.44%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress Level
4.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
4.9

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

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Auto Body Worker career paths

Key steps to become an auto body worker

  1. Explore auto body worker education requirements

    Most common auto body worker degrees

    High School Diploma

    44.5 %

    Associate

    20.2 %

    Diploma

    15.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific auto body worker skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Customer Vehicles56.44%
    Body Shop9.67%
    Water Pumps8.30%
    Condensers6.25%
    MIG5.04%
  3. Complete relevant auto body worker training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New auto body workers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an auto body worker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real auto body worker resumes.
  4. Research auto body worker duties and responsibilities

    • Operate automated welding machines and spot welding, mig brazing and soldering welding.
    • Prepare vehicles for painting using Bondo and primer.
    • Grind, hammer out, apply Bondo, sand out, and prime dents.
    • Transport metal parts, nut weld parts; Mig weld and used a hand gun welder.
  5. Prepare your auto body worker resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your auto body worker resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an auto body worker resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Auto Body Worker Resume templates

    Build a professional Auto Body Worker resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Auto Body Worker resume.
    Auto Body Worker Resume
    Auto Body Worker Resume
    Auto Body Worker Resume
    Auto Body Worker Resume
    Auto Body Worker Resume
    Auto Body Worker Resume
    Auto Body Worker Resume
    Auto Body Worker Resume
    Auto Body Worker Resume
  6. Apply for auto body worker jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an auto body worker job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Auto Body Worker Job

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Average auto body worker salary

The average Auto Body Worker salary in the United States is $43,244 per year or $21 per hour. Auto body worker salaries range between $26,000 and $71,000 per year.

Average Auto Body Worker Salary
$43,244 Yearly
$20.79 hourly

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How do auto body workers rate their job?

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Auto Body Worker reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Cons

Poor wages, physical damage to health, complicated repair procedures due to safety construction, liability due to lack of training, cost of having proper tooling, insurance companies dictating repairs. MSO’s working to monopolize shops, cost of materials


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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