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What is an auto body mechanic 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 mechanic. For example, did you know that they make an average of $24.13 an hour? That's $50,190 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 MechanicUS Average
Salary
3.9

Avg. Salary $50,190

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.8

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
7.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.65%

Asian 1.75%

Black or African American 7.53%

Hispanic or Latino 19.44%

Unknown 4.12%

White 66.50%

Gender

female 2.62%

male 97.38%

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

Auto body mechanic career paths

Key steps to become an auto body mechanic

  1. Explore auto body mechanic education requirements

    Most common auto body mechanic degrees

    High School Diploma

    43.9 %

    Associate

    22.8 %

    Diploma

    12.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific auto body mechanic skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Spray Guns89.33%
    Diesel Engines1.98%
    Mechanical Problems1.17%
    Vehicle Bodies1.07%
    Mechanical Repairs0.60%
  3. Complete relevant auto body mechanic training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New auto body mechanics 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 mechanic based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real auto body mechanic resumes.
  4. Research auto body mechanic duties and responsibilities

    • Attain ICAR and ASE master technician status.
    • Utilize sophisticate diagnostic equipment to troubleshoot and correct vehicle computer, electrical, and mechanical, problems.
    • Entrust to paint luxury cars, including Ferrari, BMW, and Maserati.
  5. Prepare your auto body mechanic resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your auto body mechanic 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 mechanic 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 mechanic resume templates

    Build a professional auto body mechanic 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 mechanic resume.
    Auto Body Mechanic Resume
    Auto Body Mechanic Resume
    Auto Body Mechanic Resume
    Auto Body Mechanic Resume
    Auto Body Mechanic Resume
    Auto Body Mechanic Resume
    Auto Body Mechanic Resume
    Auto Body Mechanic Resume
    Auto Body Mechanic Resume
  6. Apply for auto body mechanic jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an auto body mechanic 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 mechanic job

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Average auto body mechanic salary

The average auto body mechanic salary in the United States is $50,190 per year or $24 per hour. Auto body mechanic salaries range between $36,000 and $69,000 per year.

Average auto body mechanic salary
$50,190 Yearly
$24.13 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do auto body mechanics rate their job?

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Auto body mechanic reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022
Cons

People looking over me when they can’t do the jobs


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

Satisfaction of fixing, repairing broken vehicles and challenge of finding problems and correcting them properly.

Cons

Electrical problems are my least favorite.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Working with hands, vehicle repair cost savings, tangible benefits, satisfaction.

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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