How to hire an auto body painter

Auto body painter hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring auto body painters in the United States:

HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
The median cost to hire an auto body painter is $1,633.
Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per auto body painter on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
There are currently 8,493 auto body painters in the US and 11,600 job openings.
Phoenix, AZ, has the highest demand for auto body painters, with 3 job openings.
New York, NY has the highest concentration of auto body painters.

How to hire an auto body painter, step by step

To hire an auto body painter, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire an auto body painter:

Here's a step-by-step auto body painter hiring guide:

Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
Step 3: Make a budget
Step 4: Write an auto body painter job description
Step 5: Post your job
Step 6: Interview candidates
Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new auto body painter
Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an auto body painter do?

An auto body painter is a trained professional who specializes in applying paint and finishing to the exterior of vehicles such as cars, buses, and trucks. Their job entails understanding the project requirements, preparing the necessary paint and materials, filling scratches to smoothen surfaces, utilizing spray guns and other equipment, and adhering to goals and deadlines. In some establishments, an auto body painter may communicate directly with clients to answer inquiries, provide price quotes, and give them regular updates. They may also train and supervise new staff, providing them with technical support and guidance.

Learn more about the specifics of what an auto body painter does

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Identify your hiring needs

First, determine the employments status of the auto body painter you need to hire. Certain auto body painter roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

Determine employee vs contractor status

Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

Hiring the perfect auto body painter also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

This list presents auto body painter salaries for various positions.

Type of Auto Body Painter	Description	Hourly rate
Auto Body Painter	Painting and coating workers paint and coat, often with machines, a wide range of products, including cars, jewelry, and ceramics.	$12-24
Painter	Painters are skilled professionals who handle the painting needs of clients. They work closely with their clients to ensure that they will be able to do what is expected of them... Show more	$14-28
Aircraft Painter	An aircraft painter is responsible for applying paints on the aircraft surfaces and inspecting the condition of the plane parts to ensure that the task would not affect the plane's performance in any way. Aircraft painters operate various tools and equipment to manage the flow of coating and painting according to the business specifications and requirements... Show more	$13-25

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- Mask
- Spray Guns
- Paint Guns
- Coats
- Painting Process
- Hazardous Waste
- Color Specifications
- Bondo
- Auto Body Repair
- Painting Techniques
- Base Coat
- Auto Body Painting
- Stencils
- MIG
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Paint and/or refinish repair areas on vehicle to achieve a better than factory finish.
- Apply base coats and clear coats Mig weld frames, body panels, etc.
- Certify body repair, painting, refinishing, MIG welding, steel welding, brazing, and soldering.
- Paint cars using solvents and water base coats.
- Prep cars for paint jobs which include mask tape and wet sand.
- Sand bodies of construction equipment as required for application of primer and paint.
More auto body painter duties

Make a budget

Including a salary range in your auto body painter job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An auto body painter salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

For example, the average salary for an auto body painter in North Carolina may be lower than in Vermont, and an entry-level auto body painter usually earns less than a senior-level auto body painter. Additionally, an auto body painter with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

Average auto body painter salary

$36,508yearly

$17.55 hourly rate

Entry-level auto body painter salary

$26,000 yearly salary

Updated December 15, 2025

Average auto body painter salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	New Jersey	$45,773	$22
2	California	$45,241	$22
3	Illinois	$41,991	$20
4	Massachusetts	$41,949	$20
5	New York	$41,587	$20
6	Rhode Island	$40,453	$19
7	Ohio	$40,102	$19
8	Pennsylvania	$39,571	$19
9	Kansas	$38,899	$19
10	Arizona	$34,971	$17
11	Virginia	$34,604	$17
12	Colorado	$34,365	$17
13	South Carolina	$34,272	$16
14	Texas	$33,514	$16
15	North Carolina	$33,344	$16
16	Florida	$32,354	$16
17	Georgia	$29,928	$14

Average auto body painter salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	GILLIG	$43,004	$20.68	1
2	Atlantic Coast Financial	$41,277	$19.84	1
3	Conklin Cars	$38,683	$18.60
4	Aerotek	$37,478	$18.02	52
5	Gerber NCS	$36,611	$17.60	32
6	Queensboro Toyota	$36,234	$17.42	6
7	Chase Professionals	$36,130	$17.37
8	PDS Tech	$35,715	$17.17	6
9	Cox Enterprises	$35,626	$17.13	9
10	Crash	$35,323	$16.98	315
11	Cox Automotive	$35,235	$16.94
12	Carvana	$33,486	$16.10	957
13	Factory Direct, Inc	$33,374	$16.05
14	Fred Beans Ford	$32,412	$15.58	3

Writing an auto body painter job description
An auto body painter job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an auto body painter job description:
Auto body painter job description example
B & G Auto Repair is currently hiring for a full-time Assistant Auto Body Painter / Car Detailer to prep parts, mix paint, and detail vehicles in the South Holland, IL area. This auto detailing position earns a competitive wage of $15 - $20/hr , depending on experience.

In addition to competitive pay and our supportive culture , we offer our Assistant Auto Body Painters / Car Detailers the following benefits:
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Sick time
- Occasional Chicago Bulls tickets
So, now that you've learned the who, what, where, and why, you may be wondering HOW to apply for this auto detailing job? It's easy! All you need is experience in a body shop! If you have that, just fill out our initial mobile-friendly online application . We hope to meet you soon!

DAY-TO-DAY

This auto detailing job at our body shop has shifts during our normal business hours of Monday - Thursday from 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM, Friday from 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Saturday from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM .

As an Assistant Auto Body Painter / Car Detailer, you spend each day around vehicles of all makes and models-including some very cool vintage automobiles! Our professional paint technicians rely on your assistance to prep vehicles for painting. You're attentive to detail as you carefully mask surfaces and mix paint as directed. As a proactive team player, you're happy to lend a hand when a painter needs your help!

Our team can count on you to provide thorough automotive cleaning and detailing for our customers. You treat each automobile with care as you vacuum interiors and wash exteriors. You also enjoy sitting behind the wheel of different vehicles as you perform porter duties and park them on our lot. You love seeing the before-and-after transformation of automobile restorations, and you're proud of the part you play on our team !

ABOUT B & G AUTO REPAIR

When it comes to cars, there's very little that our skilled technicians can't handle. Our amazing team does it all, from small- and large-scale repairs to frame adjustments and vintage vehicle restorations. We work on both domestic and imported cars, providing same-day turnaround service when possible. Whether a client is dealing with engine problems, needs bodywork done, or has any other issue with their vehicle, they know to come to B & G Auto Repair to get the job done right!

Our company is small but mighty. With our skilled team behind us, there's nothing we can't accomplish. That is why we value every employee and their contributions. In addition to our great work culture , we offer our team competitive pay , generous benefits , and an environment where they can thrive.

OUR IDEAL ASSISTANT AUTO BODY PAINTER / CAR DETAILER
- Positive - always maintains an upbeat, can-do attitude
- Eager - willing to learn new things and advance in the automotive industry
- Team player - takes direction well and works great with a team
- Attentive - exceptional attention to detail for accomplishing quality, top-notch work
If this sounds like you, keep reading about this amazing auto detailing opportunity!

REQUIREMENTS
- Experience working in a body shop
- Valid driver's license
If you have experience in a body shop, we need you. Apply today to join our team!

Location: 60473

Job Posted by ApplicantPro
Post your job
To find auto body painters for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
- Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any auto body painters they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level auto body painters with the right educational background.
- Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
Post your job online:
- Post your auto body painter job on Zippia to find and recruit auto body painter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
During your first interview to recruit auto body painters, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.
You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new auto body painter
Once you have selected a candidate for the auto body painter position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.
It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.
After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new auto body painter. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.
Go through the hiring process checklist
- Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
- Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
- Define job responsibilities and requirements
- Establish budget and timeline
- Determine hiring decision makers for the role
- Write job description
- Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
- Promote the job internally
- Process applications through applicant tracking system
- Review resumes and cover letters
- Shortlist candidates for screening
- Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
- Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
- Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
- Conduct background checks on top candidates
- Check references of top candidates
- Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
- Extend offer to top candidate(s)
- Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
- Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
- Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
- Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an auto body painter?

Before you start to hire auto body painters, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire auto body painters pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

Auto body painters earn a median yearly salary is $36,508 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find auto body painters for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $12 and $24.

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Updated December 15, 2025

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How to hire an auto body painter