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Employment Percentage
-25.6171402
SOC ID
49-3021
SOC Title
Automotive Body and Related Repairers
ONET ID
49-3021.00
ONET Concat ID
49302100
Median Salary
45415.78
Ed Level High School
65.339996
Ed Level Certificate
34.650002
Ed Level Some College
0
Ed Level Associates
0
Ed Level Bachelors
0
Ed Level Masters
0
Ed Level Doctors
0
Typical Ed Level
a high school diploma or less
Career Description
Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
Core Tasks
  • File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.
  • Inspect repaired vehicles for proper functioning, completion of work, dimensional accuracy, and overall appearance of paint job, and test-drive vehicles to ensure proper alignment and handling.
  • Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.
  • Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.
  • Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.
  • Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.
  • Chain or clamp frames and sections to alignment machines that use hydraulic pressure to align damaged components.
  • Cut and tape plastic separating film to outside repair areas to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces during repair procedure and remove tape and wash surfaces after repairs are complete.
  • Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.
  • Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.
  • Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.
  • Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.
  • Remove small pits and dimples in body metal, using pick hammers and punches.
  • Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders.
  • Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.
  • Fit and secure windows, vinyl roofs, and metal trim to vehicle bodies, using caulking guns, adhesive brushes, and mallets.
  • Adjust or align headlights, wheels, and brake systems.
  • Remove damaged panels, and identify the family and properties of the plastic used on a vehicle.
  • Replace damaged glass on vehicles.
  • Apply heat to plastic panels, using hot-air welding guns or immersion in hot water, and press the softened panels back into shape by hand.
  • Clean work areas, using air hoses, to remove damaged material and discarded fiberglass strips used in repair procedures.
  • Soak fiberglass matting in resin mixtures and apply layers of matting over repair areas to specified thicknesses.
Start Annual Earnings
25276.26
Top Annual Earnings
92598.63
EMSI Career Title Slug
automotive-body-and-related-repairer