Auto Body Technician
Quick Facts
Median Salary$51,946
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth+40.21%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment
What They Do
An Auto Body Technician repairs exterior damage on cars such as dents and scrapes, and restores and improves the exterior appearance of cars.
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.
What to expect as an Auto Body Technician
1Earn a High school or GED Diploma
25% of people achieve this level of education.
2Gain skills and experience
See Auto Body Technician related courses on Tallo
3Land a job
2974 openings for Auto Body Technicians
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
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