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Auto Paint Prep Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles * Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire ...

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Showing results 1-20

Auto Paint Prep information

See Indiana salary details

$13

$24

$44

How much do auto paint prep jobs pay per hour?

As of May 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for auto paint prep in Indiana is $24.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.75 and $27.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Auto Paint Prep, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Auto Paint Prep, you need attention to detail, knowledge of automotive surfaces, and experience with sanding, masking, and priming techniques, typically gained through on-the-job training or vocational education. Familiarity with spray guns, sanders, respirators, and industry-standard safety practices is essential for this role. Strong time management, reliability, and effective teamwork are important soft skills for meeting deadlines and maintaining workflow in a body shop environment. These skills ensure vehicles are properly prepared for painting, resulting in high-quality finishes and customer satisfaction.

What are some of the most common challenges faced by Auto Paint Prep technicians, and how can they be overcome?

Auto Paint Prep technicians often encounter challenges such as ensuring surfaces are thoroughly cleaned and sanded to prevent paint imperfections, managing tight deadlines for multiple vehicles, and safely handling chemicals and tools. Overcoming these challenges requires attention to detail, effective time management, and adherence to safety protocols. Technicians benefit from consistent training, clear communication with painters and supervisors, and maintaining a well-organized workspace to streamline the prep process and deliver high-quality results.

What does an Auto Paint Prep do?

An Auto Paint Prep, also known as an automotive paint preparer, prepares vehicles for painting by sanding, masking, cleaning, and priming surfaces. Their role is essential for ensuring that the paint adheres properly and that the final finish is smooth and free of imperfections. They work closely with painters and other body shop staff, following safety procedures and quality standards to deliver high-quality results. Attention to detail and knowledge of various tools and materials are important skills for this job.

What is the difference between Auto Paint Prep vs Auto Body Technician?

AspectAuto Paint PrepAuto Body Technician
CertificationsAuto Paint Certification, OSHA safety trainingASE Certification, Auto Body Repair Certification
Work EnvironmentPaint booths, spray areas, repair shopsRepair bays, collision centers, body shops
Job FocusSurface preparation, sanding, masking, primingCollision repair, dent removal, panel replacement

Auto Paint Prep specialists focus on preparing vehicle surfaces for painting, including sanding, masking, and priming. Auto Body Technicians handle broader collision repairs, including fixing dents and replacing panels. While both roles work in auto repair shops and require safety certifications, Auto Paint Prep is more specialized in surface preparation for painting, whereas Auto Body Technicians perform comprehensive collision repairs.

What are popular job titles related to Auto Paint Prep jobs in Indiana? For Auto Paint Prep jobs in Indiana, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Auto Paint Prep jobs in Indiana look for? The top searched job categories for Auto Paint Prep jobs in Indiana are:
Infographic showing various Auto Paint Prep job openings in Indiana as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 56% Full Time, 41% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 45% Physical, and 55% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,919 per year, or $25 per hour.
Auto Body Paint Prepper

Auto Body Paint Prepper

Carvana

Plainfield, IN

Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Carvana rating

6.7

Company rating: 6.7 out of 10

Based on 259 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

197th of 712 rated retailers


Job description

We're looking for Auto Painters with a minimum of 1 year of professional automotive painting experience to join us at Carvana - the fastest-growing used automotive retailer in U.S. history and one of the four fastest companies to make the Fortune 500.
As a Painter, you'll be expected to prime vehicles and perform final sanding before the vehicle is painted, along with buffing, touch-up, paint mixing, and airbrush.
At Carvana, you'll receive a competitive wage and amazing perks - including a 401(k) with Carvana match and even a vehicle purchase discount - all while using state of the art tools in one of our high-tech Inspection Centers (click here to learn more). If you're joining us in an entry-level position, we offer training programs to make sure your skills and pay progress along with the company.


Other perks of the Job

  • 100% company-paid healthcare premiums
  • Generous paid-time off and your birthday is a holiday!
  • ASE and tool reimbursement programs
  • Tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment

Schedule: 

We do everything we can to deliver an exceptional customer experience, and that includes delivering great vehicles when expected. If we're in a pinch, mandatory overtime is one way in which we can follow-through on this commitment to our customers. We're looking for team players who are all in on our mission and are able to work mandatory overtime based on our business needs. 


How To Get Started
Join the Carvana team by applying on this page, or call one of our recruiters by phone at (888) 690-7853, Monday through Friday, between 6 AM and 4 PM PT (9AM to 7PM ET).


Not a match for this role?
We have a variety of paint roles available, depending on your experience - look below to see other roles available to help us get our low-mileage, late-model cars ready for our customers:

  • Paint Prepper (min 6 months professional experience): prepare vehicles for cosmetic paintwork, including sanding, masking, taping, bagging, unbagging/tear down, and buffing
  • Entry-Level Painter (min 1 year professional experience): prime vehicles and perform final sanding before the vehicle is painted, along with buffing, touch-up, paint mixing, and airbrush.
  • Mid-Level Painter (min 3 years professional experience):  match/mix paint color and use water-based paint to paint the vehicle inside our paint booths
  • Experienced Painter (min 5 years professional experience): painting (base coats, tri-coats, solid, metallic, and clear coats), blending adjacent panels, and paint correcting vehicles.

We also have a variety of other automotive roles available in one of our 18 locations across the country - take a look at our Careers site to apply for one of the following roles:

  • Auto Body roles: Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles
  • Auto Technician/Mechanic roles: Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire, Mechanical Repair / Build, and Master Technician roles
  • Entry-Level roles: Detailing, Inventory Associate (Car Porters), Photo, Parts Associate, Inspection, and Coordinator/Administrator roles

General qualifications and requirements

  • Ability to physically operate vehicle equipment and tools - must be able to lift up to 60 pounds independently
  • Must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid driver's license. Some positions may be subject to an Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check
  • An ability to work in a fast-paced, ever-changing production environment while sometimes being exposed to excessive weather conditions (heat/cold)
  • Use of safety equipment that may include but not limited to face shield or goggles, non-slip shoes, gloves, mask, and other protective garments and equipment

About Carvana
At Carvana, we sell cars but we aren't car salesmen. Our promise is simple: we won't sell a car to a customer that we wouldn't sell to our own Mom. Period.
To make sure our cars are in first-rate condition, we've built multiple vehicle Reconditioning Centers around the country, where our cars are inspected, perfected, and photographed before reaching the Carvana website.
Think you've got what it takes to join our team? Apply today!
Carvana is an equal employment opportunity employer. All applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. Carvana also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories.
Hiring is contingent on passing a complete background check. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid driver's license. Must be able to read, write, speak and understand English.


What Carvana employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Carvana logo

About Carvana

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Carvana, we sell cars, but we're not salespeople. Since 2013, we've been making it our mission to change the way people buy cars. We saw a huge problem with how much it can suck to buy a car the traditional way, so we committed ourselves to tackling one of the largest, yet-to-be-disrupted markets in the world - the $1T per year U.S. car market (yes, that's $Trillion with a "T").

Industry

Automobile dealers

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Tempe, AZ, US

Year founded

2011