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Automotive Paint Prepper Jobs in Alabama (NOW HIRING)

Paint Prepper (min 6 months professional experience): prepare vehicles for cosmetic paintwork ... We also have a variety of other automotive roles available in one of our 18 locations across the ...

Paint Prepper (min 6 months professional experience): prepare vehicles for cosmetic paintwork ... We also have a variety of other automotive roles available in one of our 18 locations across the ...

Paint Prepper (min 6 months professional experience): prepare vehicles for cosmetic paintwork ... We also have a variety of other automotive roles available in one of our 18 locations across the ...

Paint Prepper (min 6 months professional experience): prepare vehicles for cosmetic paintwork ... We also have a variety of other automotive roles available in one of our 18 locations across the ...

Paint Prepper (min 6 months professional experience): prepare vehicles for cosmetic paintwork ... We also have a variety of other automotive roles available in one of our 18 locations across the ...

Paint Prepper (min 6 months professional experience): prepare vehicles for cosmetic paintwork ... We also have a variety of other automotive roles available in one of our 18 locations across the ...

Paint Prepper (min 6 months professional experience): prepare vehicles for cosmetic paintwork ... We also have a variety of other automotive roles available in one of our 18 locations across the ...

Paint Prepper (min 6 months professional experience): prepare vehicles for cosmetic paintwork ... We also have a variety of other automotive roles available in one of our 18 locations across the ...

Paint Prepper (min 6 months professional experience): prepare vehicles for cosmetic paintwork ... We also have a variety of other automotive roles available in one of our 18 locations across the ...

Paint Prepper (min 6 months professional experience): prepare vehicles for cosmetic paintwork ... We also have a variety of other automotive roles available in one of our 18 locations across the ...

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Automotive Paint Prepper information

See Alabama salary details

$9

$16

$21

How much do automotive paint prepper jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for automotive paint prepper in Alabama is $16.25, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.38 and $17.45 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an automotive paint prepper do?

An Automotive Paint Prepper is responsible for preparing vehicles for the painting process in auto body shops or collision repair centers. Their tasks include cleaning, sanding, masking, and priming vehicle surfaces to ensure paint adheres properly and the final finish looks professional. They also inspect surfaces for imperfections, repair minor dents or scratches, and ensure safety standards are followed. Paint Preppers play a vital role in achieving high-quality paint jobs and maintaining vehicle appearance.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be an automotive paint prepper?

To thrive as an Automotive Paint Prepper, you need a strong understanding of surface preparation techniques, knowledge of automotive painting processes, and typically a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with sanding equipment, masking tools, spray booths, and sometimes certifications in automotive refinishing are important. Attention to detail, time management, and effective teamwork are valuable soft skills in this role. These skills ensure vehicles are properly prepared for painting, resulting in high-quality finishes and efficient workflow in the body shop.

What does a typical day look like for an automotive paint prepper?

A typical day for an Automotive Paint Prepper involves tasks such as sanding, masking, cleaning, and priming vehicle surfaces to ensure they're ready for painting. Preppers work closely with painters, body technicians, and sometimes estimators to ensure each vehicle meets quality standards and deadlines. Clear communication and teamwork are essential, as Preppers must coordinate with painters to manage workflow and address any surface issues before painting begins. This collaborative environment helps maintain efficiency and delivers a high-quality finish for every job.

What is the difference between Automotive Paint Prepper vs Automotive Painter?

AspectAutomotive Paint PrepperAutomotive Painter
CredentialsHigh school diploma, on-the-job trainingHigh school diploma, vocational training or apprenticeship
Work EnvironmentPreparation area, spray booths, repair shopsPaint booths, repair shops, body shops
Job FocusSurface preparation, sanding, maskingApplying paint, finishing coats, color matching

Automotive Paint Prepper primarily focuses on preparing vehicle surfaces for painting, including sanding and masking, while Automotive Painter applies the paint and finishes. Both roles require similar certifications and work in comparable environments, but their core responsibilities differ, with prepper ensuring surfaces are ready for painting and painter executing the actual paint application.

Infographic showing various Automotive Paint Prepper job openings in Alabama as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $33,791 per year, or $16.2 per hour.

Auto Painter - $4,000 Bonus

Birmingham, AL • On-site

Carvana
Automobile Dealers • 5 - 10K employees

Part-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago


Carvana rating

7.0

Company rating: 7.0 out of 10

Based on 281 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

We're looking for Auto Painters with a minimum of 3 years 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 Mid-Level Painter, you'll be expected to match/mix paint color and use water-based paint to paint the vehicle inside our paint booths. 
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

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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