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Entry Level Auto Body Paint Prepper Jobs in Reno, NV

Autobody Painter

Reno, NV · On-site

$36.84/hr

  • PTO

Working in a modern, climate-controlled environment, you'll complete all aspects of the paint ... Perform expert body repairs, including masking, sanding, and grinding * Apply primer and refinish ...

Auto Body Technician

Sparks, NV

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Team-first attitude -You collaborate with the painters, estimators, and front office staff in the business. * Must be eligible to work in the U.S. with no restrictions What's in it for you? We value ...

Auto Body Technician

Sparks, NV · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Team-first attitude -You collaborate with the painters, estimators, and front office staff in the business. * Must be eligible to work in the U.S. with no restrictions What's in it for you? We value ...

Automotive Painter

Reno, NV · On-site

$36.84/hr

  • PTO

7280 - Reno - 35 Auto Center Drive, Reno, Nevada, 89511 CarMax, the way your career should be ... body repairs, including masking, sanding, and grinding * Apply primer and refinish paint surfaces ...

Car Painter - CarMax

Reno, NV · On-site

$36.84/hr

  • PTO

7280 - Reno - 35 Auto Center Drive, Reno, Nevada, 89511 CarMax, the way your career should be ... body repairs, including masking, sanding, and grinding * Apply primer and refinish paint surfaces ...

Car Painter - Dealership

Reno, NV · On-site

$36.84/hr

  • PTO

7280 - Reno - 35 Auto Center Drive, Reno, Nevada, 89511 CarMax, the way your career should be ... body repairs, including masking, sanding, and grinding * Apply primer and refinish paint surfaces ...

7280 - Reno - 35 Auto Center Drive, Reno, Nevada, 89511 CarMax, the way your career should be ... body repairs, including masking, sanding, and grinding * Apply primer and refinish paint surfaces ...

7280 - Reno - 35 Auto Center Drive, Reno, Nevada, 89511 CarMax, the way your career should be ... body repairs, including masking, sanding, and grinding * Apply primer and refinish paint surfaces ...

7280 - Reno - 35 Auto Center Drive, Reno, Nevada, 89511 CarMax, the way your career should be ... body repairs, including masking, sanding, and grinding * Apply primer and refinish paint surfaces ...

Maintenance Technician

Carson City, NV

$23 - $25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Our benefits take a holistic approach to take care of your mind and body. We care about you as a ... Perform various proactive preventative maintenance including siding, painting, lighting, sprinkler ...

Maintenance Technician

Carson City, NV · On-site

$23 - $25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Our benefits take a holistic approach to take care of your mind and body. We care about you as a ... Perform various proactive preventative maintenance including siding, painting, lighting, sprinkler ...

Maintenance Technician

Carson City, NV · On-site

$23 - $25/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Our benefits take a holistic approach to take care of your mind and body. We care about you as a ... Perform various proactive preventative maintenance including siding, painting, lighting, sprinkler ...

Entry Level Auto Body Paint Prepper information

See Reno, NV salary details

$10

$17

$23

How much do entry level auto body paint prepper jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level auto body paint prepper in Reno, NV is $17.87, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.82 and $19.18 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by an entry level auto body paint prepper, and how can they be addressed?

Entry Level Auto Body Paint Preppers often face challenges such as maintaining consistency in surface preparation, managing time effectively to meet tight deadlines, and ensuring a dust-free environment for optimal paint adhesion. Attention to detail is crucial, as even minor imperfections can affect the final paint finish. To overcome these challenges, it's important to follow established procedures, communicate clearly with team members, and stay organized throughout each step of the prep process. Many shops also provide mentorship or ongoing training to help new preppers build their skills and confidence.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level auto body paint prepper, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Auto Body Paint Prepper, you need a basic understanding of automotive bodywork, attention to detail, and familiarity with surface preparation techniques, often supported by a high school diploma or equivalent. Experience with sanding tools, masking equipment, and safety gear such as respirators is typically required, and OSHA safety certification can be beneficial. Strong work ethic, reliability, and the ability to follow instructions precisely are important soft skills for this role. These abilities ensure surfaces are properly prepared for painting, contributing to high-quality finishes and efficient workflow in an auto body shop.

What does an entry level auto body paint prepper do?

An Entry Level Auto Body Paint Prepper is responsible for preparing vehicles for painting in an auto body shop. Their duties typically include washing and sanding surfaces, masking off areas that shouldn't be painted, and ensuring that vehicles are clean and free of debris before paint is applied. This role is essential for achieving a high-quality paint finish and often serves as a starting point for more advanced positions in auto body repair and painting.

What is the difference between Entry Level Auto Body Paint Prepper vs Entry Level Auto Body Painter?

AspectEntry Level Auto Body Paint PrepperEntry Level Auto Body Painter
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; basic trainingHigh school diploma or equivalent; basic training
Work EnvironmentAuto body shops, collision repair centersAuto body shops, collision repair centers
Job FocusPreparing surfaces, sanding, maskingApplying paint, finishing coats
Common UsagePrepares vehicles for paintingCompletes the painting process

While both roles work in auto body repair shops and require similar certifications, the Entry Level Auto Body Paint Prepper focuses on surface preparation tasks like sanding and masking, whereas the Entry Level Auto Body Painter is responsible for applying paint and finishing coats. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations in auto collision repair.

What are the most commonly searched types of Auto Body Paint Prepper jobs in Reno, NV?

The most popular types of Auto Body Paint Prepper jobs in Reno, NV are:

What cities near Reno, NV are hiring for Entry Level Auto Body Paint Prepper jobs?

Cities near Reno, NV with the most Entry Level Auto Body Paint Prepper job openings:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Auto Body Paint Prepper job openings in Reno, NV as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $37,172 per year, or $17.9 per hour.

Autobody Painter

Carmax

Reno, NV • On-site

$36.84/hr

Full-time

PTO

Posted 17 days ago


CarMax rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 371 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

26th of 733 rated retailers


Job description

7280 - Reno - 35 Auto Center Drive, Reno, Nevada, 89511

CarMax, the way your career should be! 

 

Position Overview

As a Sr. Reconditioning Associate, you’ll play a key role in ensuring every vehicle meets CarMax’s quality standards. Working in a modern, climate-controlled environment, you’ll complete all aspects of the paint preparation process and occasionally support Cosmetic Reconditioning Associate II and Flow Inventory Associate II duties. This is your opportunity to work alongside skilled technicians, gain hands-on experience, and help deliver vehicles that exceed customer expectations. At CarMax, we invest in your growth and provide the tools and training you need to succeed.

Why CarMax?

At CarMax, we are the nation’s largest retailer of used cars with stores from coast to coast, and we are still growing. We’re rethinking the way people buy cars – and our associates help us do just that. We believe work should feel meaningful and rewarding, with opportunities to make an impact every day. Whether you’re advancing your career or growing your skillset, we are here to drive you forward.

Role Responsibilities

  • Perform expert body repairs, including masking, sanding, and grinding
  • Apply primer and refinish paint surfaces to meet CarMax standards
  • Remove and replace parts as needed for cosmetic and structural integrity
  • Repair plastic and substrate damage with precision and care
  • Conduct post-paint refinishing, defect correction, and maintain and repair specialized equipment
  • Deliver exceptional customer service to internal and external partners
  • Follow CarMax Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) requirements and maintain a clean and orderly work area.

Required Qualifications

  • Completion of New Associate Orientation Training – Operations
  • Accountability to Associate 1 Competency Model
  • CarMax timekeeping systems training for hourly associates
  • Meet Cosmetic Reconditioning Associate II and Flow Inventory Associate II Performance Standards
  • Achieve workstation certifications for Cosmetic Reconditioning Associate II, Flow Inventory Associate II, and Senior Reconditioning Associate
  • Ability to read, interpret, and transcribe data accurately, and perform multiple tasks in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.
  • Required to use CarMax-provided respiratory protection. Must be clean-shaven to use half-face respirator.

About CarMax

At CarMax, we revolutionized the used car buying experience over 30 years ago by introducing transparency and integrity into the process. Our commitment to customer experience, innovation, and community has made us the nation’s largest used car retailer. With over 250 store locations and over 30,000 associates, we are proud to have been recognized as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® and are committed to helping our communities thrive.

As an associate, you are part of an innovative movement to empower the modern customer and drive progress. Your work fuels change—sparking ideas, overcoming challenges, and shaping what’s next. Join us in creating a better future– for our company, our customers, and the communities we call home.

CarMax is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The hourly rate for this position is:

$36.84 - $36.84

Benefits:

Except as otherwise required by state law, CarMax Associates are entitled to the following paid sick, vacation, and holiday time.

Associates that are considered full-time hourly or commission/incentive eligible:

  • To earn up to 48 hours of sick time per year accrued on a per pay period basis and between 80 hours and 200 hours per year of vacation time after a 90 day waiting period depending on years of continuous service with the Company. 
  • For 8 hours of pay for each of a total of 6 paid scheduled holidays per year plus 1 floating holiday.  If such an Associate does work on a scheduled holiday due to business need, they are eligible for Holiday Premium Pay. 

Associates considered full-time salaried are entitled to paid time away with no specified limit as needed for sick, vacation, bereavement, jury duty, holidays, floating holiday, etc. subject to manager approval. 

For more details about benefits, please visit our CarMax Benefits website.

Upon an applicant's request, CarMax will consider reasonable accommodation to complete the CarMax Job Application.


What CarMax employees say

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About CarMax

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

CarMax disrupted the auto industry by delivering the honest, transparent and high-integrity experience customers want and deserve. This innovative thinking around the way cars are bought and sold has helped us become the nation's largest retailer of used cars, with over 200 locations nationwide. Our amazing team of more than 25,000 associates work together to deliver iconic customer experiences. Along the way, we help every associate grow their career and achieve their best, at work and in their community. We are recognized for our commitment to training and diversity and are one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®.

Industry

Automobile dealers and finance and insurance

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Henrico, VA, US