1

Senior Automotive Painter Jobs (NOW HIRING)

We're looking for Auto Painters with a minimum of 5 years of professional automotive painting experience to join us at Carvana - the fastest-growing used automotive retailer in U.S. history and one ...

We're looking for Auto Painters with a minimum of 5 years of professional automotive painting experience to join us at Carvana - the fastest-growing used automotive retailer in U.S. history and one ...

We're looking for Auto Painters with a minimum of 5 years of professional automotive painting experience to join us at Carvana - the fastest-growing used automotive retailer in U.S. history and one ...

We're looking for Auto Painters with a minimum of 5 years of professional automotive painting experience to join us at Carvana - the fastest-growing used automotive retailer in U.S. history and one ...

We're looking for Auto Painters with a minimum of 5 years of professional automotive painting experience to join us at Carvana - the fastest-growing used automotive retailer in U.S. history and one ...

We're looking for Auto Painters with a minimum of 5 years of professional automotive painting experience to join us at Carvana - the fastest-growing used automotive retailer in U.S. history and one ...

Here's what else you'll bring: * 4+ years of experience painting vehicles in an automotive collision repair or OEM production environment. * Proficient in prepping including sanding, masking, and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Senior Automotive Painter information

See salary details

$25K

$80.3K

$163.5K

How much do senior automotive painter jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior automotive painter in the United States is $80,287.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41,500.00 and $103,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior automotive painter do?

A Senior Automotive Painter is responsible for preparing and applying paint to vehicles, ensuring a high-quality finish that meets manufacturer and shop standards. They oversee surface preparation, color matching, mixing paints, and applying coatings using various techniques such as spraying or brushing. In addition to painting, they may supervise junior painters, maintain equipment, and ensure safety protocols are followed. Their experience allows them to handle complex jobs, address defects, and deliver consistent results on a variety of vehicles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior automotive painter, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Automotive Painter, you need advanced knowledge of automotive painting techniques, surface preparation, color matching, and a relevant certification or apprenticeship. Familiarity with spray booths, paint mixing systems, computerized color-matching tools, and safety equipment is typically required. Attention to detail, time management, and strong communication skills are valuable soft skills that set top professionals apart in this role. These competencies ensure high-quality finishes, efficient workflow, and customer satisfaction in a demanding, precision-driven environment.

What are some common challenges senior automotive painters face when working on complex or custom paint jobs?

Senior Automotive Painters often encounter challenges such as matching specialized colors, achieving flawless finishes on intricate bodywork, and managing time constraints while maintaining high quality. Handling custom paint jobs also requires expertise in advanced techniques and familiarity with a variety of paint materials and application methods. Collaboration with body technicians and estimators is key to ensuring the final results meet client expectations and industry standards.

What is the difference between Senior Automotive Painter vs Automotive Painter?

AspectSenior Automotive PainterAutomotive Painter
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma, advanced training, certifications in painting techniquesHigh school diploma, basic training in automotive painting
Work EnvironmentAuto body shops, manufacturing plants, dealershipsAuto body shops, repair garages
Job ResponsibilitiesLeading painting projects, quality control, mentoring junior paintersApplying paint, prepping surfaces, basic repairs

Senior Automotive Painters typically have more experience, advanced certifications, and take on leadership roles in auto painting projects. Automotive Painters perform the core painting tasks. The senior role involves oversight and quality assurance, while the standard role focuses on executing painting tasks.

More about Senior Automotive Painter jobs

What cities are hiring for Senior Automotive Painter jobs?

Cities with the most Senior Automotive Painter job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Automotive Painter jobs?

The most popular types of Automotive Painter jobs are:

What states have the most Senior Automotive Painter jobs?

States with the most job openings for Senior Automotive Painter jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Senior Automotive Painter jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Automotive Painter jobs are:

Infographic showing various Senior Automotive Painter job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,287 per year, or $38.6 per hour.

Senior Automotive Painter

Carvana

Chandler, AZ • On-site

Part-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Carvana rating

7.0

Company rating: 7.0 out of 10

Based on 281 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

146th of 739 rated retailers


Job description

We're looking for Auto Painters with a minimum of 5 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 an Experienced Painter, you'll be expected to be highly skilled in painting (base coats, tri-coats, solid, metallic, and clear coats), blending adjacent panels, and paint correcting vehicles.
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 CarvanaAt 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