There are numerous types of jobs in the auto body industry. Technical jobs include auto body technician, mechanic, tire technician, and glass and windshield repair. More administrative-related jobs include vehicle inspectors, car rental agents, tow truck drivers, driving instructors, and detailers. Each of these jobs requires specific skills and have unique responsibilities and duties. Almost all of the positions require you to have a clean driving record and a strong interest in cars and other vehicles.

Getting a job in the automotive industry requires a number of qualifications, but they vary depending on the job you are seeking. Automotive engineers, for example, need to have a bachelor’s degree in a field such as mechanical engineering and specific training. An auto body technician, on the other hand, does not need a college degree but should have professional certification, such as the Automotive Service Excellence certificate. Non-technical positions, such as sales associates or car rental agents need strong customer service skills and excellent verbal communication.

High Paying Auto Body Jobs

List of the top 10 highest paying Auto Body positions in 2026, with salary ranges, according to ZipRecruiter.

Body Man
Salary range: $60,000 - $100,000
A body man is an aide for political candidates or high-level politicians, addressing daily needs and ensuring security. As this type of personal aide, your responsibilities range from scheduling travel, meals, and lodging to providing snacks and other necessities. A body man may also be required to screen attendees at events and accompany the person to formal and informal engagements. Qualifications for body man roles do not follow any standard. However, past political experience, exceptional communication skills, and attention to detail are helpful in this career.
Collision Center Manager
Salary range: $42,500 - $85,500
As a collision center manager, you lead and manage an automotive accident repair center, ensuring sales, financial, and customer satisfaction goals are achieved. Your responsibilities include examining cars in the auto body shop that have been in an accident and estimating the cost of parts and labor to fix each vehicle. You plan daily collision repair schedules to ensure efficient workflow, assign work, supervise the parts department, estimate repair time, and meet customer deadlines. You are also expected to identify and solve quality issues and repair delays quickly. Other duties include inspecting repairs to verify that standard operating procedures are followed and that you meet strict quality standards before delivering vehicles to customers. You may also manage the annual budget and hold team meetings to ensure staff members understand top priorities.
Auto Body Estimator
Salary range: $50,000 - $77,000
The job of an auto body estimator is to evaluate the cost of collision repair service for each car brought to a shop. They may check the vehicle owner's insurance, collect information on the price of parts, determine what repairs are necessary, and handle special requests. An auto body estimator frequently works directly with customers, uses electronic pricing and scheduling systems, helps develop repair plans, and reviews guidelines from insurance companies and vehicle manufacturers. Their responsibilities are to make repair decisions and coordinate the timing of work to ensure car repairs are completed as quickly as possible.
Auto Body Shop Manager
Salary range: $36,000 - $75,000
An auto body shop manager oversees auto body repair work. Auto body shop managers verify customer insurance policies to confirm which repairs are covered, document work done in the shop, and purchase equipment and supplies. They also train staff to perform quality repairs, ensuring they pay attention to details; each completed job should restore the vehicle to its original condition. Dents should be smoothed out; paint should be applied perfectly. The auto body shop manager may also inspect each vehicle to ensure that the repair meets shop standards and client expectations.
Automotive Body and Glass Repairer
Salary range: $36,000 - $75,000
The majority of Automotive Body and Glass Repairer salaries across the United States currently range between $36,000 (25th percentile) and $75,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Automotive Body and Glass Repairer job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.
Collision Technician
Salary range: $45,000 - $68,000
Collision technicians repair the bodywork damage of a vehicle sustained in an accident. In this role, you assess the damage, order parts to fix the car, and ensure the repairs are completed accurately and within a reasonable timeframe. You may also be responsible for itemizing the repair estimates for the client and insurance company or determining if a vehicle has severe structural damage and is either beyond repair or would cost more to fix than the car is worth. Collision technicians often complete other work in a body shop, such as minor aesthetic repairs, bodywork enhancements to a vehicle, or some mechanical repairs.
Automotive Welder
Salary range: $40,000 - $67,000
The majority of Automotive Welder salaries across the United States currently range between $40,000 (25th percentile) and $67,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Automotive Welder job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.
Automotive Painter
Salary range: $41,000 - $61,000
The job of an automotive painter is to use spray paint tools and other equipment to paint a vehicle for a client. This may be done as part of the initial manufacturing process or as part of repair work. People in this position also help prepare vehicles and parts for painting, finish the process by applying additional protective layers, and coordinate with other staff members to meet work demands. An automotive painter is often responsible for accurately blending colors, managing the stages of painting, and maintaining a proper painting environment. On occasion, they may be asked to work overtime to complete a job on time. Most automotive painters focus on standard car and truck paint jobs, but a few specialize in other areas like commercial transport trucks or unique patterns and designs.
Automotive Paint Technician
Salary range: $38,500 - $61,000
An automotive paint technician works at a car manufacturing facility or at an auto body shop, where they paint the exterior parts of new cars or customize or touch up a paint job after body repair. Your duties and responsibilities in this career are to paint the surfaces of vehicles using specialized painting tools like sprayers. You need to know the specific types of coating and paint necessary for each job. For example, heavy-duty trucks or construction equipment might need paint that lasts in severe weather.
Body Shop Mechanic
Salary range: $44,000 - $61,000
The majority of Body Shop Mechanic salaries across the United States currently range between $44,000 (25th percentile) and $61,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Body Shop Mechanic job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.
Van Body Specialist
Salary range: $48,000 - $56,000
The majority of Van Body Specialist salaries across the United States currently range between $48,000 (25th percentile) and $56,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Van Body Specialist job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.
Automotive Machinist
Salary range: $43,000 - $54,500
As an engine or automotive machinist, you create or repair parts of a vehicle. Your responsibilities are to use machines to cut and shape metal for repairs. You use your tools to resurface and renovate components. As an automotive machinist, you may also build or add parts to motors to enhance their performance. While many machinists work in garages or other repair facilities, you can also specialize in customizing engines for racing teams.
Car Restorer
Salary range: $30,500 - $52,000
Car restorers repair new or classic vehicles with the goal of returning them to its best possible condition. In this role, you may replace old parts and use specialized tools or techniques to make the car look and function like new. Most car restorers work in one of two categories. The first form, sometimes known as purist restorers, help restore cars to the way manufacturers originally built them. The second form, sometimes known as the innovators, add new technologies and components to create faster, safer versions of old vehicles while maintaining a classic appearance. Fulfilling the responsibilities of a car restorer requires creativity, stamina, and familiarity with a variety of old automotive systems.
Auto Body Detailer
Salary range: $32,500 - $40,000
The majority of Auto Body Detailer salaries across the United States currently range between $32,500 (25th percentile) and $40,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Auto Body Detailer job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

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