Automotive Body and Related Repairers
Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
149,310 people do this job in the US. $54,890 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 8%
- 0%
- 92%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 6%. Today's estimate: 7%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 25 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.Done daily by most who do it. | 14% | 2.5 h50 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.Done several times a day by most who do it. | 12% | 2.1 h50 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 9% | 3.3 h1.3 h to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Inspect repaired vehicles for proper functioning, completion of work, dimensional accuracy, and overall appearance of paint job, and test-drive vehicles to ensure proper alignment and handling.Done daily by most who do it. | 8% | 1.3 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 50 min17 min to 2.1 h | Stays with people | |
| Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.Done daily by most who do it. | 7% | 50 min25 min to 2.1 h | Stays with people | |
| Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders.Done several times a day by most who do it. | 6% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Fit and secure windows, vinyl roofs, and metal trim to vehicle bodies, using caulking guns, adhesive brushes, and mallets.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 1.7 h25 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | 87%Half by now | |
| Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 50 min17 min to 2.1 h | Stays with people | |
| Apply heat to plastic panels, using hot-air welding guns or immersion in hot water, and press the softened panels back into shape by hand.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.Done daily by most who do it. | 2% | 38 min13 min to 1.3 h | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics4% now, 4% by 2028
- Rail Car Repairers3% now, 3% by 2028
- Tire Builders0% now, 0% by 2028
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers4% now, 4% by 2028
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers3% now, 3% by 2028
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers8% now, 9% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).