Auto body (collision repair) technicians restore damaged vehicles — straightening frames, replacing panels, and refinishing to factory condition. It's hands-on, detail-driven craft work with steady demand: as long as there are cars, there are collisions to repair.
Prep, sanding, and disassembly while learning. Building fundamentals under a lead tech.
After certs. Independent panel and structural repair. Pay climbs with skill and speed.
Complex structural and refinish work. $65K–$85K.
Move into estimating, management, or running your own shop.
Your skills and interests may fit more than one trade. Compare before you commit.
Our Salary Compare tool shows Auto Body Technician wages at every level — and stacks them against other trades and a 4-year degree.
Compare Auto Body Technician Salaries →Registered apprenticeships pay you from day one. There is no national list of open seats — programs recruit on their own schedules. The way in is to find the programs near you and ask when they take applications.
Find programs near you → Browse Trade SchoolsThe DOL Partner Finder lists registered apprenticeship sponsors — employers and organizations that run programs. Search Auto Body Repair and your state, then call the ones near you and ask when they accept applications. Some open once a year.y or ZIP to see what's open near you.