National
| Median wages (2008) |
$17.81 hourly, $37,040 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
183,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Average (7% to 13%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
64,000 additional employees |
49-3021.00 - Automotive Body and Related Repairers
Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
Sample of reported job titles:
Auto Body Technician, Body Man, Auto Body Man, Body Technician, Auto Body Repairman, Automotive Painter, Auto Body Repair Technician, Auto Body Repairer, Autobody Technician, Body and Frame Man
Tasks
- Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.
- Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.
- Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.
- 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.
- Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.
- Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.
- Chain or clamp frames and sections to alignment machines that use hydraulic pressure to align damaged components.
- Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.
- File, grind, sand and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.
- Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Metal cutters — Double-edged cutter tools; Panel cutters; Pneumatic metal cutting guns |
| Pneumatic hammer — Air chisels; Air hammers; Pneumatic hammers; Pneumatic smoothing hammers |
| Pullers — Pick pull rods; Pull rods; Slide hammers; T pullers |
| Shears — Foot shears; Hand shears; Power shears |
| Trim or molding tools — Crown spoons; Door skin dollies; Toe dollies; Universal railroad dollies |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Accounting software — Accounts receivable software |
| Analytical or scientific software — Collision damage estimation software; Collision damage measurement software; Paint mixing and matching software; Swan River Estimiser Pro |
| Calendar and scheduling software — Appointment scheduling software |
| Data base user interface and query software — AutoZone ALLDATA; Equipment management information software |
| Inventory management software — Materials management software |
