Automotive Body and Glass Repairers

Automotive body and glass repairers restore, refinish, and replace vehicle bodies and frames, windshields, and window glass.

Duties

Automotive body repairers typically do the following:

• Review damage reports, prepare cost estimates, and plan work
• Inspect cars for structural damage
• Remove damaged body parts, including bumpers, fenders, hoods, grilles, and trim
• Realign car frames and chassis to repair structural damage
• Hammer out or patch dents, dimples, and other minor body damage
• Fit, attach, and weld replacement parts into place
• Sand, buff, and prime refurbished and repaired surfaces
• Apply new finish to restored body parts

Automotive glass installers and repairers typically do the following:

• Examine damaged glass or windshields and assess repairability
• Clean damaged areas and prepare the surfaces for repair
• Stabilize chips and cracks with clear resin
• Remove glass that cannot be repaired
• Check windshield frames for rust
• Clean windshield frames and prepare them for installation
• Apply urethane sealant to the windshield frames
• Install replacement glass
• Replace any parts removed prior to repairs

Automotive body and glass repairers can repair most damage from vehicle collisions and make vehicles look and drive like new. Repairs may be minor, such as replacing a cracked windshield, or major, such as replacing an entire door panel. After a major collision, the underlying frame of a car can become weakened or compromised. Body repairers restore the structural integrity of car frames to manufacturer specifications.

Body repairers use pneumatic tools and plasma cutters to remove damaged parts, such as bumpers and door panels. They also often use heavy-duty hydraulic jacks and hammers for major structural repairs, such as aligning the body. For some work, they use common hand tools, such as metal files, pliers, wrenches, hammers, and screwdrivers.

In some cases, body repairers complete an entire job by themselves. In other cases, especially in large shops, they use an assembly line approach in which they work as a team with each individual performing a specialized task.

Although body repairers sometimes prime and paint repaired parts, painting and coating workers generally perform these tasks.

Glass installers and repairers often travel to the customer’s location and perform their work in the field. They commonly use specialized tools such as vacuum pumps to fill windshield cracks and chips with a stabilizing resin. When windshields are badly damaged, they use knives to remove the damaged windshield, and then they secure the new windshield using a special urethane adhesive.

Automotive body and related repairers held about 172,600 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of automotive body and related repairers were as follows:

Automotive glass installers and repairers held about 20,400 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of automotive glass installers and repairers were as follows:

Body repairers typically work indoors in body shops, which are often noisy. Most shops are well ventilated, so that dust and paint fumes can be dispersed. Glass installers and repairers often travel to the customer’s location to repair damaged windshields and window glass.

Automotive body and glass repairers sometimes work in awkward and cramped positions, and their work can be physically demanding.

Injuries and Illnesses

Automotive glass installers and repairers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Injuries may occur due to overexertion and contact with objects or equipment. Workers reduce the risk of injury by following safety procedures and practices, such as using proper lifting technique and wearing a face shield to protect the eyes and skin from glass shards.

Work Schedules

Most automotive body and glass repairers work full time. When shops have to complete a backlog of work, overtime is common. This often includes working evenings and weekends.

Most employers prefer to hire automotive body and glass repairers who have completed a training program in automotive body or glass repair. Still, many new automotive body and glass repairers begin work without previous training. Industry certification is becoming increasingly important.

The median annual wage for automotive body and related repairers was $51,680 in May 2024.

The median annual wage for automotive glass installers and repairers was $47,260 in May 2024.

Overall employment of automotive body and glass repairers is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.

Despite limited employment growth, about 16,000 openings for automotive body and glass repairers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.