Automotive Body and Related Repairers

Automotive Body and Related Repairers score 4 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #833 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 25 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 0 on its own and 2 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

4/ 100

Low

Rank: #833of 923 jobs
US workers: 149,310BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $54,890a year
In real AI use: 0 of 25tasks, April–May 2026

Free report

Follow how AI is changing automotive body and related repairers work.

Subscribe to the weekly report and get The AI Job Exposure Report (PDF) right away: the most and least exposed jobs, exposure by field, and the AI-resilient jobs that pay well.

Free · one email a week · unsubscribe anytime

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 0 (0%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 2 (8%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 23 (92%)

Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Remove damaged panels, and identify the family and properties of the plastic used on a vehicle.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
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.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
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.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Chain or clamp frames and sections to alignment machines that use hydraulic pressure to align damaged components.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Cut and tape plastic separating film to outside repair areas to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces during repair procedure and remove tape and wash surfaces after repairs are complete.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Remove small pits and dimples in body metal, using pick hammers and punches.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Fit and secure windows, vinyl roofs, and metal trim to vehicle bodies, using caulking guns, adhesive brushes, and mallets.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Adjust or align headlights, wheels, and brake systems.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Replace damaged glass on vehicles.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
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.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Clean work areas, using air hoses, to remove damaged material and discarded fiberglass strips used in repair procedures.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Soak fiberglass matting in resin mixtures and apply layers of matting over repair areas to specified thicknesses.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Read specifications or confer with customers to determine the desired custom modifications for altering the appearance of vehicles.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Cut openings in vehicle bodies for the installation of customized windows, using templates and power shears or chisels.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Measure and mark vinyl material and cut material to size for roof installation, using rules, straightedges, and hand shears.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

What you can do about it

Get a personal plan for what to learn next.

Skill Half Life turns this score into a 90-day plan for your situation: your realistic options, the skills that carry over, and training that fits your time and budget. Coming soon.

See your options

Similar jobs, lower exposure

Related occupations that score at least 10 points lower.

This job is already among the least exposed in its field.

Other jobs in this field

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair occupations close to this one.

All installation, maintenance, and repair jobs and AI

Questions about automotive body and related repairers and AI

Will AI replace automotive body and related repairers?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Automotive Body and Related Repairers score 4 out of 100 (low exposure), #833 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 2 of the job's 25 tasks, 0 of them on its own, while 23 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which automotive body and related repairers tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed"; "Remove damaged panels, and identify the family and properties of the plastic used on a vehicle".

Which automotive body and related repairers tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools"; "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"; "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".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as automotive body and related repairers, and what do they earn?

About 149,310 people in the US, with median pay of $54,890 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.