Automotive Body and Related Repairers
Machines can already do 15% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 49%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Automotive Body and Related Repairers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 15% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2036, and 49% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 149,310 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $54,890 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 57% for contact with people.
- Also called: Auto Body Man, Auto Body Repair Technician (Auto Body Repair Tech), Auto Body Repairman, Automotive Body Technician (Auto Body Tech).
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools | 11% | 20% to 60% | |
| Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment | 11% | 3% to 30% | |
| 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 | 10% | 20% to 60% | |
| Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed | 6% | 48% to 80% | |
| Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders | 5% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills automotive body and related repairers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Segmental Pavers40% of tasks by 2035
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- Tree Trimmers and Pruners46% of tasks by 2035 · US median $50,960
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Automotive Body and Related Repairers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2036. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of automotive body and related repairers?
Machines can do 15% of the tasks of automotive body and related repairers today and 49% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 49-3021.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Automotive Body and Related Repairers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/automotive-body-and-related-repairers/