Auto Body Technician Salary
The median annual wage for auto body technicians in the United States is $54,890, about $26.39 an hour (BLS, May 2025). The middle half earns $45,750 to $69,200. In the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area the median is $56,680.
Data as of May 2025.
Auto Body Technician pay by percentile
| Percentile | United States | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,910 | $37,820 |
| 25th percentile | $45,750 | $47,840 |
| Median (50th) | $54,890 | $56,680 |
| 75th percentile | $69,200 | $60,760 |
| 90th percentile | $87,940 | $84,410 |
| Mean (average) | $59,690 | $58,970 |
| Workers employed | 149,310 | 2,010 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Hourly equivalent of the U.S. median: $26.39.
U.S. Range
10th to 90th percentile, annual wage
The shaded band is the middle half of workers: $45,750 to $69,200.
BLS counted 149,310 workers in "Automotive Body and Related Repairers" in May 2025. Their median annual wage was $54,890, so half earned less and half earned more. The mean was $59,690, pulled above the median by a smaller group of high earners. The lowest-paid tenth earned $36,910 or less and the highest-paid tenth earned $87,940 or more, about 2.4 times as much.
In the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area BLS counted 2,010 workers, about 1.3% of the national total. The metro median of $56,680 is 3% above the national median.
BLS reports this occupation as "Automotive Body and Related Repairers". It covers collision repair at dealership body shops, independent collision centers and insurer-affiliated shops.
Auto Body Technician salary by state
Rhode Island has the highest state median at $72,490 and Kentucky the lowest at $46,080, a gap of $26,410. 20 of 51 state medians are above the national figure. Arizona ranks 21st at $54,510, 1% below the national median. State medians ignore cost of living.
Ten Highest State Medians
Median annual wage, BLS
Median Pay by State
All 51 state medians. Hover or tap a state for the annual and hourly figures.
What affects auto body technician pay
- Many collision shops pay on production, meaning a technician earns for the repair hours completed rather than the hours clocked. That makes the spread between low and high earners wide, because speed and quality both move take-home pay.
- Structural and aluminum repair, refinishing and advanced-vehicle calibration are specialties that take extra training. Shops that do this work often rely on a smaller group of technicians who hold the right equipment skills.
- Training programs such as I-CAR and manufacturer collision certifications are common in the trade. Whether a given shop pays more for them is the employer's decision, and BLS does not publish a certification premium.
- Shop type matters. A franchise dealership body shop that works to manufacturer repair standards and an independent shop that handles a mix of insurance and cash jobs can structure pay differently.
Career Path and Pay
Collision careers often begin in prep, detailing or as a helper, where a newer worker learns sanding, masking and parts handling. From there technicians move into body repair, structural work or refinishing, each with its own training.
Experienced technicians can become estimators, who write repair plans and work with insurers, or body shop managers who run production. These roles trade hands-on repair pay for a salary and incentives tied to shop results.
What an Auto Body Technician does
- Assess damage and repair or replace panels and structural parts.
- Straighten frames and align body components using specialized equipment.
- Prepare vehicles for refinishing and reassemble them after repair.
Certifications and Training
- ASE offers collision repair certification tests, including structural and non-structural analysis.
- I-CAR provides collision repair training and credentials recognized across the industry.
Auto Body Technician salary: common questions
How much does a auto body technician make?
The median is $54,890 a year, about $26.39 an hour (BLS, May 2025). The middle half earns $45,750 to $69,200.
How much does a auto body technician make in Phoenix, Arizona?
The Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ median is $56,680, about $27.25 an hour, and the middle half earns $47,840 to $60,760.
What do the highest- and lowest-paid auto body technicians earn?
Nationally, the top tenth earn $87,940 or more and the bottom tenth earn $36,910 or less. BLS does not report pay by years of experience, so these are not formal entry-level or senior figures.
Which state pays auto body technicians the most?
Rhode Island ($72,490), then California ($66,860) and District of Columbia ($62,640).
Do body shops pay flat rate?
Many collision shops pay technicians on a flat-rate or production basis, which pays for the repair hours completed instead of the hours clocked. That makes speed, quality and a steady flow of work important to take-home pay. Practice varies, so ask how work is assigned.
What is I-CAR?
I-CAR is a nonprofit training organization for the collision repair industry. It offers courses and recognition for repairers, and many shops and manufacturers look for I-CAR training alongside on-the-job experience.
Does this salary data cover automotive dealerships only?
No. BLS reports this occupation as "Automotive Body and Related Repairers". It covers collision repair at dealership body shops, independent collision centers and insurer-affiliated shops.
How these numbers are calculated
Wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) estimates for May 2025. They cover wage and salary workers, count commissions and production bonuses, and leave out the self-employed, overtime and benefits. Hourly figures are the annual wage divided by 2,080 hours, a conversion AutoHire adds. A dash means BLS did not publish a figure.
BLS publishes May 2026 estimates in spring 2027. This page updates when they are released.
Sources
Data as of May 2025.
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