Auto Body Painter Salary in the United States

How much does an Auto Body Painter make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Auto Body Painter in the United States is $47,105 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.

However, an Auto Body Painter's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $54,360
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $42,159 to $50,903
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $37,655

Key Factors That Influence Auto Body Painter Salaries

An Auto Body Painter's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Auto Body Painters

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $59,414
  • San Francisco: $58,763
  • Oakland: $57,525

What Skills Can Increase an Auto Body Painter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.47% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Regulatory Compliance (Mentioned in 4.22% Job Postings): Monitoring strict adherence of all organizational processes and procedures to applicable laws and regulations.
  • Lean Manufacturing (Mentioned in 0.91% Job Postings): Lean manufacturing or lean production is a systematic method originating in the Japanese manufacturing industry for the minimization of waste (無駄, muda) within a manufacturing system without sacrificing productivity, which can cause problems. Lean also takes into account waste created through overburden (無理, muri) and unevenness in work loads (斑, mura). Working from the perspective of the client who consumes a product or service, "value" is any action or process that a customer would be willing to pay for.[citation needed] Lean manufacturing attempts to make obvious what adds value, through reducing everything else (because it is not adding value). This management philosophy is derived mostly from the Toyota Production System (TPS) and identified as "lean" only in the 1990s.[page needed], TPS is renowned for its focus on reduction of the original Toyota seven wastes to improve overall customer value, but there are varying perspectives on how this is best achieved. The steady growth of Toyota, from a small company to the world's largest automaker, has focused attention on how it has achieved this success.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 7.47%
Regulatory Compliance 4.22%
Lean Manufacturing 0.91%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Auto Body Painter's salary.

  • Process Inspection: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Business Model: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Self Motivation: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Inspection $53,229
13%
Business Model $52,287
11%
Self Motivation $52,287
11%

Auto Body Painter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Auto Body Painter roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Auto Body Painter positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Auto Body Painter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Auto Body Painter

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$56,526$27.020%
Software & Networking$56,526$27.020%
Energy & Utilities$54,171$26.015%
Biotechnology$51,816$25.010%
Internet$51,816$25.010%

How Education impacts an Auto Body Painter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Auto Body Painters enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Auto Body Painter with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $47,363 and $50,313).

Auto Body Painter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Auto Body Painter
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 71.4%
High School 71.4%
Associates 14.3%
Bachelors 14.3%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%

Auto Body Painter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Auto Body Painter's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$42,159
Average $47,105/year
$50,903
$3,513
Average $3,925/month
$4,242
$811
Average $906/week
$979
$20
Average $23/hour
$24
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $50,903 $4,242 $979 $24
Average $47,105 $3,925 $906 $23
25th Percentile $42,159 $3,513 $811 $20

Most common benefits for Auto Body Painter

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Auto Body Painter

Here are companies hiring for Auto Body Painter and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Auto Body Painter

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Auto Body Painter?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Auto Body Painter roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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