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

Automotive body repairers work indoors in body shops, which are often noisy. Most shops are well ventilated, so that dust and paint fumes can be dispersed. They sometimes work in awkward and cramped positions, and their work can be physically demanding. 

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

Employment of automotive body and glass repairers is projected to grow 9 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. Job opportunities should be very good for jobseekers with industry certification and formal training in automotive body and glass repair.

This occupation supported 172,200 jobs in 2012 and 169,000 jobs in 2014, reflecting a decline of 1.9%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 13.4% in 2022 to 195,200 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 176,700, compared with an observed value of 169,000, 4.4% lower than expected. This indicates current employment trends are worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 8.9% in 2024 to 184,300 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 199,700 jobs for 2024, 8.4% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation.