Short answer
Very unlikely. BLS rates auto body technicians among the occupations least exposed to AI, and most of the work is the kind current AI tools cannot do.
AI and jobs
Will AI Replace Auto Body Technicians? (2026)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics places auto body technicians in its low AI exposure category, among the occupations least exposed to current AI. BLS projects employment to change by +3.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 12,600 openings a year.
- BLS AI exposure
- LowBLS EP supplemental table
- AI-resilience score
- 58/100Higher than 81% of jobs · NueCareer
- Projected change
- +3.7%BLS EP 2025–2035; all jobs 3.5%
- Openings a year
- 12,600BLS EP 2025–2035
The federal measure
How exposed auto body technicians are to AI
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a relative AI exposure category for each occupation it projects, built from five public measures of where AI could be, or already is, used to assist with or complete the work. Auto Body Technicians land in the low category: among the occupations least exposed to current AI.
Where this job sits on the BLS scale
786 occupations in the NueCareer bank, in BLS's four relative categories; width shows how many fall in each
- Low · this job203 occupations · 26%
- Moderate194 occupations · 25%
- High190 occupations · 24%
- Very high199 occupations · 25%
Source: BLS Employment Projections, AI exposure categories supplemental table.
- Exposure is relative. The categories rank occupations against each other; they are not a probability that a job is automated.
- BLS says exposure does not imply job loss, productivity gains, automation probability or wage effects. A highly exposed job can still grow if AI makes the people in it more productive.
- The classification reflects AI capabilities as the underlying studies measured them. Read the BLS method and limitations.
Inside the work
What AI can and cannot do in this job
O*NET rates how important each work activity is to an occupation and how often each working condition comes up. The ratings below are the ones that move the job's NueCareer AI-resilience score the most: the ones that pull it up, and the ones that pull it down. Only ratings clearly above the midpoint count.
What holds up
Physical, hands-on and person-to-person work
- Hands-on work with tools and objects5.0/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
- Face-to-face discussions4.4/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
- Operating vehicles, mechanized devices, or equipment3.9/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Handling and moving objects3.7/5O*NET work activity, importance
What AI reaches first
Routine, repeatable and screen-based work
- Processing information3.8/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Repetitive motions4.0/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
- Getting information4.1/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Evaluating information to determine compliance with standards3.8/5O*NET work activity, importance
The tasks O*NET lists for auto body technicians
- Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.
- File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.
- Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.
- Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.
- Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders.
- Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.
O*NET 31.0 Database task statements, most important first.
The jobs
Will there still be jobs?
Exposure says where AI meets the work. The BLS projection says what the labor market is expected to do over 2025–2035. BLS projects +3.7% change in employment over the decade, against 3.5% across all occupations, and about 12,600 openings a year once retirements and career changes are counted. About 149,310 people work in the job today, at a median of $54,890 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Full automotive body and related repairer profile: pay by state, entry route and skills
Options
Related careers that are also low-exposure
Careers O*NET lists as related to the work, or in the same field at similar pay, that BLS places in a low exposure category.
Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand
Production
- Median pay
- $42,660median a year
- Growth
- −19.2%
- Openings / yr
- 700
- Education
- No formal credential
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 68/100
- resilience
Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects.
Motorcycle Mechanic
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $48,580median a year
- Growth
- +2.1%
- Openings / yr
- 1,400
- Education
- Certificate
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 66/100
- resilience
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, or similar motorized vehicles.
Rail Car Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $67,530median a year
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,600
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 64/100
- resilience
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $61,770median a year
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 24,400
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 60/100
- resilience
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines.
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $56,210median a year
- Growth
- +4.4%
- Openings / yr
- 1,400
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 59/100
- resilience
Repair, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.
Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $47,630median a year
- Growth
- +5.7%
- Openings / yr
- 1,300
- Education
- High school
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 59/100
- resilience
Replace or repair broken windshields and window glass in motor vehicles.
Questions
Will AI Replace Auto Body Technicians? FAQ
Will AI replace auto body technicians?
Very unlikely. BLS rates auto body technicians among the occupations least exposed to AI, and most of the work is the kind current AI tools cannot do. BLS defines exposure as AI being able to assist with or complete some of the work, and says it does not imply job loss, productivity gains or wage effects. BLS projects employment to change by +3.7% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 12,600 openings a year.
How exposed are auto body technicians to AI?
BLS sorts 786 occupations into four relative categories: low, moderate, high and very high. Auto Body Technicians are in the low category, alongside 202 other occupations. The categories combine five public measures of where AI could be or already is used, and they compare occupations with each other rather than giving an absolute risk.
What parts of an automotive body and related repairer's job can AI do?
In O*NET's description of the work, the parts that overlap most with what AI handles well are processing information, repetitive motions and getting information. The parts that hold up best are hands-on work with tools and objects, face-to-face discussions and operating vehicles, mechanized devices, or equipment. These come from O*NET ratings of how important each activity is to the job, read through NueCareer's AI-resilience method.
Is being an automotive body and related repairer a safe career from AI?
On NueCareer's AI-resilience score, built from O*NET work activities, auto body technicians score 58 out of 100, higher than 81% of the occupations we score. The job pays a median of $54,890 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No job is fully safe from technological change, but the federal exposure category and the projected openings are the two numbers worth weighing.
What careers similar to auto body technicians are less exposed to AI?
Grinding and Polishing Worker, Hand (low exposure, $42,660 median), Motorcycle Mechanic (low exposure, $48,580 median), Rail Car Repairer (low exposure, $67,530 median), Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist (low exposure, $61,770 median). Each is also in the low category, and most are listed by O*NET as related to the work.
The AI exposure category is the Bureau of Labor Statistics'. The AI-resilience score and the activity breakdown are NueCareer's analysis of O*NET 31.0 Database data (method), not a federal figure. More: jobs most exposed to AI, jobs least exposed to AI, or check any job.