Automotive body and glass repairers restore, refinish and replace vehicle bodies and frames, windshields and window glass. They straighten frames, replace panels and glass, and get damaged vehicles back to safe condition. AI tools are used for estimates and paperwork. The repair itself is hands-on.
The short answer: newer cars make the work harder, not smaller. The ILO's 2025 index rates sheet metal workers, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.21. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4 percent growth for automotive body and glass repairers from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average, with about 13,900 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed auto body repairers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet Metal Workers | Not exposed | 0.21 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for automotive body and glass repairers, not a score for the job title itself.
The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive body and glass repairers | Grow 4% | About 13,900 |
The BLS says new vehicles have more safety features designed to prevent collisions, and that more repairers will be needed because repairs take more time to work around a growing number of cameras and sensors. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Drafting damage estimates from photos as a starting point.
- Finding repair procedures for a specific make and model.
- Paperwork and updates for customers and insurers.
What stays with auto body repairers
- Hands-on repair: frames, panels, glass and refinishing.
- Safety systems: working around cameras and sensors and getting them right after a repair.
- Judgment: spotting hidden damage a photo does not show.
- Checking AI help: photo estimates and suggested procedures can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The BLS says repairers need to keep up with rapidly changing automotive technology and materials. More electronics in each car means more care in every repair. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace mechanics?, will AI replace diesel mechanics? and will AI replace claims adjusters?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for automotive body and glass repairers at $52,530 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace auto body repairers?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 4 percent growth from 2025 to 2035.
How exposed are auto body repairers to AI?
The ILO rates sheet metal workers, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.21.
How many openings are expected?
About 13,900 a year on average over the decade, according to the BLS.
How is car technology changing the job?
The BLS says repairs take more time to work around an increasing number of cameras and sensors.