Career comparison
Auto Body Technician vs. Industrial Painter
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Auto body technicians earn more at the median ($54,890 vs. $48,250), while industrial painters usually get to work faster (A few months on the job of training). Auto body technicians repair and restore vehicles after collisions, from dents and frames to paint. Industrial painters spray paint and coat products on production lines.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Auto Body Technician | Industrial Painter | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $54,890 ($26.39/hr) | $48,250 ($23.20/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,910 – $87,940 | $36,260 – $74,730 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.7% (about as fast as average) | +2.5% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 12,600 | 15,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 6 months–2 years | A few months on the job |
| Key credential | I-CAR training and Platinum recognition | PCI powder coating training |
| Work setting | Technicians work in collision repair shops and dealerships with lifts, frame machines and paint booths. | Painters work in spray booths and paint lines.. |
What each job does
Auto Body Technician
- Inspect damage and review repair estimates
- Remove and replace damaged panels and parts
- Repair dents and reshape metal
- Measure and straighten frames and unibodies
- Weld and bond steel and aluminum components
Industrial Painter
- Prep surfaces
- Mask parts
- Mix coatings
- Spray paint
- Run powder coating
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work and indoor work. Both are part of the mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose auto body technician if…
- I like fixing things and seeing the results
- I have a good eye for shape and detail
- I don’t mind dust and noise
Choose industrial painter if…
- I like finishing work
- I have a good eye
- I can wear PPE
Still torn? Take the Auto Body Technician fit quiz and the Industrial Painter fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, auto body technician or industrial painter?
Auto Body Technicians earn more at the median: $54,890 versus $48,250 for industrial painters, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Industrial Painters typically train faster (A few months on the job) than auto body technicians (6 months–2 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects auto body technicians to grow +3.7% from 2025–35, compared with +2.5% for industrial painters.