Career comparison
Auto Body Technician vs. Welder
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. $53,750), while welders usually get to work faster (3–18 months of training). Auto body technicians repair and restore vehicles after collisions, from dents and frames to paint. Welders join and cut metal with MIG, TIG and stick welding for construction and manufacturing.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Auto Body Technician | Welder | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $54,890 ($26.39/hr) | $53,750 ($25.84/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,910 – $87,940 | $39,240 – $77,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.7% (about as fast as average) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 12,600 | 40,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 6 months–2 years | 3–18 months |
| Key credential | I-CAR training and Platinum recognition | AWS Certified Welder |
| Work setting | Technicians work in collision repair shops and dealerships with lifts, frame machines and paint booths. | Welders work in fabrication shops, factories, shipyards, construction sites and refineries, sometimes outdoors or at heights. |
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
Welder
- Read blueprints, specifications and weld symbols
- Prepare, clean and fit metal parts
- Set up welding equipment and select processes and settings
- Weld components in flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions
- Cut metal with oxy-fuel or plasma torches
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, indoor work, working independently, and creative work. They sit in different fields, mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing and skilled trades & construction, but share transferable skills such as attention to detail and steady hands and focus.
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 welder if…
- I like making things with my hands
- I have a steady hand and patience for precise work
- Heat, sparks and noise don’t bother me
Still torn? Take the Auto Body Technician fit quiz and the Welder fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, auto body technician or welder?
Auto Body Technicians earn more at the median: $54,890 versus $53,750 for welders, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Welders typically train faster (3–18 months) 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 +2.4% for welders.