Employment in the U.S. collision repair sector declined in the third quarter of 2025, driving up compensation.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows there were 246,706 people working in automotive body, paint and interior repair in September 2025. Average weekly wages rose 2.7% in the quarter, but total wages paid across the industry fell 0.6% due to the overall reduction in employees.
The decline follows a long period of growth after the pandemic. Employment increased through 2022 and into 2023, then levelled off and began to drop in 2024 and 2025.
The government body found number of collision repair shops increased slightly, continuing a slow upward trend over the past several years.
Compared to other industries in the U.S., collision repair wages sit slightly above the national average. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows automotive body repairers earned a median annual wage of US$51,680 (about $70,000) in 2024, compared with about US$49,500 (about $67,000) across all occupations. Pay varies widely, with top earners making more than US$87,000 (about $118,000) while entry-level workers earn closer to US$36,000 (about $49,000).
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows employment in adjacent categories has been more stable than in the collision sector.
