Working as a body repairer: the trade, the salary and the training
What a body repairer does, what you earn, which certificates carry weight and what the market looks like right now.
Body repair is a trade apart within automotive. Where a mechanic maintains and repairs, you repair what’s been broken. From a dent in a door to a complete structural repair after a collision. The trade has become more technical in recent years, and there’s a real shortage of good people.
What does a body repairer do?
You assess the damage, disassemble what’s needed and repair or replace panelling. On bigger jobs you work on the jig bench to bring the body back to the right dimensions. After that you prepare the car for the painter.
Specialisations
- Panel beater: dent removal, straightening, welding and bonding
- Car painter: prepping and spraying in the booth
- Damage assessor or estimator: assessing and calculating damage
- Smart repair: fixing small damage quickly without disassembly
What do you earn?
A body repairer typically earns between €2,700 and €3,800 gross per month. First body repairers with experience in structural repairs and aluminium sit at the top end. At large body repair chains, terms of employment are often better arranged than at small companies, but the atmosphere is different.
Training and certificates
The basis is an MBO qualification in Automotive Body Repair Technology at level 2 or 3. After that, these are the certificates that matter in practice:
- First Body Repairer
- Aluminium repair
- Calibrating driver assistance systems (ADAS)
- High voltage (NEN 9140) for work on electric cars
Many employers fully reimburse this training once you’re on a permanent contract.
What does the market look like?
The number of body repair companies is falling due to consolidation, but demand for skilled people is rising. Cars are getting more complex, with sensors and cameras that need calibrating after every repair. Anyone who can do that will have plenty of choice in the years ahead.
Vacancies for body repairers
We place body repairers with recognised companies and dealer body shops across the Netherlands. Do the job check and we’ll call you within one working day.
