Vehicle body builders and repairers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time vehicle body builders and repairers in the UK earned a median £34,999 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £4,040 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 201st of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £30,558 and £42,944.
A full-time median is published for men only; the sample of women is too small.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 40 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
ASHE counts roughly 17,000 employee jobs, 94% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 31.2% (from £26,684), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 22,700 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £25,470* | £545.50 | £14.00 | £24,314* | £505.80* | £14.00 |
| 20th percentile | £29,380 | £580.60 | £14.87 | £28,859 | £568.60 | £14.58 |
| 25th percentile | £30,558 | £603.70 | £15.27 | £29,432 | £584.50 | £15.27 |
| 30th percentile | £31,827 | £620.30 | £15.57 | £30,934 | £611.30 | £15.56 |
| 40th percentile | £33,552 | £651.80 | £16.05 | £32,882 | £637.70 | £16.03 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £34,999 | £681.60 | £16.75 | £34,848 | £677.20 | £16.67 |
| 60th percentile | £36,645 | £716.60 | £17.89 | £36,442 | £712.00 | £17.75 |
| 70th percentile | £40,076 | £765.20 | £18.66 | £39,715 | £749.30 | £18.53 |
| 75th percentile | £42,944* | £816.60 | £19.00 | £42,597* | £812.10 | £18.96 |
| 80th percentile | – | £862.80* | £19.33 | – | £862.40* | £19.24 |
| Mean | £36,525 | £719.80 | £17.53 | £35,810 | £700.10 | £17.48 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £26,684 | £533.10 | £12.94 | £25,908 | £521.70 | 21* |
| 2022 revised | £30,102 | £565.00 | £13.83 | £28,988 | £536.00 | 21* |
| 2023 revised | £31,360 | £610.20 | £15.00 | £31,002 | £605.00 | 23 |
| 2024 revised | £33,578 | £687.80 | £16.66 | £32,298* | £654.10 | 21 |
| 2025 provisional | £34,999 | £681.60 | £16.75 | £34,848 | £677.20 | 17* |
Vehicle body builders and repairers by region
UK: 22,700 (± 5,800), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What vehicle body builders and repairers do
Vehicle body builders and repairers repair and reconstruct structural and non-structural vehicle body components, including the removal, repair and refitting of mechanical, electrical and trim components, using manufacturer repair methods and technologies associated with modern vehicle construction. (ONS SOC 2020, 5232)
Also covers: bodyshop technician, car body repairer, coach builder, panel beater, restoration technician (vehicles), vehicle builder, ambulance builder, body finisher, body maker, car builder, car finisher, car renovator, car restorer, caravan builder, caravan engineer, caravan fitter, caravan technician and carriage builder (45 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Diagnoses job requirements or ascertains work specifications from drawings or instructions
- Selects, cuts, shapes and assembles materials to form parts of vehicle underframe, framework and body
- Repairs damage to chassis and engine mountings using hydraulic rams, jacks and jigs
- Hammers out dents in bodywork, fills in small depressions or corroded areas in solder, plastic or other filler compound and replaces body panels using hand and power tools
- Installs and repairs interior fittings including seats, seatbelts and fascia in cars, sinks and special features in caravans and mobile shops
- Positions, secures and repairs external fittings including windows, doors, door handles, catches and roof attachments
There are no formal academic entry requirements although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades or an equivalent qualification. Apprenticeships at NVQ/SVQ levels 2 and 3 are also available and take between three to four years to complete. Off and on-the-job training is provided.
Related
Vehicle trades (median £37,917) · Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians · Vehicle paint technicians · salary percentile · Average weekly hours worked in the UK · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026