Prevailing Wage for Automotive Body and Related Repairers
Prevailing wage data for Automotive Body and Related Repairers (SOC 49-3021) tells sponsored candidates whether a job offer clears the DOL floor for their experience level. Whether you work as an Auto Body Repair Technician, Auto Body Man, or body technician, DOL sets four wage levels and the floor shifts significantly by city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level repairers with limited hands-on experience, typically performing straightforward repairs under close supervision. Workers at this level follow established procedures and are still developing skills in frame straightening, panel replacement, and refinishing techniques.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Automotive Body and Related Repairers. It applies to qualified technicians who work independently on a full range of collision repair tasks, including structural repairs and refinishing, with only general oversight from a lead or shop manager.
Level 3 covers experienced repairers who handle complex structural damage, mentor junior technicians, and apply advanced refinishing and alignment techniques. Workers at this level typically take on difficult jobs with minimal supervision and may coordinate repair workflows across a team.
Level 4 applies to fully competent repairers functioning in senior or lead roles, such as shop foreman or senior body technician. They set quality standards, troubleshoot advanced frame and structural issues, and may have input on shop operations, estimating, and training programs.
Prevailing Wage for Automotive Body and Related Repairers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Automotive Body and Related Repairers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your title matches SOC 49-3021
Job titles like Auto Body Technician, Body Man, and Auto Body Repairman all map to SOC 49-3021. If your employer files your LCA under a different SOC, the prevailing wage floor changes. Verify the SOC code on your certified LCA before accepting an offer.
Watch for flat-rate pay misclassification
Many collision repair shops pay technicians on a flat-rate or book-hours basis rather than a guaranteed annual salary. For visa sponsorship, the LCA wage must be annualized and meet the prevailing wage floor regardless of how actual hours are structured in the shop.
Factor in Washington state metro premiums
Seattle and surrounding Washington metros show some of the largest gaps between Level 1 and Level 4 prevailing wages for this occupation. If you have multiple offers across locations, the Washington state premium can substantially change which offer clears the wage floor at your experience level.
Find employers who have sponsored body technicians
Migrate Mate filters listings by visa type and shows each employer's historical sponsorship counts, so you can identify which collision repair chains and dealership groups have actually sponsored Auto Body Repair Technicians or similar roles before targeting your applications.
Jobs for Automotive Body and Related Repairers are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 49-3021.00 alongside Automotive Body and Related Repairers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Auto Body Man Prevailing Wage
Auto Body Man Prevailing Wage
Auto Body Man positions fall under SOC 49-3021.00 (Automotive Body and Related Repairers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Auto Body Repair Technician (Auto Body Repair Tech) Prevailing Wage
Auto Body Repair Technician (Auto Body Repair Tech) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Auto Body Repair Technician (Auto Body Repair Tech) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-3021.00 (Automotive Body and Related Repairers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Auto Body Repairman Prevailing Wage
Auto Body Repairman Prevailing Wage
Auto Body Repairman is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-3021.00 (Automotive Body and Related Repairers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Automotive Body Technician (Auto Body Tech) Prevailing Wage
Automotive Body Technician (Auto Body Tech) Prevailing Wage
Automotive Body Technician (Auto Body Tech) positions fall under SOC 49-3021.00 (Automotive Body and Related Repairers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Body Man Prevailing Wage
Body Man Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Body Man for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-3021.00 (Automotive Body and Related Repairers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Body Technician (Body Tech) Prevailing Wage
Body Technician (Body Tech) Prevailing Wage
Body Technician (Body Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-3021.00 (Automotive Body and Related Repairers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Collision Repair Technician (Collision Repair Tech) Prevailing Wage
Collision Repair Technician (Collision Repair Tech) Prevailing Wage
Collision Repair Technician (Collision Repair Tech) positions fall under SOC 49-3021.00 (Automotive Body and Related Repairers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Collision Technician (Collision Tech) Prevailing Wage
Collision Technician (Collision Tech) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Collision Technician (Collision Tech) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-3021.00 (Automotive Body and Related Repairers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frame Man Prevailing Wage
Frame Man Prevailing Wage
Frame Man is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-3021.00 (Automotive Body and Related Repairers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Refinish Technician (Refinish Tech) Prevailing Wage
Refinish Technician (Refinish Tech) Prevailing Wage
Refinish Technician (Refinish Tech) positions fall under SOC 49-3021.00 (Automotive Body and Related Repairers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Automotive Body and Related Repairers?
DOL sets prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each metro area, DOL calculates four wage levels based on the distribution of wages reported for SOC 49-3021. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored repairer must offer at least the level that matches the worker's experience and job duties.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL defines Level 1 as entry-level with basic duties under close supervision, Level 2 as qualified workers performing the full range of tasks independently, Level 3 as experienced workers handling complex repairs and mentoring others, and Level 4 as fully competent senior or lead technicians. Your level should reflect your actual job duties and years of relevant experience, not just your job title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same body technician role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro area reflects local labor market conditions. The LCA worksite rule requires employers to use the wage for the specific city where you will physically work, not company headquarters. High-cost metros with dense dealership and collision repair markets, like Seattle, produce significantly higher floors than rural or Puerto Rico metros.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and worksite, OFLC will not certify the LCA, and USCIS will not approve the H-1B or other sponsored visa petition without a certified LCA. The employer must either increase the offered wage to meet the floor or reclassify the position at a level whose floor the offered wage does satisfy.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Automotive Body and Related Repairers position at a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up current prevailing wages for SOC 49-3021 by metro area. Select the relevant fiscal year data, enter the worksite city or metropolitan area, and note the wage at the level that matches your duties. You can also review O*NET for occupational context. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored this role in specific locations so you can target your search effectively.
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