Im interested in getting into autobody as a career but the end game would be to be a painter. My question is do you like your job? Are you bored of doing the same type of jobs or does it vary? If you had a second change would you do something else? Thanks!
I've worked at my uncles body shop and have met his painters. My dad paints houses for a living, so I've seen that field firsthand. It seems auto paint isn't a big paying field unless you've been doing it a long time and you're very very good. I would keep it an option but have other means of income, electrical body or engine/transmission. Another big thing that came a while ago is vinyl wraps, people pay up to a few thousand for a nice vinyl wrap, cheapest I've seen is about 1000 in souther cali for a reputable shop. Seems like good profit to buy $100 worth of vinyl and charge 1000, only takes a few hours with proper tools.
my friend owns a body shop his father originally opened. i've worked there on the side, growing up together we spent a lot of time at the shop and both picked it up. since then i've moved on to automotive interior refinishing. there's money to be had, especially once you're a good painter. my friend specializes in restoration, but he has a contract with the state and a local used car dealership to make ends meet due to restorations coming in once, maybe twice a year.
Get a cheap airbrush and some diecasts so you can get a feel for how the paint acts. Or Craigslist a cheap airrig and paint and start on your own vehicle till you get the hang of it.
I was going to go to a junk yard and pull some body parts and try to teach my self how to do minor body repairs and eventually paint. I was going to enroll in school as well because I don't really see people In my area that will hire an apprentice with no shop experience.
Depending on where you live there is money to be had. Also if you get into painting and your anywhere above the salt belt i made a lot of extra money rust checking/undercoating cars and trucks on the side. I didnt go to school for autobody though. Picked it up over time as im a back yard mechanic who does work while maintaining my regular job.