Jobs in auto repair have an average Still needs a human score of 79.2 out of 100 (higher is safer), 5.2 points above the average for all jobs of 74.0 and 6th of 37 among the sectors (1st is least exposed). The largest job here is automotive service technicians and mechanics (251,000 workers, 84/100 ↑ safer), and of the jobs more common here than across the economy, order clerks is the most exposed (59/100 ↑ safer).
79.2/100↑ safer
2.6%
12.6%
+4.1%
How the work here could shift
The share of workers in this sector whose job would sit in each band, from today to 2060.
Today
67%
of workers in this sector are in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
0% are in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2045
7%
of workers in this sector would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
39% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2060
7%
of workers in this sector would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
88% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
Each job's score moves towards the bottom band (Largely: AI could largely do the job) by the year it could be largely automated, slowly at first and faster later, as adoption usually goes. Each job is run as ten scenarios across its replacement range, so every figure mixes early and late outcomes. The model stops at 2060. How the timeline works
Will AI replace the job?Largely.Mostly.Partly.A little.Nah.
Show the data
| Year | Largely | Mostly | Partly | A little | Nah |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today (2026) | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.6% | 30.8% | 66.6% |
| 2030 | 0.0% | 1.1% | 15.7% | 37.5% | 45.7% |
| 2035 | 7.9% | 9.6% | 26.0% | 49.6% | 6.8% |
| 2040 | 18.7% | 26.8% | 30.1% | 17.7% | 6.7% |
| 2045 | 38.9% | 29.7% | 23.8% | 0.8% | 6.7% |
| 2050 | 57.5% | 29.9% | 5.1% | 0.8% | 6.7% |
| 2055 | 75.4% | 17.0% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 6.7% |
| 2060 | 88.4% | 4.0% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 6.7% |
The largest jobs in auto repair
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | 84↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 250,600 |
| 2 | Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 159,800 |
| 3 | Automotive Body and Related Repairers | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 109,300 |
| 4 | General and Operations Managers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2051 | 56,000 |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | 73↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2045–2060+ | 46,200 |
| 6 | Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | 82↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 35,700 |
| 7 | Office Clerks, General | 65↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2053 | 34,400 |
| 8 | Counter and Rental Clerks | 65↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2049 | 28,000 |
| 9 | Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 84↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 27,300 |
| 10 | Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | 85↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 27,000 |
Common jobs here that AI can do most of
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customer Service Representatives | 51↑ saferAI replace? Partly. | D | 2034–2041 | 15,900 |
| 2 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 54↑ saferAI replace? Partly. | D | 2034–2042 | 7,700 |
| 3 | Order Clerks | 59↑ saferAI replace? Partly. | D | 2035–2044 | 1,300 |
| 4 | Receptionists and Information Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 5,900 |
| 5 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 17,200 |
| 6 | Procurement Clerks | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2045 | 1,100 |
| 7 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 14,200 |
| 8 | Billing and Posting Clerks | 62↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 1,200 |
| 9 | Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | 62↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 1,200 |
| 10 | Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | 63↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 1,200 |
Common jobs here that most need a human
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tire Repairers and Changers | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 9,800 |
| 2 | Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 18,100 |
| 3 | Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 159,800 |
| 4 | Helpers--Production Workers | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 3,000 |
| 5 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 2,000 |
| 6 | Automotive Body and Related Repairers | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 109,300 |
| 7 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 5,900 |
| 8 | Glaziers | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 1,300 |
| 9 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | 85↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 15,000 |
| 10 | Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | 85↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2045–2060+ | 27,000 |
Related sectors: Other services, Car dealerships
How this is worked out
- The average weights every job's Still needs a human score by how many people do it in this sector, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' industry employment data. Jobs cover 99.5% of the sector's employment.
- Job scores are national: an accountant in retail scores the same as an accountant anywhere. The sector figure reflects its mix of jobs, not how its employers use AI; the Census figure shows that.