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Auto Painter

Carvana · Hoffman Estates, IL · $20.50–$24.50 an hour · Reconditioning

Posted Sep 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

You need at least one year of professional automotive painting. Tell me about the painting work you did most.

What they are checking: Whether their experience covers priming, painting and finishing on real cars rather than only prep or touch-up.

Tell me about a paint job that came back to you. What went wrong and what did you change?

What they are checking: Whether they own their mistakes and learn from them, which is the clearest sign of a reliable painter.

What would you do

A car comes to you with prep work that has sand scratches or poor masking. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they stop and send it back rather than painting over a defect that will show and need redoing.

Mandatory overtime is part of this job when needed. How do you keep your finish quality up during long weeks?

What they are checking: Whether they can stay careful and steady in the booth when tired, since rushed paint shows every mistake.

About the work

Walk me through how you prime a repaired panel and get it ready for paint.

What they are checking: Whether they understand primer choice, coverage and final sanding, which decides how the topcoat looks.

What causes runs, orange peel and solvent pop, and how do you prevent each one?

What they are checking: Whether they understand gun setup, distance, flash times and temperature, not just how to fix flaws after.

How do you mix paint to a formula and adjust it when the color is slightly off?

What they are checking: Whether they can read a formula, use variants and test with spray-outs instead of guessing at the mix.

How do you blend into an adjacent panel so the color looks seamless?

What they are checking: Whether they understand blending technique, which is how most professional repairs hide color differences.

When you do touch-up and airbrush work, how do you keep the repair invisible?

What they are checking: Whether they can handle small-area work with control, since the posting includes airbrush and touch-up.

How do you buff a fresh finish to remove dust nibs without cutting through the clear?

What they are checking: Whether they know buffing limits on new paint, which prevents turning a small flaw into a repaint.

What protective equipment do you wear in the booth, and how do you check that your respirator fits?

What they are checking: Whether they take long-term health seriously, since isocyanates and solvents cause lasting harm.

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The full job description

As published by Carvana.

We’re looking for Auto Painters with a minimum of 1 year of professional automotive painting experience to join us at Carvana - the fastest-growing used automotive retailer in U.S. history and one of the four fastest companies to make the Fortune 500. As a Painter, you’ll be expected to prime vehicles and perform final sanding before the vehicle is painted , along with buffing, touch-up, paint mixing, and airbrush. At Carvana, you’ll receive a competitive wage and amazing perks – including a 401(k) with Carvana match and even a vehicle purchase discount – all while using state of the art tools in one of our high-tech Inspection Centers ( click here to learn more). If you’re joining us in an entry-level position, we offer training programs to make sure your skills and pay progress along with the company. Pay Range: $20.50 - $24.50 Hourly Other perks of the Job • 100% company-paid healthcare premiums • Generous paid-time off and your birthday is a holiday! • ASE and tool reimbursement programs • Tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment   Schedule:  We do everything we can to deliver an exceptional customer experience, and that includes delivering great vehicles when expected. If we're in a pinch, mandatory overtime is one way in which we can follow-through on this commitment to our customers. We're looking for team players who are all in on our mission and are able to work mandatory overtime based on our business needs.  How To Get Started Join the Carvana team by applying on this page , or call one of our recruiters by phone at (888) 690-7853 , Monday through Friday, between 6 AM and 4 PM PT (9AM to 7PM ET). Not a match for this role? We have a variety of paint roles available, depending on your experience - look below to see other roles available to help us get our low-mileage, late-model cars ready for our customers: • Paint Prepper (min 6 months professional experience): prepare vehicles for cosmetic paintwork, including sanding, masking, taping, bagging, unbagging/tear down, and buffing • Entry-Level Painter (min 1 year professional experience): prime vehicles and perform final sanding before the vehicle is painted, along with buffing, touch-up, paint mixing, and airbrush. • Mid-Level Painter (min 3 years professional experience):  match/mix paint color and use water-based paint to paint the vehicle inside our paint booths • Experienced Painter (min 5 years professional experience): painting (base coats, tri-coats, solid, metallic, and clear coats), blending adjacent panels, and paint correcting vehicles. We also have a variety of other automotive roles available in one of our 18 locations across the country – take a look at our  Careers site to apply for one of the following roles: • Auto Body roles: Paint, Prep/Body work, Wheel Repair, Airbrush, Interior Repair, Glass Repair, and PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) roles • Auto Technician/Mechanic roles:  Lube and Oil, Inspection, Brake and Tire, Mechanical Repair / Build, and Master Technician roles • Entry-Level roles: Detailing, Inventory Associate (Car Porters), Photo, Parts Associate, Inspection, and Coordinator/Administrator roles General qualifications and requirements • Ability to physically operate vehicle equipment and tools - must be able to lift up to 60 pounds independently • Must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license. Some positions may be subject to an Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check • An ability to work in a fast-paced, ever-changing production environment while sometimes being exposed to excessive weather conditions (heat/cold) • Use of safety equipment that may include but not limited to face shield or goggles, non-slip shoes, gloves, mask, and other protective garments and equipment About Carvana At Carvana, we sell cars but we aren’t car salesmen. Our promise is simple: we won’t sell a car to a customer that we wouldn’t sell to our own Mom. Period. To make sure our cars are in first-rate condition, we’ve built multiple vehicle Reconditioning Centers around the country, where our cars are inspected, perfected, and photographed before reaching the Carvana website. Think you’ve got what it takes to join our team? Apply today! Carvana is an equal employment opportunity employer. All applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. Carvana also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Hiring is contingent on passing a complete background check. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license. Must be able to read, write, speak and understand English.

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