Painting and Coating Workers
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Painting and coating workers paint and coat a wide range of products, often with the use of machines.
Work Environment: Most painting and coating workers are employed full time. They frequently stand for long periods in specially ventilated areas.
How to Become One: Most painting and coating workers learn on the job after earning a high school diploma or equivalent. Training for new workers usually lasts several months.
Salary: The median annual wage for coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders is $39,130. The median annual wage for painting, coating, and decorating workers is $37,330.
Job Outlook: Employment of painting and coating workers is projected to grow 3 percent over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of painting and coating workers with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as a painting and coating worker with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Coating Machine Operator Jobs
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AZ CNC Mill Machinist II - 2nd Shift
- FM Industries
- Phoenix, AZ
Observe machine operation to detect malfunctions or out-of-tolerance machining and adjust machine ... Ability to differentiate shades and color to identify coating defects. * Near acuity and ...
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2nd Shift-AZ CNC Lathe Machinist II
- FM Industries
- Phoenix, AZ
Observe machine operation to detect malfunctions or out-of-tolerance machining and adjust machine ... Ability to differentiate shades and color to identify coating defects * Near acuity and ...
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2nd Shift-CNC Machinist II - Grinder -(AZ)
- FM Industries
- Phoenix, AZ
Observe machine operation to detect malfunctions or out-of-tolerance machining and adjust machine ... Ability to differentiate shades and color to identify coating defects. * Near acuity and ...
What Painting and Coating Workers Do[About this section] [To Top]
Painting and coating workers paint and coat a wide range of products, including cars, jewelry, and ceramics, often with the use of machines.
Duties of Painting and Coating Workers
Painting and coating workers typically do the following:
- Set up and operate machines that paint or coat products
- Select the paint or coating needed for the job
- Clean and prepare products to be painted or coated
- Determine the required flow of paint and the quality of the coating
- Apply paint or coating
- Clean and maintain tools, equipment, and work areas
Painting and coating workers paint items ranging from cars to furniture. They apply paint, varnish, rustproofing, or other types of liquid applications to make a product more attractive and protect it from the elements. The paint finish on an automobile, for example, makes the vehicle more attractive and provides protection from corrosion.
Before workers begin to apply the paint or other coating, they often prepare the surface by sanding or cleaning it carefully to prevent dust from becoming trapped under the paint. Workers also may mask or cover portions of the product with tape and paper before painting the product.
After the product is prepared, workers may use a number of techniques to apply the paint or coating. A common technique is dipping an item in a large vat of paint or some other coating. Spraying products with paint or another coating is also common. Many factories use automated painting systems.
The following are examples of types of painting and coating workers:
Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders position the spray guns, set the nozzles, and synchronize the action of the guns with the speed of the conveyor carrying products through the machine. During the process, these workers program the machine, tend the equipment, watch gauges on the control panel, and check products to ensure that they are being painted evenly. The operator may use a manual spray gun to touch up flaws.
Painting, coating, and decorating workers apply coatings to furniture, glass, pottery, toys, books, and other products. Paper is often coated to give it a gloss. Silver, tin, and copper solutions are frequently sprayed onto glass to make mirrors.
Transportation equipment painters are the best known group of painting and coating workers. They paint various types of transportation equipment, including cars, aircraft, and boats.
Work Environment for Painting and Coating Workers[About this section] [To Top]
Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders hold about 160,000 jobs. The largest employers of coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders are as follows:
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | 19% |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 17% |
| Automotive body, paint, interior, and glass repair | 14% |
| Machinery manufacturing | 8% |
| Furniture and related product manufacturing | 3% |
Painting, coating, and decorating workers hold about 13,000 jobs. The largest employers of painting, coating, and decorating workers were as follows:
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | 15% |
| Miscellaneous manufacturing | 13% |
| Furniture and related product manufacturing | 7% |
| Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing | 5% |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 5% |
Painting and coating is usually done in specially ventilated areas. Workers wear masks or respirators to protect themselves from inhaling microscopic particles or harmful chemicals. They also may wear gloves and other protective equipment to shield their skin and clothing.
Painting and coating workers often stand for long periods. They also may have to bend, stoop, or crouch in uncomfortable positions to reach different parts of the products they work on.
Injuries and Illnesses for Painting and Coating Workers
Painting, coating, and decorating workers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Hazards include muscle strains and exposure to toxic materials. Factories have installed sophisticated paint booths and fresh-air ventilation systems to create a safe work environment.
Painting and Coating Worker Schedules
Most painting and coating workers are employed full time.
How to Become a Painting and Coating Worker[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Painting and Coating Workers near you!
Most painting and coating workers learn on the job after earning a high school diploma or equivalent. Training for new workers usually lasts several months.
Education for Painting and Coating Workers
Painting and coating workers usually must have a high school diploma or equivalent. However, some employers hire workers who lack a high school diploma.
Taking high school courses in automotive painting can be helpful.
Some automotive painters attend a technical or vocational school where they receive hands-on training and learn the intricacies of mixing and applying different types of paint.
Painting and Coating Worker Training
Although some worker training may last only a few days, most entry-level workers receive on-the-job training that may last from 1 month to several months.
Workers who operate computer-controlled equipment may require additional training in computer programming.
Important Qualities for Painting and Coating Workers
Artistic ability. Some painting and coating workers make elaborate or decorative designs. For example, some automotive painters specialize in making custom designs for vehicles.
Color vision. Workers must be able to blend new paint colors in order to match existing colors on a surface.
Mechanical skills. Workers must be able to operate and maintain sprayers that apply paints and coatings.
Physical stamina. Some workers must stand at their station for extended periods. Continuous standing or activity can be tiring.
Physical strength. Workers may need to lift heavy objects. Some products that are painted or coated may weigh more than 50 pounds.
Painting and Coating Worker Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
The median annual wage for coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders is $39,130. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,460, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $60,330.
The median annual wage for painting, coating, and decorating workers is $37,330. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,190, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $50,720.
The median annual wages for coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders in the top industries in which they worked are as follows:
| Automotive body, paint, interior, and glass repair | $47,500 |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | $47,340 |
| Machinery manufacturing | $38,370 |
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | $37,330 |
| Furniture and related product manufacturing | $37,270 |
The median annual wages for painting, coating, and decorating workers in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | $37,630 |
| Miscellaneous manufacturing | $37,460 |
| Furniture and related product manufacturing | $36,360 |
| Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing | $35,370 |
| Furniture and related product manufacturing | $30,750 |
Automotive painters in repair shops may receive a bonus or commission in addition to their wages.
Most painting and coating workers are employed full time.
Job Outlook for Painting and Coating Workers[About this section] [To Top]
Overall employment of painting and coating workers is projected to grow 3 percent over the next ten years, slower than the average for all occupations.
Despite limited employment growth, about 17,900 openings for painting and coating workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Painting and Coating Workers
Employment of painting and coating workers is projected to grow as many consumer, commercial, and industrial products require their services. Painting and coating workers are expected to be in demand in automotive repair shops, where their expertise is needed for complicated automotive paint repair. In addition, these workers will be needed in the manufacturing of goods that require painting or coating in the production process. However, automation is expected to limit opportunities for these workers in some manufacturing establishments.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Painting and coating workers | 172,900 | 177,800 | 3 | 4,800 |
| Painting, coating, and decorating workers | 13,000 | 13,400 | 3 | 400 |
| Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders | 160,000 | 164,400 | 3 | 4,400 |
More Painting and Coating Worker Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about job opportunities for painting and coating workers, visit
- Local manufacturers
- Automotive body repair shops
- Motor vehicle dealers
- Vocational schools
- Local unions representing painting and coating workers
- Local offices of state employment services
For a directory of certified automotive painting programs, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.