Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
SOC Code: 51-9124Also known as:
Abrasive Coating Machine Operator, Abrasive Coating Machine Setup Operator, Air Drier, Air Drier Machine Operator, Aircraft Painter
Median Annual Salary
$47,590
+0.7% growth (2024-2034)
16K
Openings/Year
166K
Current Jobs
What Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders Do
Set up, operate, or tend spraying or rolling machines to coat or paint any of a wide variety of products, including glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal, plastic, paper, or wood, with lacquer, silver, copper, rubber, varnish, glaze, enamel, oil, or rust-proofing materials. Includes painters of transportation vehicles such as painters in auto body repair facilities.
💰 Salary
$47,590
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+0.7%
Little or no change
🎓 Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
16K
Projected average per year
📚 On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Expected training period
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
165,500
Projected Employment (2034)
166,700
Related Careers
Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
$41,600 •
-13.6% growth
Furniture finishers
$42,530 •
-3.3% growth
Grinding and polishing workers, hand
$41,690 •
-21.2% growth
Painting, coating, and decorating workers
$40,860 •
+1.4% growth
Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic
$45,690 •
+6.2% growth
Top Skills Required
Operations Monitoring
Monitoring
Operation and Control
Quality Control Analysis
Equipment Maintenance
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- Dispose of hazardous waste in an appropriate manner.
- Hold or position spray guns to direct spray onto articles.
- Spray prepared surfaces with specified amounts of primers and decorative or finish coatings.
- Monitor painting operations to identify flaws, such as blisters or streaks, and correct their causes.
- Disassemble, clean, and reassemble sprayers or power equipment, using solvents, wire brushes, and cloths.
- Fill hoppers, reservoirs, troughs, or pans with material used to coat, paint, or spray, using conveyors or pails.
- Clean equipment and work areas.
- Apply rust-resistant undercoats and caulk and seal seams.
- Start and stop operation of machines, using levers or buttons.
- Determine paint flow, viscosity, and coating quality by performing visual inspections, or by using viscometers.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
High School Diploma
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders:
Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician
5,464 degrees awarded •
273 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders make?
The median annual salary for coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders is $47,590.
What education do coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders need?
Most coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders positions require a high school diploma or equivalent.
Common degree programs include Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician.
Is becoming coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders a good career choice?
Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders is projected to see +0.7% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 15,800 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Top colleges for aspiring coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders include
Mid-America Technology Center, Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee, Tulsa Technology Center, Manatee Technical College, WyoTech.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders may also be known as: Abrasive Coating Machine Operator, Abrasive Coating Machine Setup Operator, Air Drier, Air Drier Machine Operator, Aircraft Painter, Auto Body Painter (Automotive Body Painter), Auto Painter (Automobile Painter), Auto Refinisher (Automobile Refinisher), Auto Striper (Automotive Striper), Automatic Paint Sprayer Operator, Automobile Body Painter, Automotive Paint Prepper (Auto Paint Prepper), Automotive Paint Technician (Auto Paint Tech), Automotive Painter (Auto Painter), Automotive Refinish Technician (Auto Refinish Tech), Automotive Spray Painter (Auto Spray Painter), Black Off Worker, Blackener, Blacker, Boat Painter.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.