Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

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.

What you'd actually do

• 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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the day is spent working solo; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 3.6% of coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

Related careers

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• Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
• Foundry Mold and Coremakers

Quick questions

How much does a coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tender make?

The median pay is $23.20 per hour — roughly $48,500 a year, with the real range running from about $17.43/hr (10th percentile) to $35.93/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tender?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tender actually do all day?

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.