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

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they 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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $48,250 Median per year · $23.20/hr Most earn $36,260–$74,730

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Use brush to hand-paint areas in need of retouching or unreachable with a spray gun.
  • Weigh or measure chemicals, coatings, or paints before adding them to machines.
  • Clean equipment and work areas.
  • Apply rust-resistant undercoats and caulk and seal seams.
  • Turn dials, handwheels, valves, or switches to regulate conveyor speeds, machine temperature, air pressure and circulation, and the flow or spray of coatings or paints.
  • Record operational data on specified forms.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 15,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Automotive body, paint, interior, and glass repair15.4%
  • Coating, engraving, heat treating, and allied activities10.0%
  • Fabricated metal product manufacturing9.6%
  • Machinery manufacturing6.9%
  • Aerospace product and parts manufacturing4.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: Up to 1 month

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: Up to 1 monthEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and learn on the job, usually in up to about a month of training. You can often start working soon after graduating.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finishing high school gives you the basic reading, math, and shop-type skills that employers look for when hiring for machine-based production work.

  2. Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Operator or Tender (on-the-job training)

    Up to 1 month

    A supervisor or experienced worker shows you how to set up, run, and check spraying or coating machines, and how to follow safety rules. Once you can do this reliably, you are doing the career itself.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Coating Operator

    About 2-4 years of experience first

    You take on more responsibility, such as training new workers, checking coating quality, and helping set up jobs on the line.

  2. Production Supervisor

    About 3-5 years of experience first

    You oversee a team, schedules, and output, and you need strong communication, problem-solving, and safety-leadership skills to move into this role.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, industrial arts, or CTE classesHands-on classes in manufacturing, welding, or materials help you learn how machines and finishes work.
  • Take chemistry and basic mathCoatings and paints are chemical mixtures, so chemistry and measurement skills help you understand mixing ratios and material safety.
  • Get a starter job or summer job at a warehouse, factory, or auto body shopAny job where you follow instructions, keep a clean work area, and work safely builds experience employers want.
  • Learn workplace safety basicsKnowing how to handle chemicals, use protective gear, and work around machines is important in coating and spraying work.
  • Join a skills club such as SkillsUSA or a school robotics or engineering clubThese groups build teamwork, hands-on problem solving, and comfort with tools and machines.

In college

  • Take chemistry, materials science, or manufacturing coursesUnderstanding how coatings bond to different materials helps you set machines correctly and troubleshoot problems.
  • Look for internships or co-ops at manufacturing plants or auto body shopsHands-on time with production lines or paint booths gives you real experience to list on applications.
  • Take a workplace safety or hazardous materials courseMany schools and community programs offer short safety courses that show employers you understand chemical handling and protective equipment.
  • Work a campus or part-time job that involves equipment or inventoryJobs in a lab, maintenance shop, or stockroom show you can follow procedures and handle materials carefully.
  • Join a technical or trades-focused student groupClubs related to manufacturing, engineering, or auto technology help you meet people in the field and learn about job openings.

Tips for getting started

  • Show you are reliable: attendance, following safety rules, and paying close attention to detail are often what employers notice most for entry-level machine jobs.
  • Ask local manufacturers, auto body shops, or furniture makers whether they offer part-time, summer, or entry-level production work, and ask what training they provide.
  • Check the career page on this app for the typical pay near you and nationally, so you can compare it with other options you are considering.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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