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

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Career Profile

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

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.

Also Called: Automotive Painter (Auto Painter), Automotive Refinish Technician (Auto Refinish Tech), Coater Operator, Hand Sprayer, Industrial Painter, Paint Technician (Paint Tech), Painter, Powder Coater, Spray Painter, Top Coater, Automotive Painter (Auto Painter), Automotive Refinish Technician (Auto Refinish Tech), Coater Operator, Hand Sprayer, Industrial Painter, Paint Technician (Paint Tech), Painter, Powder Coater, Spray Painter, Top Coater

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Employment Data

*State data provided by O*NET & BLS
Compare State Data      Compare Metro Area Data   
$34,060
Starting Salary (2025)
$49,350
Median Salary (2025)
0.7%
Projected Job Growth
5,050
TX Employment (2025)

Typical Tasks

Clean equipment and work areas.
Dispose of hazardous waste in an appropriate manner.
Use brush to hand-paint areas in need of retouching or unreachable with a spray gun.
Monitor painting operations to identify flaws, such as blisters or streaks, and correct their causes.
Hold or position spray guns to direct spray onto articles.

A day in the life

What kind of work is this?

Realistic
Practical, Physical Work
Conventional
Organized, Procedural Work
Artistic
Conceptual, Creative Work

What personality traits do you need to succeed?

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Self-Control
Persistence
Adaptability/Flexibility
Independence

What key skills are needed for this job?

Operations Monitoring
Quality Control Analysis
Operation and Control
Monitoring
Equipment Maintenance
Repairing

Expected Knowledge

Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Common Activities

Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Education & Preparation

Some occupations may require additional education, advanced degrees, and years of experience in the field.
Talk to your support team on campus about this career pathway and additional degree information.
Job Zone 2

Some Preparation Needed

Education

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed.

Training

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Typical Education Required

Education a new hire may need

  • High school diploma 63%
  • Less than high school 27%
  • Post-secondary certificate 7%
  • Some college 4%
Source: O*NET Education, Training & Experience data

Related Careers

Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
Furniture Finishers
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

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*Data on career profiles are based on information supplied by the O*NET Program, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration.