Painting and coating workers held about 163,100 jobs in 2018. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up painting and coating workers was distributed as follows:
| Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders | 92,300 |
| Painters, transportation equipment | 58,100 |
| Painting, coating, and decorating workers | 12,600 |
The largest employers of painting and coating workers were as follows:
| Automotive body, paint, interior, and glass repair | 16% |
| Coating, engraving, heat treating, and allied activities | 10 |
| Machinery manufacturing | 7 |
| Furniture and related product manufacturing | 4 |
| Self-employed workers | 2 |
Painting and coating is usually done in specially ventilated areas. Nonetheless, workers must wear masks or respirators that cover their nose and mouth.
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
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. More sophisticated paint booths and fresh-air ventilation systems are increasingly being installed in factories to provide a safer work environment.
Work Schedules
Most painting and coating workers are employed full time.
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
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.
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.
Painting and coating workers typically have an interest in the Building, Thinking and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Thinking or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a painting and coating worker, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Painting and coating workers should also possess the following specific qualities:
Artistic ability. Some 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 properly in order to match existing colors on a surface.
Mechanical skills. Because workers must operate and maintain sprayers that apply paints and coatings, they should have good mechanical skills.
The median annual wage for painting and coating workers was $36,810 in May 2018. 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 $24,520, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $59,810.
Median annual wages for painting and coating workers in May 2018 were as follows:
| Painters, transportation equipment | $42,280 |
| Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders | 34,800 |
| Painting, coating, and decorating workers | 31,050 |
In May 2018, the median annual wages for painting and coating workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Automotive body, paint, interior, and glass repair | $42,930 |
| Machinery manufacturing | 36,960 |
| Furniture and related product manufacturing | 31,890 |
| Coating, engraving, heat treating, and allied activities | 31,790 |
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.
Overall employment of painting and coating workers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2018 to 2028, slower than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will vary by occupation and industry.
Much of the job growth for painting and coating workers will occur in automotive repair shops, where the irregular nature of the work makes automation difficult.
Although many consumer, commercial, and industrial products require painting or coating and thus will provide job opportunities for these workers, automation in many manufacturing facilities is expected to reduce job opportunities for these workers.
Job Prospects
In addition to job growth in some industries, many job openings should result from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.
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