Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Also called: Coating and Spraying Machine Operators
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: Abrasive Coating Machine Operator, Abrasive Coating Machine Setup Operator, Air Drier, Air Drier Machine Operator, Aircraft Painter, Auto Body Painter (Automotive Body Painter)
Median pay
$48,250
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$36,260 – $74,730
People employed
158,740
Holland code
RCA
Realistic · Conventional · Artistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 2.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 3.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 4.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 5.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 6.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 7.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
- Exposure to hazardous conditions
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in every state →
What coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders do
- 01Dispose of hazardous waste in an appropriate manner.
- 02Hold or position spray guns to direct spray onto articles.
- 03Spray prepared surfaces with specified amounts of primers and decorative or finish coatings.
- 04Monitor painting operations to identify flaws, such as blisters or streaks, and correct their causes.
- 05Disassemble, clean, and reassemble sprayers or power equipment, using solvents, wire brushes, and cloths.
- 06Fill hoppers, reservoirs, troughs, or pans with material used to coat, paint, or spray, using conveyors or pails.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
Knowledge
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- Chemistry
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic86% · +4%
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic85% · −9%
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic84% · −4%
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic84% · −8%
- Furniture Finishers82% · −8%
Change into coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic85% · $43,960
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic82% · $50,140
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders82% · $39,530
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers81% · $46,350
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders81% · $38,180
Majors that lead here
- Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.