What Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders this way: "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."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Observe machine gauges and equipment operation to detect defects or deviations from standards, and make adjustments as necessary"; "Determine paint flow, viscosity, and coating quality by performing visual inspections, or by using viscometers"; "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"; "Start and stop operation of machines, using levers or buttons"; "Fill hoppers, reservoirs, troughs, or pans with material used to coat, paint, or spray, using conveyors or pails".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is high school diploma or equivalent. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is moderate-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 164,800 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 168,900 in 2035, an increase of 4,100 jobs (+2.5%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 15,300 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 9.3% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $48,250, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn the most
Published data currently covers Texas, where the employment-weighted average of local median wages is $46,844. More states are added as pages are published.
Occupations related to Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (51-9000) include Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders, Semiconductor Processing Technicians, Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers.
Frequently asked questions about Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
How much do Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $48,250.
Is Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to grow by 2.5% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 15,300 openings a year.
What education do Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders need?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.