Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Also called Automotive Painter (Auto Painter), Coater Operator, Paint Technician (Paint Tech), or Painter
What Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders do
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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.
Who tends to enjoy it
Hands-on
People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Creative
People who like making things, design, writing, music, and self-expression.
What you'd actually do
- Dispose of hazardous waste in an appropriate manner.
- Hold or position spray guns to direct spray onto articles.
- Spray prepared surfaces with specified amounts of primers and decorative or finish coatings.
- Monitor painting operations to identify flaws, such as blisters or streaks, and correct their causes.
- Disassemble, clean, and reassemble sprayers or power equipment, using solvents, wire brushes, and cloths.
- Fill hoppers, reservoirs, troughs, or pans with material used to coat, paint, or spray, using conveyors or pails.
- Clean equipment and work areas.
- Apply rust-resistant undercoats and caulk and seal seams.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Operations Monitoring
- Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Quality Control Analysis
- Equipment Maintenance
- Repairing
What you'll need to know
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- Chemistry
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Autobody / Collision and Repair Technology / Technician 329 colleges
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Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 51-9124.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.