All careers › Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Automotive painter: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $36,260lowest 10% earn less
- $40,59025th percentile
- $48,250median
- $59,68075th percentile
- $74,730top 10% earn more
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, a group that includes automotive painters, had a median pay of $48,250 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +2.5%[2]
- Openings per year
- 15,300[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do automotive painters make?
O*NET says the Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders category includes painters in auto body repair facilities[7]. The median pay for the whole group was $48,250 a year, or $23.20 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers made more and half made less. The mean (average) was $52,620 a year, or $25.30 an hour[8]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4], so the median here is a little lower.
The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,260 a year, and the 25th percentile was $40,590[3]. The 75th percentile was $59,680 and the 90th percentile was $74,730[3]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $17.43 and the 90th percentile was $35.93[9]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].
| Measure | Annual wage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3] | $36,260 | |
| 25th percentile[3] | $40,590 | |
| Median[1] | $48,250 | |
| 75th percentile[3] | $59,680 | |
| 90th percentile[3] | $74,730 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits like health insurance[11].
Pay by state and city
Alaska had the highest median pay at $69,910 a year, followed by Washington at $59,980 and New Jersey at $58,240[12]. West Virginia was last in the list at $42,950[12].
Among metro areas with the highest pay, Springfield, OH came first at $67,070[13]. Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT followed at $63,360[13], and Gulfport-Biloxi, MS was third at $63,180[13].
Texas had the most jobs, with 16,600, then California with 11,570 and Ohio with 8,320[14]. Among metro areas, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX had the most jobs at 5,050, with a median of $49,350[15]. Houston had 4,590 jobs and Los Angeles had 4,580[15].
Show median pay in 50 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska[12] | $69,910 | 140 |
| Washington | $59,980 | 3,980 |
| New Jersey | $58,240 | 2,890 |
| Maine | $56,200 | 680 |
| Maryland | $55,510 | 1,010 |
| Colorado | $53,590 | 1,470 |
| Mississippi | $53,170 | 2,010 |
| California | $52,950 | 11,570 |
| Connecticut | $52,900 | 1,550 |
| Minnesota | $52,210 | 3,430 |
| Hawaii | $51,990 | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $51,150 | 2,740 |
| North Dakota | $51,020 | 560 |
| Wyoming | $50,220 | 220 |
| Virginia | $49,880 | 4,130 |
| Rhode Island | $49,850 | 470 |
| Oregon | $49,400 | 2,470 |
| Vermont | $49,360 | 170 |
| Nebraska | $49,340 | 740 |
| Iowa | $49,330 | 3,220 |
| Wisconsin | $49,170 | 6,120 |
| Ohio | $48,550 | 8,320 |
| New Hampshire | $48,410 | 430 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,340 | 6,790 |
| South Carolina | $48,220 | 2,780 |
| Illinois | $48,000 | 6,390 |
| New York | $48,000 | 3,270 |
| South Dakota | $47,980 | 1,150 |
| Louisiana | $47,950 | 810 |
| Utah | $47,880 | 1,740 |
| Arizona | $47,860 | 2,440 |
| Florida | $47,860 | 6,200 |
| Missouri | $47,580 | 3,860 |
| Montana | $47,380 | 330 |
| Indiana | $47,320 | 8,030 |
| Tennessee | $47,210 | 3,880 |
| Kentucky | $47,170 | 2,190 |
| Kansas | $47,120 | 3,160 |
| Texas | $46,750 | 16,600 |
| North Carolina | $46,730 | 5,700 |
| Georgia | $46,450 | 5,900 |
| Arkansas | $46,380 | 1,870 |
| Delaware | $46,120 | 100 |
| Idaho | $45,810 | 760 |
| Oklahoma | $45,780 | 2,520 |
| Nevada | $45,750 | 640 |
| New Mexico | $45,730 | 400 |
| Michigan | $44,670 | 7,050 |
| Alabama | $44,250 | 5,250 |
| West Virginia | $42,950 | 370 |
How to become an automotive painter
The pay and projection facts cover this occupation. The training details below come from a BLS handbook profile that covers a wider group of painting and coating workers[16].
- First: have a high school diploma or equivalent. That is the typical education for entry[6]. Some employers hire people without formal credentials[17].
- Next: no related work experience is typically needed[6].
- Then: train on the job. BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. In the wider group, training usually takes several months and sometimes only a few days[18].
Some automotive painters attend vocational-technical programs, where they practice mixing and applying paint[19]. Workers who run computer-controlled equipment may need extra training in computer programming[20].
In an O*NET survey of 40 workers, 63% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 27% said less than a high school diploma, and 7% said a post-secondary certificate[21]. This is a small survey. The facts do not name any license or exam.
What automotive painters and coating operators do
O*NET describes the work as setting up, running or tending spraying or rolling machines that coat or paint products[7]. Common tasks include:
- Disposing of hazardous waste in the proper way[22].
- Holding spray guns to aim the spray at items[22].
- Spraying primers and finish coatings onto prepared surfaces[22].
- Watching the work for flaws such as blisters or streaks and fixing their causes[22].
- Taking apart, cleaning and reassembling sprayers and power equipment[22].
- Filling hoppers and reservoirs with coating material[22].
- Checking paint flow, thickness and coating quality by eye or with a viscometer[22].
Workers report titles such as auto painter, automotive refinish technician, industrial painter and powder coater[23].
Where they work
The handbook profile for the wider group says the work is usually done in specially ventilated areas. Workers wear masks or respirators, and sometimes gloves and other protective gear[24]. Standing for long periods is common, and workers may need to bend, stoop or crouch to reach parts of a product[25]. Full-time work is the norm for the group[26]. Fabricated metal product manufacturing was the largest employer, with 21% of the wider group's workers in 2025[27]. In this occupation, 3.8% of workers were self-employed in 2025[28].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 164,800 to 168,900 jobs, a change of +4,100[2]. For all occupations, the projected growth is 3.5%[29]. So this job is expected to grow a little more slowly than jobs overall. These counts include self-employed workers[2].
BLS expects about 15,300 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[5]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or switch to other fields, and also new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.1% of workers are projected to leave the labor force and 5.8% to move to a different occupation[30].
Is it a good fit?
The entry steps are modest. The typical path asks for a high school diploma or equivalent, no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. The median pay is a little under the all-occupations median, at $48,250 against $50,980[1][4]. The 90th percentile was $74,730, so pay can climb well above the middle[3]. Growth is slower than the average for all jobs, though openings continue each year[2][29][5]. The work involves standing, bending and protective gear[24][25]. The facts here do not cover costs or benefits.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an automotive painter make an hour?
- The median for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders was $23.20 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $25.30[1][8]. This category includes painters in auto body repair facilities[7].
- How long does it take to become an automotive painter?
- BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. A handbook profile for the wider group says training usually takes several months and sometimes only a few days[16][18].
- What education do you need to be an automotive painter?
- The typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent[6]. Some automotive painters attend vocational-technical programs[19].
- What is the highest paying state for coating and painting machine operators?
- Alaska, with a median of $69,910 a year in May 2025[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the US was $48,250 per year and $23.20 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is projected to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 164,800 to 168,900 jobs (a change of +4,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 10th percentile $36,260, 25th percentile $40,590, 75th percentile $59,680, 90th percentile $74,730. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 15,300 openings for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- O*NET description of Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders was $52,620 per year and $25.30 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 10th percentile $17.43, 25th percentile $19.52, 75th percentile $28.69, 90th percentile $35.93. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (areas with at least 100 jobs): Springfield, OH $67,070; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $63,360; Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $63,180; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $63,030; Charleston-North Charleston, SC $62,280; Grand Junction, CO $61,130; Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $60,820; Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $59,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders jobs: Texas 16,600; California 11,570; Ohio 8,320; Indiana 8,030; Michigan 7,050. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders jobs: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 5,050 (median $49,350); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 4,590 (median $46,950); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,580 (median $54,870); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,680 (median $48,910); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,250 (median $58,520); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 2,640 (median $63,030). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Painting and Coating Workers" covers Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 51-9124.00 survey of workers (40 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 63%, Less than a High School Diploma 27%, Post-Secondary Certificate 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-9124.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Automotive Painter (Auto Painter), Automotive Refinish Technician (Auto Refinish Tech), Coater Operator, Hand Sprayer, Industrial Painter, Paint Technician (Paint Tech), Painter, Powder Coater. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of painting and coating workers in 2025: Fabricated metal product manufacturing 21%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: 3.8% of Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 3.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.