Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

SOC code 51-9124 · O*NET-SOC 51-9124.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay

U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number

Median pay

$48,250

a year

Hourly

$23.20

per hour

10th$36,260Median$48,25090th$74,730

The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.

Average pay

$52,620

$25.30 per hour

Middle 50%

$40,590 – $59,680

25th to 75th percentile

Full spread

$36,260 – $74,730

10th to 90th percentile

People employed

158,740

nationwide

National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.

10th percentile: $36,260; $17.43/hr
25th percentile: $40,590; $19.52/hr
Median percentile: $48,250; $23.20/hr
75th percentile: $59,680; $28.69/hr
90th percentile: $74,730; $35.93/hr

What do coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders do?

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 tasks that matter most day to day

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.
Thread or feed items or products through or around machine rollers and dryers.

How to qualify for this work

Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 63% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.

Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed

Education: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Training: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

See all zone 2 occupations →

Education reported by people doing this job

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)63%
Less than a High School Diploma27%
Post-Secondary Certificate7%
Some College Courses4%

Common questions

How much does a coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders earn?

The national median is $48,250 a year. The full range runs from $36,260 at the 10th percentile to $74,730 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.

Can you become a coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders without a degree?

Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.

Skills and knowledge you need

Core skills

Monitoring3.1/5

Knowledge areas

Mechanical3.0/5
English Language2.6/5
Production and Processing2.6/5

Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Coordination.