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

Set up, operate, or tend 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.

Median Annual Wage: $31,460

Education: High school diploma or equivalent (49%); Less than high school diploma (35%); Post-secondary certificate (16%)

Projected Growth: Little or no change (-2% to 2%)

Related Job Titles: Painter; Machine Operator; Industrial Painter; Coater Operator; Hand Sprayer; Powder Coater; Spray Painter; Press Operator; Silk Screen Operator; Coater Adjuster

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.

More Production Careers

  • Weigh or measure chemicals, coatings, or paints before adding them to machines.
  • Observe machine gauges and equipment operation to detect defects or deviations from standards, and make adjustments as necessary.
  • Select appropriate coatings, paints, or sprays, or prepare them by mixing substances according to formulas, using automated paint mixing equipment.
  • Set up and operate machines to paint or coat products with such materials as silver and copper solution, rubber, paint, glaze, oil, or rustproofing materials.
  • 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.
  • Operate auxiliary machines or equipment used in coating or painting processes.
  • Fill hoppers, reservoirs, troughs, or pans with material used to coat, paint, or spray, using conveyors or pails.
  • Start pumps to mix solutions and fill tanks.
  • Record operational data on specified forms.
  • Perform test runs to ensure that equipment is set up properly.
  • Clean machines, related equipment, and work areas, using water, solvents and other cleaning aids.
  • Thread or feed items or products through or around machine rollers and dryers.
  • Attach hoses or nozzles to machines, using wrenches and pliers, and make adjustments to obtain the proper dispersion of spray.
  • Remove materials, parts, or workpieces from painting or coating machines, using hand tools.
  • Transfer completed items or products from machines to drying or storage areas, using handcarts, handtrucks, or cranes.
  • Attach and align machine parts such as rollers, guides, brushes, and blades, using hand tools.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.

  • Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  • Equipment Maintenance - Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.

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