How much does a coating operator make?
a year · about $23 an hour
A typical coating operator in the United States makes $48,250 a year, about $23 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They set spray nozzles to match a moving conveyor and watch gauges as the machine coats products. They check for uneven spots, touch up flaws, and wear masks and gloves.
Did you know? O*NET reports that 58% of surveyed U.S. workers in this occupation said they face hazardous conditions every day.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $36,260 and $74,730How do you become one?
In the U.S., a high school diploma or equivalent is typical; workers usually start in an entry-level job and learn on the job for several months. Computer-controlled machines may require extra programming training.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can vary with experience and skills, useful credentials, the employer or industry, and location. More complex or responsible tasks may pay more.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($59,980), lowest in Alabama ($44,250).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,260 | $48,250 | $74,730 | about 159,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $59,980 | about 4,000 |
| New Jersey | $58,240 | about 3,000 |
| Maryland | $55,510 | about 1,000 |
| Colorado | $53,590 | about 1,000 |
| Mississippi | $53,170 | about 2,000 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic” (51-4193).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/production/painting-and-coating-workers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-9124.00?redir=51-9121.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY