Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
Painting, coating, and decorating workers apply paint, stain, glaze, or other finishes to manufactured items like furniture, pottery, jewelry, toys, and books. They work in factories, workshops, and small production facilities, using brushes, sprayers, and other application tools to add color, protection, or decorative details to products before they reach customers.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against painting, coating, and decorating workers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
A day in the work
A typical week involves preparing surfaces by cleaning or sanding, mixing paints or coatings to match specifications, and applying finishes using brushes, sprayers, or dipping methods. Workers inspect items for quality, touch up imperfections, and may repeat the same process across dozens or hundreds of pieces. They follow company standards for color matching and coat thickness while managing workspace organization and equipment maintenance.
Who this work suits
Holland code RAC. Realistic work is hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. Aptly’s interest assessment scores you on the same six scales.
You likely enjoy working with your hands and have an eye for detail and visual aesthetics. You're the type who finds satisfaction in seeing a finished product look right, and you're comfortable learning specific techniques and following procedures to achieve consistent, quality results.
What it takes
Preparation: Some preparation (usually high school; some on-the-job training). Most people in this occupation hold no formal education requirement.
Skills that matter most
Knowledge areas
Openings right now
- SHEET METAL MECHANIC (AIRCRAFT/PAINTER) · Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command · Peterson AFB, Colorado · $36.17–$42.19
Openings are read from employers’ own career pages and public job boards and change daily. Search all openings (free account) to filter by distance, pay and how well you qualify.
Pay by state
| State | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $48,890 | $61,210 | $77,780 | 90 |
| Nevada | $52,800 | $60,190 | $64,940 | — |
| Colorado | $46,330 | $54,070 | $61,250 | 170 |
| Massachusetts | $50,670 | $54,070 | $55,510 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $48,390 | $52,160 | $63,050 | 90 |
| Connecticut | $45,090 | $50,720 | $56,690 | 50 |
| Ohio | $40,470 | $49,080 | $51,490 | 230 |
| Missouri | $44,440 | $48,560 | $50,520 | 140 |
| New York | $40,200 | $48,510 | $70,050 | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $48,320 | $48,330 | $50,750 | 230 |
| Maryland | $38,340 | $47,320 | $58,180 | 50 |
| Virginia | $37,960 | $47,090 | $56,840 | 290 |
All 37 states
Certifications people in this field hold
- Certified Decorator — Retail Bakers of America
- ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) Associate Engineer (NCE) — Exemplar Global
- ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) Technician (NCT) — Exemplar Global
- Protective Coatings Specialist — The Association for Materials Protection and Performance
Training
Aptly members see WIOA-approved programs, colleges and certificates near them, with completion and earnings data, on every Path plan.
Job titles in this occupation
Related occupations
Four short assessments and your background, scored against painting, coating, and decorating workers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 51-9123.00 · O*NET OnLine. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, annual, U.S. Employment counts are national.