Industrial Painters, Coaters, and Metal Finishing Process Operators

(NOC 9536)

in All Manufacturing and Utilities

Industrial painters and coaters operate and tend machines or use brushes and spray equipment to apply paint, enamel, lacquer or other non-metallic protective and decorative coatings to surfaces of various products. Metal finishing process operators operate machines or equipment to deposit metallized substances on workpieces and surfaces to provide decorative, protective and restorative coatings. They work for manufacturing companies and custom refinishing, coating and plating shops.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 55 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate High rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

  • Estimate 435 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1945 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$28.07

Median

$34.82

Maximum

Annual Pay

$7,771

Minimum

$36,550

Median

$74,851

Maximum

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

Hourly Pay

$14.00

Minimum

$20.80

Median

$33.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,056

Minimum

$30,111

Median

$70,518

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Industrial painters and coaters operate and tend machines or use brushes and spray equipment to apply paint, enamel, lacquer or other non-metallic protective and decorative coatings to surfaces of various products. Metal finishing process operators operate machines or equipment to deposit metallized substances on workpieces and surfaces to provide decorative, protective and restorative coatings. They work for manufacturing companies and custom refinishing, coating and plating shops.

Job duties

Industrial painters and coaters:

  • Select appropriate paint or mix paints using automated paint mixing equipment according to a pre-determined formula.
  • Use or tend equipment to clean, wash, strip, sand, remove corrosion, fill dents, or otherwise prepare items for application of paint, lacquer or other protective or decorative coatings.
  • Use or tend automated spray paint, dip or flow coating equipment or other mechanized painting or product coating application equipment.
  • Use hand-held spray guns to spray paint or coat stationary items or items on moving conveyor system with protective or decorative coatings.
  • Paint small items and apply touch-ups using paint brushes.
  • Clean and maintain painting and coating, ventilation, compressed air and personal protective equipment.
  • May prepare and apply stencils, computer-generated decals or other decorative items on finished products.

Metal finishing process operators:

  • Prepare and mix metallizing solutions according to formulas or specifications.
  • Operate or tend equipment to clean, degrease, pickle and etch metal and non-metal surfaces to prepare workpieces with desired surface characteristics.
  • Tend automatic metal coating machines which convey objects through a series of cleaning, rinsing and plating solutions.
  • Use and control electroplating equipment to coat metal and other workpieces.
  • Use hot-dip metal plating equipment to galvanize metal and other workpieces.
  • Use spray equipment to build up worn or damaged parts or to bond protective or decorative coatings on various objects.
  • Check proper thickness of plating using micrometers, calipers or other devices.
  • May operate equipment to polish metallic surfaces of products.
  • May tend ovens which cure metal coating.

Sample job titles

  • airbrush painter
  • assembly line painter
  • decal applier
  • industrial painter
  • production painter
  • sign letterer
  • spray painter
  • undercoater - motor vehicle manufacturing

Skills

  • These jobs need mechanical skill and physical fitness. Good spatial perception, form perception, and hand-eye coordination are important. You must be accurate and attentive to detail.

Job requirements

  • Some high school education is usually required.
  • Several months of on-the-job training are usually provided.
  • Some industrial painters, like aviation painters, may require specialized training and certification or college courses.

Other considerations

  • Some experience in operating production machinery or equipment may be required. Movement to supervisor positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

305

employed in 2016

91.8%

employed full-time

8.2%

self employed

6.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
93.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.8

median age

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

15,275

employed in 2016

83.2%

employed full-time

3.2%

self employed

27.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
72.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

35.0%

Halifax

$49,107 median annual income
28.3%

North Shore

$31,005 median annual income
20.0%

Southern

$36,366 median annual income
8.3%

Cape Breton

N/A
8.3%

Annapolis Valley

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

83.3%

Manufacturing

7.1%

Construction

4.8%

Other services (except public administration)

4.8%

Public administration

What is the age of Employment?

24.0%

45-54

21.0%

25-34

19.0%

55-64

16.0%

35-44

15.0%

15-24

5.0%

65+

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

24.5%

45-54

20.8%

55-64

19.3%

35-44

16.5%

25-34

15.0%

15-24

Top levels of education

39.3%

High school

$32,946 median annual income
23.0%

Less than high school

$41,105 median annual income
18.0%

College Diploma

$31,099 median annual income
14.8%

Trade Certification

$68,654 median annual income
4.9%

Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

38.1%

High school

$28,505 median annual income
23.3%

Less than high school

$19,224 median annual income
19.9%

College Diploma

$38,781 median annual income
12.2%

Trade Certification

$43,975 median annual income
4.5%

Bachelor

$39,715 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.