Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9123.00
Paint, coat, or decorate articles, such as furniture, glass, plateware, pottery, jewelry, toys, books, or leather.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.18
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
13 rated tasks · 0 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (0.0%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 4 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Apply coatings, such as paint, ink, or lacquer, to protect or decorate workpiece surfaces, using spray guns, pens, or brushes.O*NET Task ID 12527 | 0.0 |
Examine finished surfaces of workpieces to verify conformance to specifications and retouch any defective areas.O*NET Task ID 12528 | 0.0 |
Clean and maintain tools and equipment, using solvents, brushes, and rags.O*NET Task ID 12529 | 0.0 |
Read job orders and inspect workpieces to determine work procedures and materials required.O*NET Task ID 12530 | 0.0 |
Clean surfaces of workpieces in preparation for coating, using cleaning fluids, solvents, brushes, scrapers, steam, sandpaper, or cloth.O*NET Task ID 12531 | 0.0 |
Rinse, drain, or wipe coated workpieces to remove excess coating material or to facilitate setting of finish coats on workpieces.O*NET Task ID 12532 | 0.0 |
Place coated workpieces in ovens or dryers for specified times to dry or harden finishes.O*NET Task ID 12533 | 0.0 |
Select and mix ingredients to prepare coating substances according to specifications, using paddles or mechanical mixers.O*NET Task ID 12534 | 0.0 |
Melt or heat coating materials to specified temperatures.O*NET Task ID 12535 | 0.0 |
Conceal blemishes in workpieces, such as nicks and dents, using fillers such as putty.O*NET Task ID 12536 | 0.0 |
Immerse workpieces into coating materials for specified times.O*NET Task ID 12537 | 0.0 |
Cut out sections in surfaces of materials to be inlaid with decorative pieces, using patterns and knives or scissors.O*NET Task ID 12538 | 0.0 |
Position and glue decorative pieces in cutout sections of workpieces, following patterns.O*NET Task ID 12539 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (9)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Apply coatings, such as paint, ink, or lacquer, to protect or decorate workpiece surfaces, using spray guns, pens, or brushes. | Core |
| Examine finished surfaces of workpieces to verify conformance to specifications and retouch any defective areas. | Core |
| Clean and maintain tools and equipment, using solvents, brushes, and rags. | Core |
| Read job orders and inspect workpieces to determine work procedures and materials required. | Core |
| Clean surfaces of workpieces in preparation for coating, using cleaning fluids, solvents, brushes, scrapers, steam, sandpaper, or cloth. | Supplemental |
| Rinse, drain, or wipe coated workpieces to remove excess coating material or to facilitate setting of finish coats on workpieces. | Supplemental |
| Place coated workpieces in ovens or dryers for specified times to dry or harden finishes. | Supplemental |
| Select and mix ingredients to prepare coating substances according to specifications, using paddles or mechanical mixers. | Supplemental |
| Conceal blemishes in workpieces, such as nicks and dents, using fillers such as putty. | Supplemental |
0.84/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Apply coatings, such as paint, ink, or lacquer, to protect or decorate workpiece surfaces, using spray guns, pens, or brushes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Examine finished surfaces of workpieces to verify conformance to specifications and retouch any defective areas. | E0 none |
| Clean and maintain tools and equipment, using solvents, brushes, and rags. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Read job orders and inspect workpieces to determine work procedures and materials required. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean surfaces of workpieces in preparation for coating, using cleaning fluids, solvents, brushes, scrapers, steam, sandpaper, or cloth. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Rinse, drain, or wipe coated workpieces to remove excess coating material or to facilitate setting of finish coats on workpieces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Place coated workpieces in ovens or dryers for specified times to dry or harden finishes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Select and mix ingredients to prepare coating substances according to specifications, using paddles or mechanical mixers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Conceal blemishes in workpieces, such as nicks and dents, using fillers such as putty. | E0 none |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 8K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 8K
- Change (2025–35)
- +1.3%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $41,600
- Typical education needed for entry
- No formal educational credential
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84219 | 그 외 도장기 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 73040 | 간판 제작 및 설치원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 79129 | 그 외 귀금속 및 보석 세공원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7316Sign Writers, Decorative Painters, Engravers and Etchers
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- decorative painterESCO 7316.1This occupation is broader
Decorative painters design and create visual art on different kinds of surfaces such as pottery, casings, glass and fabric. They use diverse materials and a variety of techniques to produce decorative illustrations ranging from stenciling to free-hand drawing.
- furniture finisherESCO 7522.5This occupation is broader
Furniture finishers treat the surface of wood furniture using hand and power tools to sand, clean and polish. They apply wood coatings onto wooden surfaces by using different techniques such as brushing or using a spray gun. They choose and apply the right coatings with protective and/or decorative purposes.
- glass painterESCO 7316.1.2This occupation is broader
Glass painters design and create visual art on glass or crystal surfaces and objects such as windows, stemware and bottles. They use a variety of techniques to produce decorative illustrations ranging from stenciling to free-hand drawing.
- leather goods finishing operatorESCO 7536.1.1This occupation is broader
Leather goods finishing operators organise leather goods products to be finished applying different types of finishing (e.g. creamy, oily, waxy, polishing, plastic-coated, etc.). They use tools, means and materials to incorporate the handles and metallic applications in bags, suitcases, and other accessories. They study the sequence of operations according to the information received from the supervisor and from the technical sheet of the model. They apply techniques for ironing, creaming or oiling, for the application of liquids for waterproofing, leather washing, cleaning, polishing, waxing, brushing, burning tips, remotion of glue waste, and painting the tops following technical specifications. They also check visually the quality of the finished by paying close attention to the absence of wrinkles, straight seams, and cleanliness. They correct anomalies or defects that can be solved by finishing and reported to the supervisor.
- porcelain painterESCO 7316.1.3This occupation is broader
Porcelain painters design and create visual art on porcelain surfaces and objects such as tiles and pottery. They use a variety of techniques to produce decorative illustrations ranging from stenciling to free-hand drawing.
- wood painterESCO 7316.1.4This occupation is broader
Wood painters design and create visual art on wooden surfaces and objects such as furniture, figurines and toys. They use a variety of techniques to produce decorative illustrations ranging from stenciling to free-hand drawing.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| H2427 | Applicateur / Applicatrice en tannerie-mégisserie | This occupation is broader |
| B1302 | Décorateur / Décoratrice d'objets d'art | Overlapping, not the same |
| H3404 | Peintre industriel / Peintre industrielle | Overlapping, not the same |
| E1316 | Conducteur / Conductrice de machines à sérigraphier | Related, not a match |
| H1240 | Agent / Agente de finissage couleurs et effets cuirs et peaux | Related, not a match |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7232 | Pintores en las industrias manufactureras | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 7616 | Rotulistas, grabadores de vidrio, pintores decorativos de artículos diversos | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 93422 | Berufe in der kunsthandwerklichen Glas-, Keram- und Porzellanmalerei - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 93342 | Berufe im Vergolderhandwerk - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 22201 | Berufe in der Farb- und Lacktechnik (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 22202 | Berufe in der Farb- und Lacktechnik (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the same |
| 24382 | Berufe in der Metalloberflächenbehandlung (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 93343 | Berufe im Vergolderhandwerk - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 93542 | Berufe in der Schilder- und Lichtreklameherstellung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 591 | 生産関連作業従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 532 | 窯業・土石製品製造従事者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 539 | その他の製品製造・加工処理従事者（金属製品を除く） | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources