Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Production Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 51-9124.00
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.
- 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
0.12–0.20· 2 ISCO-08 groups
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.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 7132Spray Painters and Varnishers0.12
- ISCO-08 8122Metal Finishing, Plating and Coating Machine Operators0.20
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only30 rated tasks · 2 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (6.7%)
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
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is 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. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Record operational data on specified forms.O*NET Task ID 12510 | 1.0 |
Examine, measure, weigh, or test sample products to ensure conformance to specifications.O*NET Task ID 12521 | 0.5 |
Observe machine gauges and equipment operation to detect defects or deviations from standards, and make adjustments as necessary.O*NET Task ID 12503 | 0.0 |
Determine paint flow, viscosity, and coating quality by performing visual inspections, or by using viscometers.O*NET Task ID 12504 | 0.0 |
Weigh or measure chemicals, coatings, or paints before adding them to machines.O*NET Task ID 12505 | 0.0 |
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.O*NET Task ID 12508 | 0.0 |
Start and stop operation of machines, using levers or buttons.O*NET Task ID 12509 | 0.0 |
Operate auxiliary machines or equipment used in coating or painting processes.O*NET Task ID 12512 | 0.0 |
Fill hoppers, reservoirs, troughs, or pans with material used to coat, paint, or spray, using conveyors or pails.O*NET Task ID 12513 | 0.0 |
Thread or feed items or products through or around machine rollers and dryers.O*NET Task ID 12516 | 0.0 |
Attach hoses or nozzles to machines, using wrenches and pliers, and make adjustments to obtain the proper dispersion of spray.O*NET Task ID 12517 | 0.0 |
Remove materials, parts, or workpieces from painting or coating machines, using hand tools.O*NET Task ID 12518 | 0.0 |
Hold or position spray guns to direct spray onto articles.O*NET Task ID 12522 | 0.0 |
Prepare and apply stencils, computer-generated decals, or other decorative items to finished products.O*NET Task ID 12524 | 0.0 |
Adjust controls on infrared ovens, heat lamps, portable ventilators, or exhaust units to speed the drying of surfaces between coats.O*NET Task ID 23650 | 0.0 |
Apply primer over any repairs made to surfaces.O*NET Task ID 23651 | 0.0 |
Apply rust-resistant undercoats and caulk and seal seams.O*NET Task ID 23652 | 0.0 |
Buff and wax the finished paintwork.O*NET Task ID 23653 | 0.0 |
Clean equipment and work areas.O*NET Task ID 23654 | 0.0 |
Disassemble, clean, and reassemble sprayers or power equipment, using solvents, wire brushes, and cloths.O*NET Task ID 23655 | 0.0 |
Dispose of hazardous waste in an appropriate manner.O*NET Task ID 23656 | 0.0 |
Fill small dents or scratches with body fillers and smooth surfaces to prepare for painting.O*NET Task ID 23657 | 0.0 |
Mix paints to match color specifications or original colors, stirring or thinning paints, using spatulas or power mixing equipment.O*NET Task ID 23658 | 0.0 |
Monitor painting operations to identify flaws, such as blisters or streaks, and correct their causes.O*NET Task ID 23659 | 0.0 |
Operate lifting or moving devices to move equipment or materials to access areas to be painted.O*NET Task ID 23660 | 0.0 |
Remove grease, dirt, paint, or rust from surfaces in preparation for paint application, using abrasives, solvents, brushes, blowtorches, washing tanks, or sandblasters.O*NET Task ID 23661 | 0.0 |
Sand and apply sealer to properly dried finish.O*NET Task ID 23662 | 0.0 |
Set up portable equipment, such as ventilators, exhaust units, ladders, or scaffolding.O*NET Task ID 23663 | 0.0 |
Spray prepared surfaces with specified amounts of primers and decorative or finish coatings.O*NET Task ID 23664 | 0.0 |
Use brush to hand-paint areas in need of retouching or unreachable with a spray gun.O*NET Task ID 23665 | 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 (29)
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 |
|---|---|
| Observe machine gauges and equipment operation to detect defects or deviations from standards, and make adjustments as necessary. | Core |
| Determine paint flow, viscosity, and coating quality by performing visual inspections, or by using viscometers. | Core |
| 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. | Core |
| Start and stop operation of machines, using levers or buttons. | Core |
| Fill hoppers, reservoirs, troughs, or pans with material used to coat, paint, or spray, using conveyors or pails. | Core |
| Attach hoses or nozzles to machines, using wrenches and pliers, and make adjustments to obtain the proper dispersion of spray. | Core |
| Examine, measure, weigh, or test sample products to ensure conformance to specifications. | Core |
| Hold or position spray guns to direct spray onto articles. | Core |
| Apply rust-resistant undercoats and caulk and seal seams. | Core |
| Buff and wax the finished paintwork. | Core |
| Clean equipment and work areas. | Core |
| Disassemble, clean, and reassemble sprayers or power equipment, using solvents, wire brushes, and cloths. | Core |
| Dispose of hazardous waste in an appropriate manner. | Core |
| Monitor painting operations to identify flaws, such as blisters or streaks, and correct their causes. | Core |
| Spray prepared surfaces with specified amounts of primers and decorative or finish coatings. | Core |
| Use brush to hand-paint areas in need of retouching or unreachable with a spray gun. | Core |
| Weigh or measure chemicals, coatings, or paints before adding them to machines. | Supplemental |
| Record operational data on specified forms. | Supplemental |
| Operate auxiliary machines or equipment used in coating or painting processes. | Supplemental |
| Thread or feed items or products through or around machine rollers and dryers. | Supplemental |
| Remove materials, parts, or workpieces from painting or coating machines, using hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Operate lifting or moving devices to move equipment or materials to access areas to be painted. | Supplemental |
| Set up portable equipment, such as ventilators, exhaust units, ladders, or scaffolding. | Supplemental |
| Adjust controls on infrared ovens, heat lamps, portable ventilators, or exhaust units to speed the drying of surfaces between coats. | — |
| Apply primer over any repairs made to surfaces. | — |
| Fill small dents or scratches with body fillers and smooth surfaces to prepare for painting. | — |
| Mix paints to match color specifications or original colors, stirring or thinning paints, using spatulas or power mixing equipment. | — |
| Remove grease, dirt, paint, or rust from surfaces in preparation for paint application, using abrasives, solvents, brushes, blowtorches, washing tanks, or sandblasters. | — |
| Sand and apply sealer to properly dried finish. | — |
1.03/ 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 |
|---|---|
| Observe machine gauges and equipment operation to detect defects or deviations from standards, and make adjustments as necessary. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Determine paint flow, viscosity, and coating quality by performing visual inspections, or by using viscometers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| 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. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Start and stop operation of machines, using levers or buttons. | E2 structured facilities |
| Fill hoppers, reservoirs, troughs, or pans with material used to coat, paint, or spray, using conveyors or pails. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Attach hoses or nozzles to machines, using wrenches and pliers, and make adjustments to obtain the proper dispersion of spray. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Examine, measure, weigh, or test sample products to ensure conformance to specifications. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Hold or position spray guns to direct spray onto articles. | E2 structured facilities |
| Apply rust-resistant undercoats and caulk and seal seams. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Buff and wax the finished paintwork. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean equipment and work areas. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Disassemble, clean, and reassemble sprayers or power equipment, using solvents, wire brushes, and cloths. | E0 none |
| Dispose of hazardous waste in an appropriate manner. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Monitor painting operations to identify flaws, such as blisters or streaks, and correct their causes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Spray prepared surfaces with specified amounts of primers and decorative or finish coatings. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Use brush to hand-paint areas in need of retouching or unreachable with a spray gun. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Weigh or measure chemicals, coatings, or paints before adding them to machines. | E2 structured facilities |
| Operate auxiliary machines or equipment used in coating or painting processes. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Thread or feed items or products through or around machine rollers and dryers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove materials, parts, or workpieces from painting or coating machines, using hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate lifting or moving devices to move equipment or materials to access areas to be painted. | E2 structured facilities |
| Set up portable equipment, such as ventilators, exhaust units, ladders, or scaffolding. | E0 none |
| Adjust controls on infrared ovens, heat lamps, portable ventilators, or exhaust units to speed the drying of surfaces between coats. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Apply primer over any repairs made to surfaces. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Fill small dents or scratches with body fillers and smooth surfaces to prepare for painting. | E0 none |
| Mix paints to match color specifications or original colors, stirring or thinning paints, using spatulas or power mixing equipment. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove grease, dirt, paint, or rust from surfaces in preparation for paint application, using abrasives, solvents, brushes, blowtorches, washing tanks, or sandblasters. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Sand and apply sealer to properly dried finish. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 165K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 169K
- Change (2025–35)
- +2.5%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $48,250
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84211 | 차량 도장기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 84212 | 가구 도장기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 84213 | 금속제품 도장기 조작원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 83215 | 필름 생산기 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 84224 | 금속 분무기 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 84225 | 금속코팅·광택 및 래미네이팅기 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 89133 | 인화지 제조기 조작원 | Overlapping, not the same | confirmed |
| 78369 | 그 외 건축 도장공 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 83229 | 그 외 타이어 및 고무제품 생산기 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 84229 | 그 외 도금 및 금속 분무기 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 84319 | 그 외 유리 제조 및 가공기 조작원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
| 86312 | 이차전지 제조 기계 조작원 | 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 7132Spray Painters and Varnishers
- ISCO-08 8122Metal Finishing, Plating and Coating Machine Operators
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.
- coating machine operatorESCO 8122.3This occupation is broader
Coating machine operators set up and tend coating machines that coat metal products with a thin layer of covering of materials such as lacquer, enamel, copper, nickel, zinc, cadmium, chromium or other metal layering in order to protect or decorate the metal products' surfaces. They run all coating machine stations on multiple coaters.
- dip tank operatorESCO 8122.6This occupation is broader
Dip tank operators set up and tend dip tanks, which are coating machines, designed to provide otherwise finished work pieces with durable coating by dipping them in a tank of a specific sort of paint, preservative or molten zinc.
- electroplating machine operatorESCO 8122.7This occupation is broader
Electroplating machine operators set up and tend electroplating machines designed to finish and coat the metal workpieces' (such as future pennies and jewelry) surface by using electric current to dissolve metal cations and to bond a thin layer of another metal, such as zinc, copper or silver, to produce a coherent metal coating to the workpiece's surface.
- lacquer spray gun operatorESCO 7132.1This occupation is broader
Lacquer spray gun operators operate lacquer spray guns designed to provide otherwise finished metal, wooden or plastic workpieces with a hard, durable finishing coat, through lacquer coating or paint that is either matte, sheen or highly glossy, but is always meant for hard surfaces.
- rustprooferESCO 8122.10This occupation is broader
Rustproofers use the proper equipment and machinery to provide metal workpieces with a hard, durable finishing coat, composed of specific chemical formulas, that prevents or delays iron and steel pieces from rusting and protects against corrosion.
- transport equipment painterESCO 7132.3This occupation is broader
Transport equipment painters use painting machines and hand tools to coat individual parts and to paint the surface of all types of transport equipment such as cars, buses, boats, aircraft, motorcycles and railway cars. They prepare the surface of the pieces for the paint and apply the coaat. Transport equipment painters can perform industrial painting or individual customisation. They may also remove or repair painting errors such as scratches.
- surface treatment operatorESCO 7132.2Overlapping, not the same
Surface treatment operators apply chemicals and paint to the material surface in order to protect against corrosion. They calculate the materials needed for surface protection.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| H3404 | Peintre industriel / Peintre industrielle | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| H3411 | Laqueur industriel / Laqueuse industrielle | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| I1609 | Peintre automobile | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| I1614 | Préparateur / Préparatrice en peinture automobile | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
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 same |
| 8122 | Operadores de máquinas pulidoras, galvanizadoras y recubridoras de metales | Overlapping, not the same |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 22202 | Berufe in der Farb- und Lacktechnik (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 22212 | Berufe in der Fahrzeuglackierung - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broader |
| 24302 | Berufe in der Metalloberflächenbehandlung (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 24382 | Berufe in der Metalloberflächenbehandlung (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - 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 narrower |
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