
An official website of the United States government
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).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
146,350 | 1.5 % | $19.84 | $41,260 | 0.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $12.38 | $14.84 | $18.34 | $23.33 | $29.43 |
Annual Wage (2) | $25,760 | $30,870 | $38,150 | $48,540 | $61,220 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 26,630 | 2.83 | $23.26 | $48,380 |
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 15,190 | 10.77 | $16.75 | $34,830 |
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 10,520 | 1.40 | $18.40 | $38,270 |
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 9,810 | 2.00 | $17.76 | $36,930 |
Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 6,290 | 3.83 | $18.26 | $37,990 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 15,190 | 10.77 | $16.75 | $34,830 |
Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 890 | 3.83 | $23.01 | $47,870 |
Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 6,290 | 3.83 | $18.26 | $37,990 |
Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 1,070 | 3.71 | $17.91 | $37,250 |
Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 26,630 | 2.83 | $23.26 | $48,380 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Scheduled Air Transportation | 70 | 0.02 | $40.42 | $84,080 |
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 380 | 0.01 | $29.75 | $61,870 |
Rail Transportation | 60 | 0.03 | $27.96 | $58,150 |
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 4,660 | 0.90 | $26.61 | $55,350 |
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 710 | 0.77 | $25.84 | $53,740 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texas | 13,910 | 1.12 | 1.12 | $19.93 | $41,450 |
California | 12,960 | 0.75 | 0.75 | $20.84 | $43,340 |
Indiana | 8,660 | 2.82 | 2.83 | $19.23 | $40,010 |
Ohio | 7,630 | 1.40 | 1.41 | $18.48 | $38,440 |
Wisconsin | 6,470 | 2.25 | 2.26 | $18.97 | $39,470 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indiana | 8,660 | 2.82 | 2.83 | $19.23 | $40,010 |
South Dakota | 1,080 | 2.53 | 2.54 | $18.51 | $38,490 |
Wisconsin | 6,470 | 2.25 | 2.26 | $18.97 | $39,470 |
Oklahoma | 3,160 | 1.95 | 1.96 | $17.93 | $37,280 |
Iowa | 2,760 | 1.78 | 1.79 | $19.13 | $39,780 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington | 4,050 | 1.22 | 1.22 | $24.64 | $51,250 |
Maryland | 850 | 0.31 | 0.32 | $24.51 | $50,970 |
Alaska | 90 | 0.29 | 0.29 | $23.97 | $49,850 |
Virginia | 3,710 | 0.96 | 0.96 | $23.43 | $48,740 |
Hawaii | 130 | 0.21 | 0.21 | $23.24 | $48,340 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 5,240 | 0.84 | 0.84 | $19.29 | $40,130 |
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 3,990 | 1.31 | 1.31 | $19.38 | $40,300 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 3,850 | 0.82 | 0.83 | $20.10 | $41,810 |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,270 | 0.89 | 0.90 | $21.48 | $44,670 |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 3,130 | 0.32 | 0.33 | $20.22 | $42,070 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,840 | 1.40 | 1.41 | $25.78 | $53,620 |
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2,460 | 1.24 | 1.25 | $17.97 | $37,370 |
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,310 | 1.17 | 1.18 | $20.61 | $42,880 |
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,830 | 0.67 | 0.67 | $20.95 | $43,570 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,830 | 0.63 | 0.64 | $20.60 | $42,850 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 450 | 4.77 | 4.78 | $19.81 | $41,200 |
Wausau, WI | 320 | 4.49 | 4.50 | $19.39 | $40,330 |
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 390 | 4.40 | 4.42 | $17.00 | $35,360 |
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 150 | 4.27 | 4.29 | $22.22 | $46,220 |
Columbus, IN | 210 | 4.12 | 4.14 | $16.38 | $34,080 |
Appleton, WI | 480 | 3.89 | 3.91 | $18.21 | $37,870 |
Erie, PA | 440 | 3.59 | 3.60 | $22.73 | $47,270 |
Decatur, AL | 190 | 3.49 | 3.50 | $16.61 | $34,540 |
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL | 150 | 3.45 | 3.46 | $19.62 | $40,810 |
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 240 | 3.40 | 3.41 | $22.70 | $47,220 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | 60 | 0.63 | 0.63 | $30.54 | $63,530 |
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 50 | 0.95 | 0.95 | $28.38 | $59,030 |
Salinas, CA | 60 | 0.32 | 0.32 | $28.04 | $58,310 |
Portland-South Portland, ME | 90 | 0.44 | 0.44 | $27.13 | $56,430 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 770 | 0.24 | 0.24 | $26.97 | $56,100 |
Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI | 60 | 0.45 | 0.45 | $26.85 | $55,850 |
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 410 | 1.00 | 1.00 | $26.81 | $55,760 |
Santa Rosa, CA | 150 | 0.73 | 0.73 | $26.61 | $55,350 |
Bellingham, WA | 90 | 1.01 | 1.01 | $26.47 | $55,060 |
Colorado Springs, CO | 160 | 0.55 | 0.55 | $26.30 | $54,710 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 1,440 | 6.63 | 6.65 | $17.52 | $36,450 |
North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) | 1,300 | 3.89 | 3.91 | $17.13 | $35,630 |
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 1,170 | 6.20 | 6.22 | $20.72 | $43,100 |
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 1,160 | 4.53 | 4.55 | $19.01 | $39,550 |
Kansas nonmetropolitan area | 940 | 2.38 | 2.39 | $16.67 | $34,680 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 1,440 | 6.63 | 6.65 | $17.52 | $36,450 |
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 1,170 | 6.20 | 6.22 | $20.72 | $43,100 |
Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 760 | 5.34 | 5.36 | $19.99 | $41,570 |
East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 310 | 4.77 | 4.79 | $21.63 | $44,990 |
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 1,160 | 4.53 | 4.55 | $19.01 | $39,550 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.52 | 0.52 | $26.15 | $54,400 |
Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 340 | 4.52 | 4.53 | $25.02 | $52,040 |
Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $23.55 | $48,990 |
Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 380 | 3.15 | 3.16 | $23.33 | $48,520 |
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | 100 | 0.84 | 0.84 | $23.29 | $48,430 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2019 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2019 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2019 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2019 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2020