Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median $48,250 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$48,250
$23.20 per hour
Range
$36,260 – $74,730
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
158,740
across the U.S.
▲1.4%
Pay trend: The median for coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S. rose from $47,590 (May 2024) to $48,250 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 1.0%.
What coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders do
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.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.5% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 15,300
- Self-employed
- 4%
Employment of coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders is projected to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 15,300 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$40,949
per year · effective tax rate 15.1%
$3,412Monthly
$1,706Twice a month
$1,575Every 2 weeks
$19.69Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,610
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,992
- Medicare (1.45%)$700
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,949
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,260 | $17.43 | $31,315 |
| 25th percentile | $40,590 | $19.51 | $34,794 |
| Median (50th) | $48,250 | $23.20 | $40,949 |
| 75th percentile | $59,680 | $28.69 | $50,133 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,730 | $35.93 | $61,403 |
Best cities for coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $63,030 | $52,825 | $47,533 | 2,640 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $58,520 | $46,638 | $41,433 | 3,250 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $49,350 | $41,833 | $40,579 | 5,050 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $46,950 | $39,904 | $40,459 | 4,590 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $54,870 | $44,213 | $38,932 | 4,580 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $46,930 | $38,075 | $38,053 | 2,350 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $48,910 | $39,203 | $37,842 | 3,680 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $44,220 | $36,082 | $35,975 | 2,590 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Seattle, WA — $63,030
- New York, NY — $58,520
- Los Angeles, CA — $54,870
- Dallas, TX — $49,350
- Chicago, IL — $48,910
- Houston, TX — $46,950
- Atlanta, GA — $46,930
- Detroit, MI — $44,220
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $69,910 | +10.2% | $58,012 | $34,850 – $92,340 | 140 |
| Washington | $59,980 | +5.9% | $50,374 | $43,830 – $108,960 | 3,980 |
| New Jersey | $58,240 | −2.7% | $47,306 | $37,780 – $82,850 | 2,890 |
| Maine | $56,200 | −1.0% | $44,725 | $40,710 – $85,520 | 680 |
| Maryland | $55,510 | −4.1% | $44,509 | $37,210 – $104,670 | 1,010 |
| Colorado | $53,590 | +9.3% | $43,590 | $39,150 – $101,670 | 1,470 |
| Mississippi | $53,170 | +6.9% | $43,507 | $36,190 – $73,790 | 2,010 |
| California | $52,950 | +2.4% | $42,810 | $36,790 – $82,640 | 11,570 |
| Connecticut | $52,900 | +6.9% | $43,230 | $38,460 – $79,050 | 1,550 |
| Minnesota | $52,210 | −3.7% | $42,104 | $40,750 – $70,460 | 3,430 |
| Hawaii | $51,990 | −2.5% | $41,527 | $39,520 – $69,570 | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $51,150 | +2.9% | $40,942 | $36,550 – $77,010 | 2,740 |
| North Dakota | $51,020 | −0.7% | $43,175 | $43,630 – $75,160 | 560 |
| Wyoming | $50,220 | +9.4% | $42,532 | $39,230 – $77,210 | 220 |
| Virginia | $49,880 | −0.4% | $40,205 | $36,160 – $71,360 | 4,130 |
| Rhode Island | $49,850 | +0.0% | $40,982 | $33,280 – $71,750 | 470 |
| Oregon | $49,400 | +3.3% | $38,380 | $40,280 – $75,920 | 2,470 |
| Vermont | $49,360 | +6.1% | $40,621 | $42,160 – $65,400 | 170 |
| Nebraska | $49,340 | +5.5% | $40,459 | $38,980 – $66,290 | 740 |
| Iowa | $49,330 | +3.8% | $40,594 | $37,150 – $64,970 | 3,220 |
| Wisconsin | $49,170 | +2.2% | $40,306 | $39,090 – $64,000 | 6,120 |
| Ohio | $48,550 | +4.1% | $40,637 | $36,510 – $67,070 | 8,320 |
| New Hampshire | $48,410 | +1.2% | $41,077 | $40,590 – $73,920 | 430 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,340 | +1.6% | $39,537 | $37,110 – $69,920 | 6,790 |
| South Carolina | $48,220 | +2.9% | $39,189 | $36,200 – $69,640 | 2,780 |
| Illinois | $48,000 | +5.2% | $38,517 | $36,930 – $75,920 | 6,390 |
| New York | $48,000 | +1.8% | $38,753 | $37,510 – $77,850 | 3,270 |
| South Dakota | $47,980 | −0.1% | $40,732 | $37,750 – $68,290 | 1,150 |
| Louisiana | $47,950 | +1.7% | $39,656 | $35,590 – $63,330 | 810 |
| Utah | $47,880 | +4.7% | $39,463 | $36,610 – $68,640 | 1,740 |
| Arizona | $47,860 | +5.4% | $39,648 | $34,360 – $84,510 | 2,440 |
| Florida | $47,860 | +2.3% | $40,636 | $35,950 – $71,330 | 6,200 |
| Missouri | $47,580 | +2.6% | $39,112 | $36,500 – $76,120 | 3,860 |
| Montana | $47,380 | −0.8% | $38,780 | $37,110 – $60,890 | 330 |
| Indiana | $47,320 | +5.7% | $38,835 | $35,930 – $77,780 | 8,030 |
| Tennessee | $47,210 | −3.2% | $40,113 | $36,400 – $63,360 | 3,880 |
| Kentucky | $47,170 | −7.0% | $38,548 | $32,450 – $63,850 | 2,190 |
| Kansas | $47,120 | −0.8% | $38,211 | $36,370 – $76,660 | 3,160 |
| Texas | $46,750 | +0.3% | $39,744 | $33,790 – $78,560 | 16,600 |
| North Carolina | $46,730 | −0.5% | $38,372 | $35,610 – $67,730 | 5,700 |
| Georgia | $46,450 | +2.4% | $37,715 | $35,530 – $69,970 | 5,900 |
| Arkansas | $46,380 | +2.4% | $37,850 | $34,910 – $61,950 | 1,870 |
| Delaware | $46,120 | +2.0% | $37,355 | $31,550 – $75,780 | 100 |
| Idaho | $45,810 | +0.2% | $37,669 | $36,690 – $63,780 | 760 |
| Oklahoma | $45,780 | +2.0% | $37,450 | $35,600 – $60,990 | 2,520 |
| Nevada | $45,750 | −5.6% | $38,940 | $36,460 – $82,650 | 640 |
| New Mexico | $45,730 | +0.2% | $37,925 | $35,560 – $64,980 | 400 |
| Michigan | $44,670 | +3.1% | $36,425 | $35,630 – $67,800 | 7,050 |
| Alabama | $44,250 | +10.0% | $35,787 | $31,200 – $60,920 | 5,250 |
| West Virginia | $42,950 | +2.1% | $35,483 | $31,680 – $62,840 | 370 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | $41,600 | No formal educational credential | +1.3% |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | $48,040 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.6% |
| Medical Appliance Technician | $48,030 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.5% |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,540 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.7% |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.5% |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,990 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.1% |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $49,610 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.9% |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,570 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.9% |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operator and Tender | $46,460 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.3% |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,270 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.6% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders make?
The national median salary for coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders is $48,250 a year ($23.20 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,260 and the top 10% earn over $74,730. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders the most?
Alaska has the highest median pay at $69,910. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders are there in the U.S.?
About 158,740 people work as coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders nationwide.