person, wearing a hard hat, safety vest and industrial mask, putting a coating substance on a floor in an industrial setting

Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators

(NOC 94213)
Annual Earnings
$58,647
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
High School Diploma
Job Openings
(2024-2034)
610

Career Overview

Painters and coaters in this group:

  • Tend and operate machines or use brushes and spray equipment to apply paint, enamel, lacquer or other non-metallic protective and decorative coatings to various products
  • Work for manufacturing companies, specialized coating and plating shops and refinishing establishments

Metal finishing process operators:

  • Operate machines or equipment to deposit metallized substances on workpieces and surfaces to provide decorative, protective and restorative coatings
  • Work for manufacturing companies, specialized coating and plating shops and refinishing establishments

 

Job Titles

Airbrush painter
Aircraft painter
Anodizer
Assembly line painter
Assembly painter
Automatic paint-sprayer operator
Automobile assembly line painter
Automobile assembly painter
Automobile dipper-painter
Automobile painter - motor vehicle manufacturing
Aviation painter
Bathtub refinisher
Bathtub varnisher
Bench lacquer sprayer
Bench spray painter
Block sander and glazier
Boiler painter
Bronze plater
Brush stainer - production
Cadmium galvanizer
Car painter - manufacturing
Ceramic and enamel refinisher
Ceramic enameler
Ceramic painter
Ceramic sprayer
Ceramic spray painter
Chromium plater
Coating equipment operator
Coating equipment operator - metal plating
Coating machine operator - industrial painting and coating
Coating machine tender - product manufacturing
Coating oven tender - manufacturing
Coating tank dipper
Coil spring dipper
Continuous galvanizing line operator
Copper coater - metal plating
Copper plater
Corrosion resistant metal sprayer
Crester
Cylinder painter - industrial
Cylinder plater-grinder - metal processing
Decal applier
Dipper and coater - metal plating
Dipper-baker
Dipping tank operator
Dipping tank tender
Dip tank attendant
Drum painter
Electrical equipment enameller
Electroformer
Electrogalvanizer
Electrogalvanizing machine operator
Electroless plater
Electrolytic tank tender
Electroplasty equipment operator
Electroplater
Electroplater operator
Electrostatic machine painter
Electrostatic painter
Electrostatic painting line tender
Electrostatic painting machine operator
Electrostatic painting machine set-up operator
Elpo tank attendant
Enamel baker - manufacturing
Enamel dipper
Enameller
Enameller - industrial painting and coating
Enameller - ship and boat building
Enamelling machine tender
Enamel painter
Engine and generator support painter
Filament coater
Final colour production painter
Finished enamel sprayman/woman
Finished vehicle paint repairman/woman
Finishing roller industrial painter
Firearm burnisher - metal plating
Firearm finisher - metal plating
Galvanizer
Galvanizing machine operator
Hand touch-up painter - production
Hardboard spray-coating machine tender
Hot-dip coater - metal plating
Hot-dip galvanizer - metal plating
Industrial coater
Industrial paint baker
Industrial paint dipper
Industrial painter
Industrial painters lead hand
Industrial paint finisher
Industrial paint mixer
Industrial paint sprayer operator
Industrial products painter
Industrial spray painter
Lacquer-sprayer
Large surface spray painter
Lead coater
Leather goods sprayer
Leather goods spray painter
Locomotive painter
Machine enameller
Machine operator - plating and metal spraying
Manufacturing painter
Metal bluer
Metal coater
Metal coater operator
Metal coating-equipment operator
Metal dipper
Metal-dipping equipment operator
Metal electroplater
Metal electroplating inspector
Metal-leaf gilder
Metallizer
Metal plater-polisher
Metal plating-equipment operator
Metal product spray painter
Metal sprayer
Metal spray operator
Motor and generator subassemblies painter
Motor vehicle painter - motor vehicle manufacturing
Motor vehicle rustproofer
Nickel plater
Oven tender - painting and coating
Paint and mix production and control operator
Paint and varnish dipper operator
Paint baking oven tender
Paint control operator
Paint dipper - flow coating
Painting machine attendant
Painting machine operator
Painting machine tender
Paint machine operator
Paint production operator
Paint room attendant
Paint-sprayer operator
Paint spray inspector
Paint systems attendant
Particleboard spraying machine tender
Pencil-coating machine tender
Pencil-tip-banding machine tender
Pipe coater-painter
Pipe spray painter
Plating tank operator
Powder coater
Prep line attendant - bulk galvanizing
Primer sprayer
Print applier - production
Production brush painter
Production coating machine operator
Production electroplater
Production painter
Production painter-finisher
Production touch-up painter
Product lacquer-sprayer
Product painter
Product spray painter
Product stainer
Product surface preparer and prefinisher
Railway car letterer
Railway car painter and letterer
Railway car stenciller
Railway car varnisher
Robotic paint sprayer attendant
Robotic spray paint system attendant
Rough benchwork spray painter
Rough spray painter - manufacturing
Rustproof coater - motor vehicle manufacturing
Rustproof sprayer - motor vehicle manufacturing
Shellacker
Sherardizer
Shipyard painter
Sign letterer
Sign panel primer
Sign spray painter
Silver plater
Silver spray operator
Smoking-pipe stainer
Spray painter
Spray painter - motor vehicle manufacturing
Spray painter - production
Spray paint machine operator
Spray paint machine tender
Spray paint operator
Spray stainer - production
Stove refinisher
Stove varnisher
Temperer - plating and metal spraying
Thermospray operator
Tin can dipping enameller
Tinned sheet coating machine operator
Tin plater
Tinware dipper and enameller
Tinware dipping enameller
Tumbling barrel painter
Tumbling barrel tender
Undercoater - motor vehicle manufacturing
Vacuum-metallizer tender
Vehicle cleaner-coater
Wire coater
Wire-coating equipment operator
Wire-paint-coating machine tender
Wire tinner
Zinc galvanizer

Duties

Industrial painters and coaters:

  • Choose paint or mix paints using paint mixing equipment according to instructions
  • Run equipment to clean, wash, strip, sand, remove rust, fill dents or otherwise prepare items for paint, lacquer or other protective or decorative coatings
  • Tend or operate automated spray paint, dip or flow coating equipment or other painting or product coating equipment
  • Operate hand-held spray guns to spray paint or coat still items or items on a 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
  • 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
  • Operate and control electroplating equipment to coat metal and other workpieces
  • Operate hot-dip metal plating equipment to galvanize metal and other workpieces
  • Operate 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

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$58,647

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$45.74/hr
Median$28.12/hr
Low$20.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2024 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

1,475

% Employed Full Time

65%
Source: 2021 Census

Key aspects of work in this occupation:

  • Operators in this unit group usually work in a conventional controlled environment such as an office, hospital or school
  • Work may involve chemicals that are harmful to skin or eyes, dangerous if inhaled or may cause a fire or explosion
  • Work is done in the presence of strong odours

 

Career Pathways

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Education, Training and Skills

  • Secondary school education is usually required
  • Some experience in operating production machinery or equipment may be required
  • Several months of on-the-job training are usually provided
  • Some industrial painters, such as aviation painters, may require specialized training and certification or college courses

 

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Academic/Basic Upgrading
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.

60%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

53%
Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

53%
Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

51%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

48%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

48%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

46%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

46%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

46%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

45%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

1,475
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 45 3.1%
Kootenay 25 1.7%
Mainland/Southwest 1,030 69.8%
North Coast and Nechako 0 0.0%
Northeast 20 1.4%
Thompson-Okanagan 195 13.2%
Vancouver Island/Coast 170 11.5%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)

610
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 10 -1.0%
Kootenay Not available Not available
Mainland/Southwest 470 1.2%
North Coast and Nechako Not available Not available
Northeast Not available Not available
Thompson-Okanagan 80 1.2%
Vancouver Island/Coast 50 -0.3%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2024-2034)
Manufacturing370
Construction100
Transportation and Warehousing50
Wholesale Trade30
Retail Trade20
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources

Resource information is currently not available.