What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers in the U.S. earn more than $41,600 a year — the middle 80% land between $31,470 and $60,820. About 7,940 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Plant and machine operators and assemblers earn about ₹17,329 a month on average — around ₹2.1 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$41,600typical pay / year
7,940people in this work
$60,820+top 10% earn
₹2.1 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Fixing3
Retouch defective areas on workpieces
+Retouch the chipped flange on the batch of stainless brackets from line 2, feather the surrounding enamel to…
Retouch defective areas on workpieces
+Retouch the chipped flange on the batch of stainless brackets from line 2, feather the surrounding enamel to a smooth finish, inspect under strong light for pinholes, and record before-and-after notes in the job log by end of shift.
The tools that do the workAdobe Photoshopjob descriptionsO*NET
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Place coated workpieces in ovens or dryers
+Load the ten freshly coated cabinet doors onto the oven rack in the order of their curing schedule, start the…
Place coated workpieces in ovens or dryers
+Load the ten freshly coated cabinet doors onto the oven rack in the order of their curing schedule, start the seventy-minute cycle at 180°C, confirm racks are evenly spaced for airflow, and log start time on today’s run sheet.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Clean and maintain tools and equipment
+Degrease brushes, flush the spray gun with solvent until clear, wipe down the booth filters, note any worn…
Clean and maintain tools and equipment
+Degrease brushes, flush the spray gun with solvent until clear, wipe down the booth filters, note any worn seals to replace, and update the maintenance checklist before handing the tools to Kevin on afternoon shift.
The tools that do the workCorel WordPerfect Officejob descriptionsO*NET
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Make1
Select and mix ingredients for coating substances
+Measure and weigh pigment, binder and thinner for the satin enamel for Order 347, mix to the batch ratio on…
Select and mix ingredients for coating substances
+Measure and weigh pigment, binder and thinner for the satin enamel for Order 347, mix to the batch ratio on the spec sheet, test viscosity on a drawdown card, and log the batch number and operator initials.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work16
Metal coating technologies
+Research and summarise three viable metal coating processes for the workshop — including step-by-step surface…
Metal coating technologies
+Research and summarise three viable metal coating processes for the workshop — including step-by-step surface preparation, firing temperatures, equipment needs, typical failure modes, and cost per square metre — deliver as a one-page sheet by Wednesday.
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Check quality of enamel
+Inspect the enamel batch from line B12 and record adhesion, gloss, viscosity and curing checks against the…
Check quality of enamel
+Inspect the enamel batch from line B12 and record adhesion, gloss, viscosity and curing checks against the spec sheet, note any defects with photos and recommend accept, rework or reject by end of shift.
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Apply coatings using spray guns, pens, or brushes
+Plan and log the coating run for the ten chassis: list which parts get spray, pen or brush, detail material…
Apply coatings using spray guns, pens, or brushes
+Plan and log the coating run for the ten chassis: list which parts get spray, pen or brush, detail material mix and nozzle sizes, specify drying times and PPE, and create a start-to-finish checklist for the team.
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Examine finished surfaces for conformance to specifications
+Carry out a finished-surface audit on batch 7C: measure tolerances, film thickness, adhesion, colour match…
Examine finished surfaces for conformance to specifications
+Carry out a finished-surface audit on batch 7C: measure tolerances, film thickness, adhesion, colour match and surface defects, log results against the drawing specs and flag any non-conforming items for corrective action today.
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Read job orders to determine work procedures
+Read today’s three job orders from the works docket, note the metal type, finish required, tolerances and…
Read job orders to determine work procedures
+Read today’s three job orders from the works docket, note the metal type, finish required, tolerances and deadline, then list step-by-step procedures for each piece so I can book kiln time and assign the correct prep and safety checks.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Enamellers embellish metals by painting them
+For the commissioned set of brass brooches, plan the enamelling run: list surface prep, enamel colours and…
Enamellers embellish metals by painting them
+For the commissioned set of brass brooches, plan the enamelling run: list surface prep, enamel colours and firing temperatures, estimate labour hours and QC checks, and mark which pieces need touch-ups before I start painting.
The tools that do the workAdobe PhotoshopESCO
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Detect product defects
+Inspect the incoming batch of panels for defects: record scratches, warps, porosity and coating failures,…
Detect product defects
+Inspect the incoming batch of panels for defects: record scratches, warps, porosity and coating failures, prioritise which pieces go to repair, and create a defect log with photo notes and recommended corrective actions.
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Fire the surface
+Set up the firing sequence for today’s load: state kiln temperature ramps, soak times, packing orientation…
Fire the surface
+Set up the firing sequence for today’s load: state kiln temperature ramps, soak times, packing orientation and safety clearances, list which thermocouples to monitor and who is responsible for each shift.
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Prepare the enamel
+Prepare the enamel batch for the silver pendants: list grinding and sieving steps, solvent and binder…
Prepare the enamel
+Prepare the enamel batch for the silver pendants: list grinding and sieving steps, solvent and binder measurements, pot life, storage conditions and personal protective measures before I mix and dispense to workstations.
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Metal smoothing technologies
+Plan the metal smoothing for the chassis run: list sequence of abrasives, polishing compounds, machine…
Metal smoothing technologies
+Plan the metal smoothing for the chassis run: list sequence of abrasives, polishing compounds, machine settings, inspection criteria and which operators will do rough, fine and final polish to meet surface finish spec.
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Health and safety in the workplace
+Write a clear, signed workplace safety brief for the shop floor that lists the hazardous materials we use,…
Health and safety in the workplace
+Write a clear, signed workplace safety brief for the shop floor that lists the hazardous materials we use, required PPE for grinding and firing, emergency steps for a solvent spill, and a weekly check schedule — circulate to Ben in production and post on the staff noticeboard by Friday.
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Operate metal polishing equipment
+Create an operating checklist for the metal polishers that covers machine guards, correct buffing wheels,…
Operate metal polishing equipment
+Create an operating checklist for the metal polishers that covers machine guards, correct buffing wheels, acceptable rpm ranges, hearing protection levels, and a pre-shift defect walk — assign to Marco on first shift and require his initials before use.
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Ensure equipment availability
+Produce an inventory and maintenance rota for all polishing and firing machines showing last service date,…
Ensure equipment availability
+Produce an inventory and maintenance rota for all polishing and firing machines showing last service date, spare parts on hand, next service due, and a two-day escalation to Sam if any machine falls below operational readiness.
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Coating substances
+Draft a procedure for mixing and applying coatings that specifies approved solvents and thinners, pot life…
Coating substances
+Draft a procedure for mixing and applying coatings that specifies approved solvents and thinners, pot life limits, spray distance and overlap, drying times, and quality acceptance criteria so painters can sign off each batch.
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Perform enamelling
+Write a step-by-step enamelling work order that shows required surface prep, enamel type and batch number,…
Perform enamelling
+Write a step-by-step enamelling work order that shows required surface prep, enamel type and batch number, kiln temperature curve, hold times, and a final inspection checklist for QA to approve before release.
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Prepare surface for enamelling
+Compile a surface-prep protocol for metal parts that lists defect detection steps, recommended abrasives and…
Prepare surface for enamelling
+Compile a surface-prep protocol for metal parts that lists defect detection steps, recommended abrasives and grit sequence, cleaning solvents, tap-testing for delamination, and a sign-off before enamelling.
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Says who?
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Activities this job lives in
The human activities behind the tasks — each with its honest AI ceiling.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses