How to become an industrial painter, coater or metal finishing process operator
Official title: Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators
Also called: Lead coater, Metal bluer, Wire coater, Drum painter, Metal coater, Metal dipper, Metal sprayer, Powder coater, Spray painter, Boiler painter, Enamel painter, Ceramic painter
Industrial painters and coaters operate and tend machines or use brushes and spray equipment to apply paint, enamel, lacquer or other non-metallic protective and decorative coatings to surfaces of various products. Metal finishing process operators operate machines or equipment to deposit metallized substances on workpieces and surfaces to provide decorative, protective and restorative coatings. These workers are employed by manufacturing companies and custom refinishing, coating and plating shops.
Main tasks
- Industrial painters and coaters
- Select appropriate paint or mix paints using automated paint mixing equipment according to a predetermined formula
- Operate or tend equipment to clean, wash, strip, sand, remove corrosion, fill dents or otherwise prepare items for application of paint, lacquer or other protective or decorative coatings
- Operate or tend automated spray paint, dip or flow coating equipment or other mechanized painting or product coating application equipment
- Operate hand-held spray guns to spray paint or coat stationary items or items on 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
- May prepare and apply stencils, computer-generated decals or other decorative items on finished products
How to become one
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.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $47,990 a year The middle half earn $39,975 to $58,500.
- About 14,700 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 16,300 are projected by 2033. (+10.9%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Furniture and fixture assemblers, finishers, refinishers and inspectors
- Assemblers and inspectors of other wood products
- Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors
- Other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors
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Questions people ask
How do I become an industrial painter, coater or metal finishing process operator?
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.
How much does an industrial painter, coater or metal finishing process operator earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $47,990 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $39,975 to $58,500.
Is an industrial painter, coater or metal finishing process operator a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2033, from about 14,700 to about 16,300 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an industrial painter, coater or metal finishing process operator?
Usually not. Only 8% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03