Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Transportation Equipment Painters
Transportation Equipment Painters operate or tend painting machines to paint surfaces of transportation equipment, such as automobiles, buses, trucks, trains, boats, and airplanes. Includes painters in auto body repair facilities.
Table of contents
What they do
Transportation Equipment Painters operate or tend painting machines to paint surfaces of transportation equipment, such as automobiles, buses, trucks, trains, boats, and airplanes. Includes painters in auto body repair facilities.
- Mix paints to match color specifications or vehicles’ original colors, stirring or thinning paints, using spatulas or power mixing equipment.
- Select paint according to company requirements and match paint colors, following specified color charts.
- Dispose of hazardous waste in an appropriate manner.
- Remove grease, dirt, paint, or rust from vehicle surfaces in preparation for paint application, using abrasives, solvents, brushes, blowtorches, washing tanks, or sandblasters.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Transportation Equipment Painters operate lifting or moving devices to move equipment or materials to access areas to be painted. They clean equipment and work areas.
A typical day for a Transportation Equipment Painter will also include:
- Remove accessories, such as chrome or mirrors, from vehicles and mask other surfaces with tape or paper to protect them from paint.
- Dispose of hazardous waste in an appropriate manner.
- Apply rust-resistant undercoats and caulk and seal seams.
- Sand and apply a sealer to properly dry the vehicle finish.
- Monitor painting operations to identify flaws, such as blisters or streaks, and correct their causes.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Transportation Equipment Painters also use a brush to hand-paint areas in need of retouching or unreachable with a spray gun. They may also apply rust-resistant undercoats and caulk and seal seams.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Transportation Equipment Painters layout logos, symbols, or designs on painted surfaces, according to blueprint specifications, using measuring instruments, stencils, or patterns. They might also apply designs, lettering, or other identifying or decorative items to finished products, using paintbrushes or paint sprayers.
In addition, they set up portable equipment, such as ventilators, exhaust units, ladders, or scaffolding.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them buff and wax the finished paintwork.
To some Transportation Equipment Painters, it is also their responsibility to verify paint consistency, using a viscosity meter.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
61% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.
Demand for this career is growing fast.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Salary is below average.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Transportation Equipment Painters with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $26,890 to $31,820 per year or $13 to $15 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $62,010 | $30 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $49,330 | $24 |
| Median | $39,060 | $19 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $31,820 | $15 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $26,890 | $13 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Transportation Equipment Painters based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Air Transportation | $84140 | $40.45 |
| Local Government | $63770 | $30.66 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $56360 | $27.10 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | $55180 | $26.53 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | $54850 | $26.37 |
| Facilities Support Services | $52290 | $25.14 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $50910 | $24.48 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $50110 | $24.09 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $50010 | $24.05 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $49730 | $23.91 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Transportation Equipment Painters work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Transportation Equipment Painters including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 24280 | $49180 | $23.64 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 13460 | $35640 | $17.14 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 9920 | $39590 | $19.04 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 9620 | $37950 | $18.24 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 6020 | $39450 | $18.97 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 5600 | $36050 | $17.33 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 5070 | $56360 | $27.10 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 4290 | $50910 | $24.48 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 3850 | $36520 | $17.56 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 3800 | $45590 | $21.92 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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