Paint Sprayer
What is the work like?
As a paint sprayer, you would apply decorative finishes and protective coatings to products, using a manual spray gun or automated equipment. You would normally work in one of three areas – manufacturing, engineering or construction.
Your tasks could include:
- setting up the spray equipment
- making sure all the materials are mixed correctly to get the right colour and consistency
- preparing the surfaces to be covered
- applying primer coats
- applying main coats then the finish
- checking finished jobs as part of quality control
- cleaning and maintaining spray equipment.
You would follow strict safety procedures covering the use of hazardous materials, and take great care to avoid contaminating the coatings and work area.
On a production line you would apply finishes to white goods (ovens, fridges and dishwashers), furniture and other consumer items. On a construction or engineering site, you would work on buildings or large structures, for example ships and bridges. You could also work as a paint sprayer in a vehicle body repair and customisation workshop.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme in manufacturing, engineering or motor vehicle finishing. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
As an alternative, you could take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed for this job. Relevant courses include:
- BTEC Certificate/Diploma in Vehicle Technology levels 2 and 3
- City & Guilds Entry Level Award in Vehicle Systems and Body and Paint Maintenance
- City & Guilds Certificate/Diploma in Vehicle Body and Paint Operations
- Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) awards in Vehicle Body and Paint Operations (Refinishing) levels 1 to 3.
You can find more information about paint spraying careers on the Construction Skills website and the IMI website.
What further training and development can I do?
Your training would normally be in the workplace under the supervision of experienced staff. You may be able to study for NVQ qualifications relating to your specific area of work, such as:
- Performing Manufacturing Operations levels 1 and 2
- Performing Engineering Operations levels 1 and 2
- Vehicle Body and Paint Operations levels 2 and 3
- Materials Processing and Finishing levels 2 and 3
- Decorative Finishing and Industrial Painting Occupations levels 2 and 3.
You could also consider the City & Guilds Certificate in Coatings Technology at levels 3, 4 and 5.
Your employer may send you on courses offered by equipment and coatings manufacturers, covering the use of their products. These would normally be short courses, delivered at the manufacturer’s own training centre.
You could also think about courses at various levels in surface coatings run through the Institute of Metal Finishing (IMF). Completion of certain modules leads to the award of a Technician Certificate. You can find further information about these courses on the IMF website.
Where can I go for more information?
Exeter House48 Holloway Head
Birmingham
B1 1NQ
Tel: 0121 622 7387
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE31 6RH
Tel: 01485 577577
Brickendon
Hertford
SG13 8PQ
Tel: 01992 511521
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Production line paint sprayers earn between £13,000 and £17,000 a year.
- Vehicle paint sprayers earn between £15,000 and £23,000.
- Paint sprayers in construction earn between £14,500 and £22,000.
- Workers dealing with specialist coatings may earn up to £24,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would normally work on a shift rota between 35 and 40 hours a week.
If your job is in manufacturing, you are likely to work in a clean and specially ventilated section of a factory or in a paint booth. In construction, a lot of your time would be spent outside on site, often working from ladders, mobile raised platforms or scaffolding.
You would normally wear protective clothing, including gloves, overalls and a face mask.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good concentration levels and the ability to pay close attention to detail
- good practical skills
- the ability to follow written instructions and keep records
- a safety-conscious approach to work
- the ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team
- good hand-to-eye coordination
- normal colour vision.
What opportunities are there?
You would find most jobs with firms in the manufacturing and construction industries. There is a smaller number of openings with vehicle repair workshops and garages. Jobs are advertised in the local press, job centres and on the links below.
With experience, you could progress into shift supervision and workshop management, or possibly quality control, health and safety or production management. You may also be able to work on a self-employed basis.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading: (links open in new window)
autojob.co.uk
Construction Jobs Network
SCENTA (for engineering paint spraying vacancies)
bConstructive Careers
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