Industrial Spray Painter Kairehu Ahumahi

Industrial spray painters prepare, paint, powder-coat or resurface industrial parts and machinery and other items used in homes, offices and industries.

Industrial spray painters may do some or all of the following:

  • sand and clean surfaces to be painted
  • decide which products to use for a particular surface
  • prepare metals by treating them with chemicals or grit-blasting them
  • apply an undercoat
  • choose and mix paint
  • spray paint or powder-coat objects
  • bake powder-coat onto metal in ovens
  • polish the finished product
  • discuss treatment and painting requirements with customers.

Physical Requirements

Industrial spray painters need to have normal colour vision to select the correct paint. They also should not have breathing problems or allergies, as they work with chemicals.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for industrial spray painters includes:

  • painting and decorating work
  • vehicle spray painting
  • work involving metals
  • factory work.

Personal Qualities

Industrial spray painters need to be:

  • accurate, with an eye for detail
  • able to follow detailed instructions.

Skills

Industrial spray painters need to have knowledge of:

  • paint types and colours
  • up-to-date coating and preparation methods and technology
  • spray-gun painting
  • safety rules and procedures.

Conditions

Industrial spray painters:

  • usually work regular business hours
  • work in paint shops and workshops or on clients' sites, including roads and rail bridges 
  • work in conditions that may be noisy and fumy.

Subject Recommendations

No specific secondary education is required for this job, but construction and mechanical technologies, physics and maths are useful.

Industrial Spray Painters can earn around $47K-$62K per year.

Pay for industrial spray painters varies depending on skills and experience.

  • Industrial spray painters usually earn between minimum wage and $62,000 a year.

Source: OneStaff, 'What’s My Rate? New Zealand Industrial and Trades Wage Report', 2020; and careers.govt.nz research, 2021.

Industrial spray painters may progress to set up their own industrial spray painting business.

Years Of Training

There are no specific requirements to become an industrial spray painter as you gain skills on the job.

Industrial Spray Painter