Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Set up, operate, or tend spraying or rolling machines to coat or paint any of a wide variety of products, including glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal, plastic, paper, or wood, with lacquer, silver, copper, rubber, varnish, glaze, enamel, oil, or rust-proofing materials. Includes painters of transportation vehicles such as painters in auto body repair facilities.

The occupation "Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders" has an automation risk of 42.7%, which is very close to its base risk of 43.1%. This suggests that much of the work involved in this role can potentially be automated, especially tasks that are repetitive and require consistent, precise execution. The risk calculation considers factors such as the predictability of tasks, the use of machinery, and the physical environment. In manufacturing and industrial settings, advances in robotics have made it possible to automate many routine processes, particularly those involving machinery operation and basic quality control. Looking at the most automatable tasks, the top three include "Dispose of hazardous waste in an appropriate manner," "Hold or position spray guns to direct spray onto articles," and "Spray prepared surfaces with specified amounts of primers and decorative or finish coatings." These tasks tend to be procedural, follow clear rules, and can be performed by robots or automated systems with relatively little need for adaptation. For example, robots can be programmed to follow set patterns when spraying surfaces or handling waste, greatly reducing the need for human intervention in these specific operations. However, the occupation retains some resilience against automation due to several tasks that require adaptability and judgment. The most resistant tasks identified are "Sand and apply sealer to properly dried finish," "Remove grease, dirt, paint, or rust from surfaces in preparation for paint application," and "Mix paints to match color specifications or original colors." These tasks often demand manual dexterity, attention to detail, and the ability to judge surface conditions, which are difficult to automate reliably. Additionally, bottleneck skills such as Originality (scored at 2.0%) indicate that some innovative thinking and problem-solving are still necessary in this role, particularly when addressing unique or complex surfaces, color matching, or custom finishes. This blend of routine and non-routine tasks results in a moderate, but not overwhelming, level of automation risk for this occupation.