Production
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
Also called: Decaler, Decorator, Glass Decorator, Glazer
US median pay
$41,600
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+1.3%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
700
8,200 employed
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Paint, coat, or decorate articles, such as furniture, glass, plateware, pottery, jewelry, toys, books, or leather.
What they do day to day
- Apply coatings, such as paint, ink, or lacquer, to protect or decorate workpiece surfaces, using spray guns, pens, or brushes.
- Examine finished surfaces of workpieces to verify conformance to specifications and retouch any defective areas.
- Clean and maintain tools and equipment, using solvents, brushes, and rags.
- Read job orders and inspect workpieces to determine work procedures and materials required.
- Select and mix ingredients to prepare coating substances according to specifications, using paddles or mechanical mixers.
- Place coated workpieces in ovens or dryers for specified times to dry or harden finishes.
- Clean surfaces of workpieces in preparation for coating, using cleaning fluids, solvents, brushes, scrapers, steam, sandpaper, or cloth.
- Conceal blemishes in workpieces, such as nicks and dents, using fillers such as putty.
- Rinse, drain, or wipe coated workpieces to remove excess coating material or to facilitate setting of finish coats on workpieces.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness2.9/5
- Coordination2.9/5
- Time Management2.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.5/5
- Service Orientation2.4/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.1/5
- Operations Monitoring2.1/5
- Management of Personnel Resources2.1/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing3.1/5
- English Language3.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.8/5
- Education and Training2.5/5
- Design2.4/5
- Chemistry2.4/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): No formal educational credential.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Less than high school59%
- High school diploma21%
- Some college17%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.