Life As a Transportation Equipment Painter
Transportation Equipment Painter Example 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.
Life As a Transportation Equipment Painter: What Do They Do?
- Sand vehicle surfaces between coats of paint or primer to remove flaws and enhance adhesion for subsequent coats.
- Operate lifting or moving devices to move equipment or materials to access areas to be painted.
- Select paint according to company requirements and match paint colors, following specified color charts.
- Apply rust-resistant undercoats and caulk and seal seams.
- Remove accessories, such as chrome or mirrors, from vehicles and mask other surfaces with tape or paper to protect them from paint.
- Fill small dents or scratches with body fillers and smooth surfaces to prepare vehicles for painting.
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Transportation Equipment Painter Skills
These are the skills Transportation Equipment Painters say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Types of Transportation Equipment Painter
- Aircraft Painter
- Dope Sprayer
- Shipyard Painter
- Auto Striper
- Body Technician/Painter
Job Opportunities for Transportation Equipment Painters
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 58,100 jobs in the United States for Transportation Equipment Painter. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,800 new jobs for Transportation Equipment Painter by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 6,600 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Transportation Equipment Painter are Utah, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, West Virginia, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Transportation Equipment Painters Make A Lot Of Money?
Transportation Equipment Painters make between $27,320 and $70,840 a year.

Transportation Equipment Painters who work in Alaska, Connecticut, or Mississippi, make the highest salaries.
How much do Transportation Equipment Painters make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $42,240 |
Alaska | $55,280 |
Arizona | $39,240 |
Arkansas | $38,720 |
California | $44,780 |
Colorado | $54,740 |
Connecticut | $57,330 |
Delaware | $39,960 |
Florida | $42,990 |
Georgia | $51,040 |
Hawaii | $53,690 |
Idaho | $40,700 |
Illinois | $47,830 |
Indiana | $38,950 |
Iowa | $41,520 |
Kansas | $45,670 |
Kentucky | $46,470 |
Louisiana | $47,500 |
Maine | $41,080 |
Maryland | $52,110 |
Massachusetts | $50,800 |
Michigan | $50,090 |
Minnesota | $46,300 |
Mississippi | $52,330 |
Missouri | $47,500 |
Montana | $46,630 |
Nebraska | $44,190 |
Nevada | $41,680 |
New Hampshire | $58,290 |
New Jersey | $48,570 |
New Mexico | $49,110 |
New York | $49,550 |
North Carolina | $43,750 |
North Dakota | $48,200 |
Ohio | $43,150 |
Oklahoma | $51,410 |
Oregon | $48,160 |
Pennsylvania | $46,830 |
Rhode Island | $48,490 |
South Carolina | $44,680 |
South Dakota | $40,250 |
Tennessee | $45,510 |
Texas | $44,490 |
Utah | $44,270 |
Vermont | $44,390 |
Virginia | $55,290 |
Washington | $58,600 |
West Virginia | $48,200 |
Wisconsin | $42,010 |
Wyoming | $53,650 |
What Tools do Transportation Equipment Painters Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Transportation Equipment Painters:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
- Data entry software
- Scheduling software
- Inventory control software
- Maintenance management software
How do I Become a Transportation Equipment Painter?
Are there Transportation Equipment Painters education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Transportation Equipment Painters Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Transportation Equipment Painter might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Transportation Equipment Painter sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Nigel Sandridge via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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