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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.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52,880 | 2.0 % | $22.30 | $46,380 | 0.9 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $12.85 | $15.95 | $20.12 | $26.34 | $34.56 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $26,730 | $33,170 | $41,850 | $54,780 | $71,880 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 27,320 | 2.97 | $22.59 | $46,980 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 4,020 | 2.72 | $18.46 | $38,400 |
| Automobile Dealers | 3,580 | 0.28 | $22.96 | $47,760 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 2,820 | 0.59 | $27.04 | $56,240 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 2,680 | 2.00 | $21.06 | $43,800 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 800 | 3.61 | $22.43 | $46,650 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 27,320 | 2.97 | $22.59 | $46,980 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 4,020 | 2.72 | $18.46 | $38,400 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 2,680 | 2.00 | $21.06 | $43,800 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 2,620 | 1.27 | $22.58 | $46,980 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | 200 | (7) | $31.93 | $66,410 |
| Couriers and Express Delivery Services | 80 | 0.01 | $30.05 | $62,500 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 200 | 0.05 | $29.00 | $60,320 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 2,820 | 0.59 | $27.04 | $56,240 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 40 | (7) | $26.76 | $55,650 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6,950 | 0.42 | 1.12 | $21.03 | $43,740 |
| Texas | 4,980 | 0.42 | 1.13 | $20.84 | $43,360 |
| Florida | 3,010 | 0.36 | 0.96 | $20.99 | $43,650 |
| Washington | 2,310 | 0.72 | 1.95 | $28.05 | $58,350 |
| Indiana | 2,240 | 0.74 | 2.00 | $19.74 | $41,060 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 370 | 0.78 | 2.10 | $22.26 | $46,310 |
| Indiana | 2,240 | 0.74 | 2.00 | $19.74 | $41,060 |
| Maine | 430 | 0.73 | 1.96 | $18.52 | $38,530 |
| Washington | 2,310 | 0.72 | 1.95 | $28.05 | $58,350 |
| Arkansas | 750 | 0.62 | 1.68 | $17.83 | $37,080 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 420 | 0.25 | 0.68 | $29.80 | $61,980 |
| Washington | 2,310 | 0.72 | 1.95 | $28.05 | $58,350 |
| Minnesota | 1,090 | 0.39 | 1.04 | $26.91 | $55,980 |
| Wyoming | 100 | 0.38 | 1.03 | $26.69 | $55,510 |
| Alaska | 40 | 0.14 | 0.37 | $26.54 | $55,190 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 2,400 | 0.54 | 1.46 | $19.62 | $40,810 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 1,510 | 0.91 | 2.46 | $30.66 | $63,770 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 1,220 | 0.18 | 0.49 | $22.40 | $46,580 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 1,160 | 0.32 | 0.86 | $21.81 | $45,360 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 1,080 | 0.37 | 0.99 | $20.41 | $42,450 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 1,050 | 8.22 | 22.15 | $16.84 | $35,030 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 940 | 0.38 | 1.01 | $22.46 | $46,710 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 870 | 0.33 | 0.89 | $25.50 | $53,030 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 860 | 1.16 | 3.12 | $23.66 | $49,220 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 740 | 0.38 | 1.01 | $20.17 | $41,950 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 1,050 | 8.22 | 22.15 | $16.84 | $35,030 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 130 | 2.12 | 5.73 | $18.28 | $38,010 |
| Lafayette, LA | 390 | 2.00 | 5.38 | $22.63 | $47,060 |
| Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL | 80 | 1.83 | 4.94 | $17.77 | $36,970 |
| Springfield, OH | 90 | 1.79 | 4.82 | $21.62 | $44,980 |
| Amarillo, TX | 210 | 1.79 | 4.84 | $17.04 | $35,440 |
| Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA | 80 | 1.49 | 4.02 | $21.01 | $43,710 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 140 | 1.37 | 3.69 | $19.72 | $41,030 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 860 | 1.16 | 3.12 | $23.66 | $49,220 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | 80 | 1.16 | 3.12 | $21.39 | $44,480 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | 40 | 0.20 | 0.54 | $34.49 | $71,750 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 540 | 0.28 | 0.75 | $33.00 | $68,640 |
| Raleigh, NC | 100 | 0.16 | 0.43 | $32.48 | $67,560 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 120 | 0.43 | 1.16 | $32.27 | $67,110 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 50 | 0.32 | 0.86 | $31.92 | $66,380 |
| Evansville, IN-KY | (8) | (8) | (8) | $31.79 | $66,120 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 210 | 0.50 | 1.35 | $30.93 | $64,320 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 60 | 0.10 | 0.28 | $30.80 | $64,070 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 1,510 | 0.91 | 2.46 | $30.66 | $63,770 |
| Richmond, VA | 220 | 0.34 | 0.93 | $30.60 | $63,660 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 260 | 0.97 | 2.62 | (8) | (8) |
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 260 | 1.19 | 3.21 | $18.05 | $37,550 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 250 | 1.28 | 3.45 | $17.88 | $37,200 |
| North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 2.05 | 5.53 | $15.13 | $31,470 |
| Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.36 | 3.67 | $18.57 | $38,620 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 2.05 | 5.53 | $15.13 | $31,470 |
| South Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 100 | 1.59 | 4.30 | $17.67 | $36,760 |
| East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | 100 | 1.40 | 3.78 | $19.10 | $39,730 |
| Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 220 | 1.36 | 3.67 | $18.57 | $38,620 |
| East Central North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 1.31 | 3.53 | $19.21 | $39,960 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 90 | 0.48 | 1.29 | $26.08 | $54,250 |
| Southwest Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.54 | 1.47 | $25.14 | $52,300 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $24.65 | $51,260 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.66 | 1.78 | $24.41 | $50,760 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.33 | 0.90 | $24.23 | $50,410 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018