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Industrial Spray Painter

Kairehu Ahumahi

Alternative titles for this job

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

Pay

Industrial spray painters usually earn

$49K-$62K per year

Source: OneStaff, 2020; and careers.govt.nz research, 2021.

Job opportunities

Chances of getting a job as an industrial spray painter are average for those wanting to enter the role, but good for those with experience.

Pay

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.

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our pay information)

What you will do

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.

Skills and knowledge

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.

Working 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.

Entry requirements

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

Secondary education

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

Personal requirements

Industrial spray painters need to be:

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

Useful experience

Useful experience for industrial spray painters includes:

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

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.

Check out related courses

What are the chances of getting a job?

Opportunities strongest for experienced industrial spray painters

Chances are good for experienced industrial spray painters due to New Zealand manufacturers needing people to work on machinery components for export.

Opportunities are more limited for those with with no experience.

Your best chance of getting a job is to work for an industrial spray painting company as a labourer. If you can show you have initiative, they may train you in spray painting. 

According to the Census, 1,641 industrial spray painters worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Types of employers varied

Industrial spray painters work for:

  • specialist paint shops
  • industrial companies such as metal manufacturers
  • joinery manufacturing companies, making items such as cabinets and doors
  • furniture-making companies.

Sources

  • DHL, '2020 ExportNZ DHL Export Barometer', November 2020, (www.exportnz.org.nz).
  • Martin Jenkins, 'Manufacturing Matters – Final Report', 28 February 2020, (www.metals.org.nz).
  • Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, BRANZ and Pacifecon NZ Ltd, 'National Construction Pipeline Report 2020', accessed January 2021, (www.mbie.govt.nz).
  • National Infrastructure Unit, 'The Thirty-Year New Zealand Infrastructure Plan 2015', accessed April 2017, (www.infrastructure.govt.nz).
  • OneStaff, 'An Update on Our 2020 What’s My Rate? Report Following COVID-19', August 2020, (www.onestaff.co.nz).
  • OneStaff, 'What’s My Rate? New Zealand Industrial and Trades Wage Report – 2020’' accessed January 2021, (www.onestaff.co.nz).
  • Stats NZ, '2018 Census Data', 2019.

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our job opportunities information)

Progression and specialisations

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

An industrial spray painter coating metal in a factory

Industrial spray painters coat metals after treating them with chemicals

Last updated 28 March 2025