Career Suggestion

Paint sprayer

Paint sprayers apply coatings and protective finishes to cars, vans, motorbikes and other vehicles.

Average salary (a year)

£23000.0 to £45000.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

40.0 to 48.0 a week

You could work

weekends on shifts

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

College

You could take a college course that will teach you some of the skills you'll need to get a trainee position.

Courses include:

  • body and paint maintenance
  • accident repair - paint
  • vehicle accident repair paint principles

You might also be able to do paint spraying and finishing as part of an engineering course. Check with local colleges for more details.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You could apply for an advanced apprenticeship with a paint spraying workshop, including:

  • Accident Repair Technician Level 3
  • Vehicle Damage Paint Technician Level 3
  • Surface Finisher Level 3

These take between 2 and 3 years to complete and are a mix of on-the-job training and off-site study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Direct Application

You can apply for jobs in vehicle paint spraying if you've got experience and a qualification in:

  • vehicle accident and repair
  • motor manufacturing
  • engineering

More information

You can get more details about paint spraying careers in the motor industry from Autocity.

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to operate and control equipment
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to repair machines or systems
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • customer service skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day-to-day tasks

As a paint sprayer, you'll:

  • set up spray equipment and prepare vehicle work areas
  • match and mix colours based on manufacturers' technical data
  • apply primer coats, main coats and finishes
  • use paint drying methods and carry out quality checks
  • clean and maintain spray equipment and paint booths
  • follow health and safety guidelines

Working environment

You could work in a workshop.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

With experience you could:

  • get an IMI accreditation and move into senior paint technician roles
  • become a shift supervisor, quality control inspector or workshop manager
  • set up your own paint spraying business
  • specialise in customising cars

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