SOC 51-9124
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Risk Score
⚠️60/100
Elevated
US Employment
👥159,500
Total workers
Median Wage
💰$48K
$35K – $73K
Projected Growth
📈+0.7%
2023-2033 (BLS)
GenAI Exposure
🤖34/100
Moderate exposure
💡 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders face a risk score of 60/100 — 16 points above the national average of 44. With only 34/100 GenAI exposure, most core tasks remain resistant to current AI capabilities. See our methodology →
💡 Workers in this field earn $48K ($1K above the national median). The 3 recommended career transitions all maintain competitive wages while reducing automation exposure. Explore transition paths →
🔍 AI Impact Analysis
With a risk score of 60/100, Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders faces moderate automation pressure. While tasks like industrial robotics replacing manual assembly tasks are increasingly handled by AI, the role retains significant human elements. The 159,500 workers in this occupation should focus on strengthening skills in setup and calibration of custom production runs and handling non-standard materials and configurations to stay ahead. The role will likely evolve rather than disappear.
Will AI Replace Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
Read our full analysis with verdict, risk factors, safe tasks, and career transition paths →
⚠️ Top Risk Factors
Industrial robotics replacing manual assembly tasks
Smart factory scheduling and production optimization
Predictive maintenance reducing manual inspection roles
Cobots handling repetitive material handling tasks
🛡️ Tasks Safe from Automation
Setup and calibration of custom production runs
Handling non-standard materials and configurations
Quality judgment requiring tactile and visual inspection
📊 vs National Average
National avg: $46K
National avg: 44/100
National avg: 38/100
National avg: 3.7%
🔄 Career Transition Paths
| Occupation | Risk | Wage | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineers | 20 | $106K | 65% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | 25 | $62K | 55% |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | 33 | $68K | 84% |