How To Become A Paint Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a paint technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

A paint technician has expert knowledge of various paint and varnish coatings, as well as the equipment, tools, and application methods used on the job. They're most often involved in the auto industry, where you'll get the opportunity to paint, recover, or even redesign the body paint of a number of different vehicle models.

Modern health and safety regulations ensure that paint technicians are not exposed to dangerous and toxic chemicals on the job. Going into this job, you'll need to understand and abide by the safety details for handling paint and painting equipment. However, not only is this provided in your certification course, but your company will most likely provide you with further health information to ensure your safety.

Many paint technicians start out with at most a high school diploma. While it's preferred to have a technical certification, on-the-job trade experience, or an apprenticeship can be just as good for your resume. On average, a paint technician can earn between $19-$27 an hour.

ScorePaint TechnicianUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $37,602

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

4.8

Growth Rate 3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.65%

Asian 1.78%

Black or African American 7.78%

Hispanic or Latino 19.35%

Unknown 4.14%

White 66.29%

Gender

female 12.69%

male 87.31%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress Level

4.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

4.9

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Newest jobs for Paint Technician in ,

Receive alerts for the newest job postings.

Key steps to become a paint technician

Explore paint technician education requirements

Most common paint technician degrees

High School Diploma

45.1 %

Associate

19.5 %

Bachelor's

16.8 %

Start to develop specific paint technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Work Ethic	10.97%
Fiberglass	9.26%
Paint Guns	6.98%
Ladders	6.42%
Painting Equipment	4.72%

Complete relevant paint technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New paint technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a paint technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real paint technician resumes.

Gain additional paint technician certifications

Paint technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific paint technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for paint technicians include OSHA Safety Certificate and Master Collision Repair & Refinishing Technician.

More About Certifications

Research paint technician duties and responsibilities

Use of booms, and hoists.
Use and conduct proper care of PPE.
Remove and replace chrome moldings and trim.
Help troubleshoot any issues with the painting systems.

Prepare your paint technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your paint technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a paint technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Paint Technician Resume templates

Build a professional Paint Technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Paint Technician resume.

Apply for paint technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a paint technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do paint technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Paint Technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

I like it when I get a contract like a dozen cars and it's successful performed and my customers happy

Cons

Failing and disappointment

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020