How To Become A Blaster/Painter: What It Is and Career Path

What is a blaster/painter and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The main role of a blaster/painter is to conduct coatings and painting applications. They may also be referred to as a sandblaster, industrial paint sprayer, or industrial painter and usually work in industrial or manufacturing settings.

The essential functions of a blaster/painter include applying coatings using various systems or tools, operating painting or coating equipment, preparing surfaces for application, mixing paints, spraying with consistent mileage, and interpreting blueprints or drawings. Furthermore, a blaster/painter is also responsible for post-paint processes such as grinding, polishing, sealing, caulking, and sanding.

The minimum educational requirement for this job is a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. An applicant must also be able to perform the abovementioned functions satisfactorily, which can be proven through previous work experience or completion of an appropriate training program. Since the job is physically demanding, an aspiring blaster/painter must also have adequate strength, endurance, and stamina to perform all of their job duties safely and correctly.

ScoreBlaster/PainterUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $41,168

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

5.4

Growth Rate 1%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.89%

Asian 2.17%

Black or African American 10.00%

Hispanic or Latino 35.45%

Unknown 4.66%

White 46.84%

Gender

female 3.71%

male 96.29%

Age - 42

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 - 42

Stress Level

5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.7

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

6.5

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Newest jobs for Blaster/Painter in Ashburn, VA

Receive alerts for the newest job postings.

Key steps to become a blaster/painter

Explore blaster/painter education requirements

Most common blaster/painter degrees

High School Diploma

61.2 %

Diploma

17.2 %

Associate

11.6 %

Start to develop specific blaster/painter skills

Skills	Percentages
Ladders	8.69%
Mixes	7.87%
Coats	7.56%
Scaffolding	6.35%
Caulking	6.32%

Complete relevant blaster/painter training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New blaster/painters 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 blaster/painter based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real blaster/painter resumes.

Research blaster/painter duties and responsibilities

Manage painting crews in both commercial and industrial environments from swing stage to high boom work.
Blast rail freight cars with steel grit to achieve require blast profile per paint specifications or customer's request.
Inspect scaffolding and swing gates, or set up ladders to work above grind level.
Prepare surfaces for coating, maintain sandblasting and spray painting equipment, mix, blend, and apply coats of paint.

Prepare your blaster/painter resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your blaster/painter 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 blaster/painter resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Blaster/Painter Resume templates

Build a professional Blaster/Painter 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 Blaster/Painter resume.