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The differences between paint technicians and spray painters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a spray painter has an average salary of $40,155, which is higher than the $37,602 average annual salary of a paint technician.
The top three skills for a paint technician include work ethic, fiberglass and paint guns. The most important skills for a spray painter are painting equipment, spray guns, and coats.
| Paint Technician | Spray Painter | |
| Yearly salary | $37,602 | $40,155 |
| Hourly rate | $18.08 | $19.31 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 28,982 | 4,325 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 59% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
The responsibilities of a Paint Technician primarily depend on their place or industry of employment. In the automotive industry, a Paint Technician specializes in painting new vehicles, conducting paint repairs, or providing custom paint services. Their tasks often include meeting with clients to identify their needs and preferences, developing strategies and concepts, and adhering to schedules and formats. Aside from having a great attention to detail, a Paint Technician must also have strength, endurance, and presence of mind as their duties require long hours of physical work.
A spray painter applies spray paint to automobiles. They also apply primers, remove old paint, and repair minor damages. They must work quickly and accurately. They are also responsible for cleaning and maintaining their painting equipment.
Paint technicians and spray painters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Paint Technician | Spray Painter | |
| Average salary | $37,602 | $40,155 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $48,000 | Between $24,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Clarita, CA | Hicksville, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Ball | Harvey Building Products |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a paint technician and a spray painter in terms of educational background:
| Paint Technician | Spray Painter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | High School Diploma, 59% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between paint technicians' and spray painters' demographics:
| Paint Technician | Spray Painter | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 1.8% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 28.5% Asian, 2.1% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |