AUTOMOTIVE PAINTERS Number 529 Interest Area 5-C 1998
THE JOB
AUTOMOTIVE PAINTERS repaint automobiles, trucks, and buses that have been repaired, and older vehicles that have lost their luster. Others work on production lines painting new motor vehicles.
To prepare a vehicle for repainting, painters or their helpers use power sanders and sandpaper to remove the original paint or rust, and fill small nicks and scratches with body putty. They also remove or mask parts they do not want painted, such as chrome trim, headlights, windows, and mirrors. When painting only a portion of a vehicle, they figure how much paint will be needed to cover the area. They mix the paint to exactly match the existing color and blend the paint to its correct thickness. This may involve using simple arithmetic such as decimals and fractions and using a viscosity meter to make sure the paint is the right consistency.
Painters use a spray gun to apply both the primer and final coats of paint, which may be a natural or synthetic lacquer or enamel, or a polyurethane coating. They adjust the spray gun nozzle and, if necessary, the air-pressure regulator, according to the kind of paint being used. To speed drying, they may place the freshly painted vehicle under heat lamps or in a special infrared oven. After each coat of paint dries, they sand the surface to remove any irregularities and to help the next coat adhere better. This is the most time-consuming step. After the final coat of paint has dried, painters or their helpers may polish the newly painted surface. They clean their spray guns, mixing paddles, and other equipment. Painters must also keep up with new products used in the manufacture and painting of cars, and maintain records of materials used.
In production plants, painters may operate a washing tank to clean items before painting. An increasing number of factories use automatic painting machinery and robots controlled by workers who adjust the nozzles of guns used by the robots. Painters also set up, keep the machinery running, and check for imperfections. They may spray paint the parts that the machine misses or cannot reach. As production lines become more automated, painters must learn to handle machinery such as electrostatic applicators and powder- type painting systems.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Automotive Painters work indoors where they may be exposed to dangerous fumes from paint and paint-mixing ingredients. In most shops, however, they work in special ventilated booths that protect them from these hazards. They also must wear masks or respirators for additional protection. Painters must bend and stoop to reach all parts of the vehicle, and usually have to stand for long periods of time. Production painters may feel under pressure to keep up with the speed of the assembly lines; the work can be monotonous.
Union membership rates vary. Those employed by large auto dealers, trucking companies, and bus lines are more likely to be covered by union contracts. In rural areas, employers are less likely to be unionized. Throughout the state, most small, independent repair and production painting shops are not unionized. Most union painters in California are members of locals of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union or the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Workers.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division.
Estimated number of workers in 1993 4,540 Estimated number of workers in 2005 5,590 Projected Growth 1993-2005 23% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 1,510
(These figures do not include self-employment or openings due to turnover.)
Employment for this group of painters is projected to grow about as fast the average for all occupations through 2005. Most openings occur because experienced painters retire or leave the occupation.
During the next few years, smaller businesses will continue to close because they will not be able to afford the necessary equipment to comply with new governmental rules and regulations. Employers maintain, however, that skilled Automotive Painters are in demand and can expect relatively steady work. Inexperienced applicants will face keen competition unless they have appropriate training or a demonstrated aptitude for the job.
Another factor which will affect the demand for qualified painters is the increasing number of lighter vehicles that are prone to greater damage in collisions.
Most painters work in shops that specialize in automotive repairs or repair shops of automobile and truck dealers. Some work for organizations that maintain and repair their own fleets of motor vehicles, such as trucking companies and bus lines; others are employed by auto and truck manufacturers. These businesses are concentrated in metropolitan areas.
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS
Wages for painters average $15.00 per hour. Helpers and maskers earn less. Many painters receive a commission based on the number of vehicles painted. Under this method, the employer frequently guarantees commissioned employees a minimum weekly salary. Painters usually work a 40-hour week.
Fringe benefits vary. Firms may offer profit-sharing, bonuses, uniforms, vacation, holidays, sick leave, and retirement, and health insurance benefits.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
Many Automotive Painters start as helpers and gain their skills informally by working with experienced painters. Beginning helpers usually remove trim, clean and sand surfaces to be painted, mask surfaces that are not to be painted, and polish finished work. As helpers gain experience, they progress to more complicated tasks, such as mixing paint to achieve a good match and using spray guns to apply primer or final coats to small areas. Becoming skilled in all aspects of automotive painting usually requires three to four years of on-the-job training. Some painters are enrolled in apprenticeship programs, which generally last four years. They receive training on the job and formal instruction in areas such as shop safety practices, proper use of equipment, and blending colors. Courses in automobile body repair, offered by high schools, community colleges, and vocational schools, are helpful. Automobile dealers and production painting shops generally require at least one to two years of experience even for helper or apprentice positions.
Painters should have good health, eyesight (which may be corrected), and the ability to match colors. The latter is a very important ability. A mechanical aptitude, knowledge of basic arithmetic, manual dexterity, and the ability to do precision work are required. Employers look for workers who are motivated to learn, and who will be careful in the use and maintenance of tools and equipment. Completion of high school generally is not required, but is usually an advantage.
ADVANCEMENT
Some experienced Automotive Painters may advance to supervisory positions. Experienced painters with enough money may open their own shops.
FINDING THE JOB
Applicants seeking work as Automotive Painters should apply directly to potential employers, and, if a union member, register with the union local. Inexperienced applicants often find their best opportunities with auto body shops and manufacturing companies. Some employers recruit trainees from training programs. Getting to know people working in the field is helpful, as many employers ask their employees for referrals when seeking new workers. Applicants should also check the newspaper classified ads and register with the California Employment Development Department Job Service.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Automotive Service Industry Association 25 Northwest Point #425 Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1035 (847) 228-1310 www.aftmkt.com/asia
Automotive Service Association P.O. Box 929 Bedford, TX 76095-0929 (817) 283-6205 www.asashop.org
National Automobile Dealers Association 8400 Westpark Drive McLean, VA 22102 (703) 821-7000 www.nada.org
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Automobile Mechanics No. 24 Automotive Body Repairers No. 68 Painters & Paperhangers No. 148
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., 1991) Painter, Automotive 845.381-014
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Painters, Transportation Equipment 929470
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
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