Vehicle Painters

ANZSCO ID 3243

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
12,400
Future Growth
2.9%
Weekly Earnings
$1,553
Full-Time Share
87%
Female Share
2%
Average age
36

Summary

Vehicle Painters prepare surfaces of vehicles, match and mix colours and apply paint.

Also known as: Vehicle Refinisher.

A certificate III in automotive refinishing technology or a related vehicle painting course is usually needed to work as a Vehicle Painter. These courses are often completed as part of an apprenticeship.

Tasks

  • removing rough spots on vehicle panels

  • sanding surfaces by hand and with power sanders

  • masking areas not to be painted with tape and paper

  • colour matching and mixing paints to match paint shades, and selecting pre-mixed paint

  • applying primer and finishing coats using spray-guns, and sanding surfaces between coats

  • touching up paintwork and applying polish to vehicles

  • removing masking papers, and waxing and polishing finished paintwork

  • painting signs and artwork on vehicles

  • treating vehicles with rust-proofing chemicals

Characteristics

Job Type
Technicians And Trades Workers
Skill Level
Medium skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Below average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Light
  • Medium

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers in this occupation is likely to remain stable.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.

Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.

Projected Change
2.9%
(or 500 jobs)
From
15,400
in 2021
To
15,900
in 2026

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Year Employment
2011 7,000
2012 9,100
2013 10,600
2014 7,300
2015 14,400
2016 10,400
2017 13,900
2018 9,700
2019 9,900
2020 9,700
2021 15,400
2026 15,900

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 91% of people employed as Vehicle Painters work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 25 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 42 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Median full-time earnings are $1,553 per week, this is similar to weekly earnings for all jobs ($1,593).

    Median hourly earnings are $39, this is similar to the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

    Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Earnings Vehicle Painters All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 1,553 1,593
Total Earnings 0 0

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.


Industries

Main industries

1
Other Services
87.9%
2
Manufacturing
8.1%
3
Construction
2.0%
4
Wholesale Trade
1.0%
5
Other industries
1.0%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

29.3% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

26.2% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

20.1% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

8.6% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

11.9% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

2.1% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.8% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.0% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Vehicle Painters All Jobs Average
NSW 29.3 31.6
VIC 26.2 25.6
QLD 20.1 20.0
SA 8.6 7.0
WA 11.9 10.8
TAS 2.1 2.0
NT 0.8 1.0
ACT 1.0 1.9



Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
36
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
2%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Vehicle Painters is 36 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.

    Females make up 2% of the workforce. This is 46 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Vehicle Painters All Jobs Average
15-19 4.7 5.0
20-24 13.5 9.3
25-34 27.4 22.9
35-44 23.3 22.0
45-54 19.7 21.6
55-59 6.1 9.0
60-64 3.7 6.0
65 and Over 1.7 4.2
Median Age 36 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

A certificate III in automotive refinishing technology or a related vehicle painting course is usually needed to work as a Vehicle Painter. These courses are often completed as part of an apprenticeship.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Automotive Retail, Service and Repair VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Vehicle Painters All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.0 10.1
Bachelor degree 1.0 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 1.7 11.6
Certificate III/IV 73.1 21.1
Year 12 8.0 18.1
Year 11 4.0 4.8
Year 10 and below 12.1 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Vehicle Painters who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 43%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 43%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 41%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 41%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 41%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 39%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 39%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 37%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 36%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 36%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 34%

    Equipment maintenance

    Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.

  • 34%

    Equipment selection

    Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

  • 34%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 32%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 32%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 32%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 30%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 30%

    Management of personnel resources

    Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.

  • 27%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 25%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 45%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 41%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 33%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 33%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 32%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 31%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 30%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 28%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 22%

    Sales and marketing

    Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • 20%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 19%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 19%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 16%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 15%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 15%

    Economics and accounting

    Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.

  • 14%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 14%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 11%

    History and archeology

    Events of the past, their causes, how we learn about them, and how they influence the way we live today.

  • 10%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 9%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 64%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

  • 52%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 50%

    Extent flexibility

    Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • 46%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 46%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • 46%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 46%

    Manual dexterity

    Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

  • 46%

    Trunk strength

    Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

  • 45%

    Visualization

    Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • 43%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 43%

    Multilimb coordination

    Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • 43%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 43%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 41%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 41%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 39%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 36%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 36%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 34%

    Depth perception

    Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.

  • 32%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 83%

    Handling and moving objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.

  • 70%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 69%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 68%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 65%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 63%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 62%

    Working with mechanical equipment

    Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.

  • 61%

    Doing physically active work

    Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.

  • 61%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).

  • 57%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 57%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

  • 55%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 55%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 55%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 53%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 52%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 51%

    Scheduling work and activities

    Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

  • 48%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 45%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

    Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

  • 41%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 62%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 48%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 48%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

  • 19%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 14%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 71%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 57%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 52%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 48%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 43%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 29%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 100%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 98%

    Dangerous conditions

    Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.

  • 98%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

  • 97%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 96%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.

  • 93%

    Wear specialized protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection.

  • 91%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 91%

    Walking and running

    Spend time walking and running.

  • 89%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

  • 87%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 86%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 85%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 85%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 84%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 83%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 82%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 81%

    Responsible for outcomes

    Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.

  • 77%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 75%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 72%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

    Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-9122.00 - Painters, Transportation Equipment.


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