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Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers out-earn Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders by $26K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders land at $48,250 and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers at $74,450. The education gap is real: coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tender programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of production and operating worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is Alaska ($69,910); for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers it's Wyoming ($90,390).

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Median salary
$48,250
$74,450
Hourly rate
$23.2/hr
$35.79/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$36,260
$47,130
Senior level (90th %)
$74,730
$108,750
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
158,740
673,430
Job growth (10-year)
0.7%
1.2%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Alaska
Wyoming

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders median pay.

State
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Alaska
$69,910
$77,960
Washington
$59,980
$79,310
New Jersey
$58,240
$81,110
Maine
$56,200
$78,970
Maryland
$55,510
$78,520
Colorado
$53,590
$78,890
Connecticut
$52,900
$83,150
Minnesota
$52,210
$78,550
Massachusetts
$51,150
$79,920
Wyoming
$50,220
$90,390
Rhode Island
$49,850
$81,650
New Hampshire
$48,410
$79,310
New York
$48,000
$78,580
Louisiana
$47,950
$77,520
Delaware
$46,120
$79,100

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers earn more nationally. The median is $48,250 for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders versus $74,450 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers, a difference of $26K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 1.2% projected growth, compared to 0.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders get paid the most?

Alaska is the top-paying state for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders at $69,910/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn $69,910 vs. $77,960 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tendersGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →