Equipment Painter

Salary : $69,056.00 - $82,804.80 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Varies by Position
Job Number: MA-T11426-202608
Business Area: N/A - Multiple Departments
Opening Date: 08/14/2026
Closing Date: 8/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


JOB INFORMATION

See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

Equipment Painter positions are responsible for painting the full range of City equipment from small parts and accessories, pumps and motors, piping systems, electrical enclosures, valves, chemical piping, containment tanks, to large dump and sanitation trucks; clean, prepare surfaces, perform minor body or surface repair, prime, paint, and detail City equipment; keep records of coating usage; and perform other duties as assigned.


NOTES:

• Employees in job classifications represented by AFSME Local 127 are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
  • 3.5% effective 7/1/27
  • 2% effective 7/1/28
  • 2% effective 1/1/29

• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Equipment Painter positions may be required to work extended night or unusual shifts for which they may receive an additional 5% pay.
• Equipment Painter employees who possess Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications for Collision Repair/Refinishing and/or Damage Analysis and Estimating may be eligible to receive additional pay.
• Equipment Painter employees may be required to work in confined spaces and participate in the confined space certification program.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.


EXPERIENCE: You must meet ONE of the following options:

1. Successful completion of a state-accredited four-year Automotive Equipment Painter Apprenticeship Program.

2. Four years of full-time PAID journey-level experience in all phases of automotive equipment painting. Qualifying experience must include ALL of the following:

• Minor body repair work.
• Final surface preparation.
• Masking and applying decals.
• Matching and spraying.
• Paint mixing.
• Mixing and application of sealers and final primer coats.
• Spot and complete painting and blending.
• Single-, two-, and tri-stage paint systems.
• Wet sanding and buffing.

3. Four years of full-time PAID journey-level experience in all phases of industrial equipment painting. Qualifying experience must include ALL of the following:

• Selection of proper specialty paint (e.g., heat-rated, marine coating).
• Minor surface repair.
• Final surface preparation, including sanding.
• Masking/protecting components.
• Precision spray application with correct thickness.
• Paint mixing, two-part epoxy or other specialty paint preparation.
• Mixing and application of sealers and final primer coats.
• Spot painting.

4. A combination of education and/or experience as specified above equaling four years.


NOTES:

• Experience in painting art, homes, and/or commercial signs or billboards is NOT qualifying.
• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

CERTIFICATION: A valid National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) 6H certification will be required within six months from the date of hire.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.


REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• Proof of apprenticeship completion, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• Proof of apprenticeship transcripts/hours of completion, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• For City of San Diego employees, proof of Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA), if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: View phone number on click.appcast.io; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.
SCREENING PROCESS
Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met. Successful candidates will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next six months (180 days). For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION


PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number; otherwise, they may miss employment opportunities.
Rev. 1 - August 14, 2026 (New Recruitment Date)
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.


Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).


Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

or review the
01


I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02


Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03


If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04


The minimum age for this job is 18, unless you are 17 and a high school graduate. Do you meet the minimum age requirements for this job?

• Yes
• No

05


Have you successfully completed a state-accredited four-year Automotive Equipment Painter Apprenticeship Program? NOTE: Attach proof of completion to your application.

• Yes
• No

06


If you are using a combination of experience and education to qualify, how many years of a state-accredited four-year Automotive Equipment Painter Apprenticeship Program have you completed?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years or more

07


How many years of full-time PAID journey-level experience in all phases of automotive equipment painting which must include ALL of the following: minor body repair work; final surface preparation; masking and applying decals; matching and spraying; paint mixing; mixing and application of sealers and final primer coats; spot and complete painting and blending; single, two, and tri-stage paint systems; and wet sanding and buffing?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

08


In which of the following areas do you have full-time PAID journey-level experience in all phases of automotive equipment painting? NOTE: Qualifying experience must include ALL of the following.

• Minor body repair work.
• Final surface preparation.
• Masking and applying decals.
• Matching and spraying.
• Paint mixing.
• Mixing and application of sealers and final of sealers and final primer coats.
• Spot and complete painting and blending.
• Single, two, and tri-stage paint systems.
• Wet sanding and buffing.
• None of the above.

09


Describe your full-time PAID journey-level experience in all phases of automotive equipment painting in the following areas: a. Minor body repair work; b. final surface preparation; c. masking and applying decals; d. matching and spraying; e. paint mixing; f. mixing and application of sealers and final primer coats; g. spot and complete painting and blending; h. single, two, and tri-stage paint systems; i. wet sanding and buffing. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."
10


How many years of full-time PAID journey-level experience do you have in all phases of industrial equipment painting which must include ALL of the following: Selection of proper specialty paint (e.g., heat rated, marine coating); minor surface repair; final surface preparation, including sanding; masking/protecting components; precision spray application with correct thickness; paint mixing, two-part epoxy or other specialty paint preparation; mixing and application of sealers and final primer coats; and spot painting?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 year to less than 2 years
• 2 years to less than 3 years
• 3 years to less than 4 years
• 4 years to less than 5 years
• 5 years or more

11


In which of the following areas do you have full-time paid journey-level experience in industrial equipment painting? NOTE: Qualifying experience must include ALL of the following.

• Selection of proper specialty paint (e.g., heat rated, marine coating).
• Minor surface repair.
• Final surface preparation, including sanding.
• Masking/protecting components.
• Precision spray application with correct thickness.
• Paint mixing, two-part epoxy or other specialty paint preparation.
• Mixing and application of sealers and final primer coats.
• Spot painting.
• None of the above.

12


Describe your full-time PAID journey-level experience in all phases of industrial equipment painting in the following areas: a. Selection of proper specialty paint (e.g., heat rated, marine coating); b. minor surface repair; c. final surface preparation, including sanding; d. masking/protecting components; e. precision spray application with correct thickness; f. paint mixing, two-part epoxy or other specialty paint preparation; g. mixing and application of sealers and final primer coats; h. spot painting. For each area, specify from which employer the experience was gained, your title, level of responsibility, percent of time spent on each area and the total length of your experience. If you do not have any experience in a specific area, write "None."
Required Question