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Careersβ€ΊRolesβ€ΊColor Maker
Mid-Level

Color Maker

Getting a color to come out exactly right, batch after batch, is harder than it sounds, and that's your craft β€” formulating the dyes, pigments, and inks industry runs on. The chemistry behind a precise color.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
I
R
C
S
A
E
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Realistichands-on, practical
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Color Makers
Transportation & LogisticsManufacturing Β· 44%Professional Services Β· 33%Wholesale & Distribution Β· 5%Administrative Services Β· 4%Education Β· 4%
Job markets for Color Makers
Employment concentration Β· ~196 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Science
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Color Maker

The work is part chemistry, part trained eye: weighing and mixing ingredients, testing shades against standards, adjusting formulas, and matching color batch to batch. You work at a bench, often in manufacturing. Tiny tweaks shift a shade noticeably, and matching a color exactly is the whole challenge.

The work is precise and can be repetitive, tied to production schedules and quality demands. Consistency matters more than creativity here, the materials can mean chemical exposure, and a color that's off can mean a rejected batch. Industries from textiles to paint to printing shape the methods and stakes.

It tends to suit people who are precise, patient, and unusually attuned to color. If you want creative freedom or fast variety, the exacting routine may feel narrow. But if you find real satisfaction in nailing a shade nobody else can match, it's a skilled, specialized craft.

What people in this role value
SupportAbove avg
RelationshipsModerate
Working ConditionsLower
IndependenceLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial β€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape β€” and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$92K+15%
Technology & Information$91K+13%
Energy & Utilities$82K+2%
Financial Services$81K+2%
Wholesale & Distribution$79K-1%
Compared to Science average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Color Makers (SOC 19-4031.00), not just this title Β· BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Science β†’
Color MakerMaterials AnalystResearch TechnicianLaboratory Technician (Lab Tech)Chemical AnalystScientific Research AssociateWater AnalystColor ConsultantProcess Development AssociateFormulatorLaboratory Assistant (Lab Assistant)AssayerColor TesterColor MatcherBleach AnalystChemical TesterChemical TechnicianColorist FormulatorChemistry TechnicianColor Maker FormulatorChemical Research WorkerChemical Analytical SamplerChemical Engineering TechnicianChemical Process Technician (Chemical Process Tech)
Exploring the Color Maker career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit β€” and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
✦ Editorial β€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape β€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$39K–$91K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
56K
U.S. Employment
+3.7%
10yr Growth
7K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$77K$74K$71K$68K$65K201920202021202220232024$65K$77K
BLS OEWS May 2024 Β· BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

ScienceReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingMonitoringActive LearningSpeakingOperations MonitoringQuality Control Analysis
O*NET OnLine Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
19-4031.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midMaterials Analyst$69KseniorSenior Materials Analyst$69KmidResearch Technician$66KseniorSenior Research Technician$66KmidLaboratory Technician (Lab Tech)$56KmidChemical Analyst$71K
View all Science roles β†’

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) Β· BLS Employment Projections Β· O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.