Painter salary
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What a painter does
Construction and maintenance painters prepare and finish surfaces on buildings — residential, commercial and industrial. Low barrier to entry, real craft at the top end.
Day-to-day duties
- Prepare surfaces — scraping, sanding, filling, masking
- Apply paint by brush, roller and spray
- Mix and match colours and finishes
- Erect ladders and scaffolding safely
- Protect surrounding areas and clean up
Skills employers look for
- Patient surface preparation — most of the job
- Clean cutting-in and finish quality
- Spray equipment handling
- Comfort working at height
Requirements Entry level
- No formal education required
- On-the-job training or apprenticeship
- Working at height and in confined spaces
- Lead-safe certification for pre-1978 buildings
How to get started
- 1 Start as a painter's helper
- 2 Learn preparation properly — it defines the finish
- 3 Add spray and specialty coatings
- 4 Move to lead painter, or start contracting
Job outlook: Demand comes from repainting and maintenance as much as new build, which makes it steadier than trades tied purely to construction starts.
Common questions about painters
What does a painter do?
Construction and maintenance painters prepare and finish surfaces on buildings — residential, commercial and industrial. Low barrier to entry, real craft at the top end. Day to day, that means prepare surfaces — scraping, sanding, filling, masking, apply paint by brush, roller and spray, mix and match colours and finishes and erect ladders and scaffolding safely.
How do you become a painter?
The usual route is: (1) start as a painter's helper, (2) learn preparation properly — it defines the finish, (3) add spray and specialty coatings, (4) move to lead painter, or start contracting. Employers typically look for no formal education required, on-the-job training or apprenticeship and working at height and in confined spaces.
Do you need a certification to work as a painter?
Usually not. Most employers hire painters without a specific licence, though lead-safe certification for pre-1978 buildings will widen your options and often your pay.
Are painters in demand?
Demand comes from repainting and maintenance as much as new build, which makes it steadier than trades tied purely to construction starts.
Where are painters most in demand?
See the metro and rural areas with the highest concentration of this work, ranked from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
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Pay figures are estimates for guidance only, not an offer or guarantee. Advertised ranges come from job postings on LocalWork; government figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay depends on experience, certifications, shift and employer.