Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, large machinery and equipment, and bridges and other structures.
Is painters, construction and maintenance a good career?
It scores 17/100 and ranks #408 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- High volume of openings — about 28,100 a year
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($49,400 vs $61,390)
What painters, construction and maintenance earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. painters, construction and maintenance earn between $44,640 and $61,660 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live painters, construction and maintenance jobs
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- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow as fast as average through 2034.
Education
There are no formal education requirements to become a painter. Some technical schools offer optional certificates in painting.
Training
Painters typically learn on the job: how to prepare surfaces, apply coating, hang wall covering, and match colors. Painters may have to complete additional safety training in order to work with scaffolding and harnesses.
Although less common, painting apprenticeships lasting 3 or 4 years may be available for candidates who have a high school diploma or equivalent and who are at least 18 years old. For each year of a typical program, apprentices must complete a predetermined number of hours of technical training and paid on-the-job training before becoming journey workers. Apprenticeship program requirements differ based on the type of program and by region.
Although most painters learn their trade on the job or through an apprenticeship, some new workers enter training programs offered by the hiring contractor.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides certification for lead paint abatement.
Some states require licensing for lead paint removal. Contact your state’s licensing board
Employers may require workers to have a driver’s license to commute to jobsites.
Advancement
After gaining experience, painters may advance to supervisors, superintendents, or managers, directing other painters and the jobsite. Painters may also work as estimators or start their own business.
Painters who work in a union may have advancement opportunities within the organization as a union official, training instructor, or business manager.
Important qualities
Ability to work at heights. Painters must be able to work at heights on scaffolding, lifts, and ladders.
Communication skills. Painters interact with clients and must be able to convey information in order to ensure accuracy of color selection and application techniques. Painters must also communicate with coworkers.
Detail oriented. Painters must be precise when creating or painting edges for overall quality of appearance.
Physical stamina. Painters should be able to stay physically active for many hours and spend much of the workday standing or climbing ladders.
Physical strength. Painters must be able to lift at least 50 pounds and move heavy items during the course of a job.
Related occupations
How much do painters, construction and maintenance make?
The national median wage is $49,400 a year, with the middle half earning between $44,640 and $61,660 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is painters, construction and maintenance a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 17 of 100 and ranks #408 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +3.8% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a painters, construction and maintenance?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential.
Where do painters, construction and maintenance earn the most?
Among states, Hawaii pays the highest median ($68,220). Local pay for every state and metro is below.