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Skilled Trades

Painters, Construction and Maintenance

Paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns. May remove old paint to prepare surface prior to painting. May mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency.

Median salary (BLS)

$49,400

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$37k – $79k

Job outlook

+4% (faster than average)

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Painters, Construction and Maintenance" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Painters, Construction and Maintenance

    Entry / Junior

    $37,440

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Painters, Construction and Maintenance

    Established

    $49,400

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Painters, Construction and Maintenance

    Senior

    $64,105

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting.
  • •Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements.
  • •Apply paint, stain, varnish, enamel, or other finishes to equipment, buildings, bridges, or other structures, using brushes, spray guns, or rollers.
  • •Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.
  • •Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.