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
$48,660
Typical range
$37k – $77k
Job outlook
+4% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Plan a path to Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Entry / Junior
$36,680
~2 yrs to advance
Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Established
$48,660
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Senior
$62,605
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
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.