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Skilled Trades

Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

Paint, coat, or decorate articles, such as furniture, glass, plateware, pottery, jewelry, toys, books, or leather.

Median salary

$40,860

Typical range

$28k – $63k

Job outlook

+1% (about average)

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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Typical progression

  1. Junior Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

    Entry / Junior

    $28,490

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

    Established

    $40,860

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

    Senior

    $51,815

Key skills

A typical day

  • Apply coatings, such as paint, ink, or lacquer, to protect or decorate workpiece surfaces, using spray guns, pens, or brushes.
  • Examine finished surfaces of workpieces to verify conformance to specifications and retouch any defective areas.
  • Clean and maintain tools and equipment, using solvents, brushes, and rags.
  • Read job orders and inspect workpieces to determine work procedures and materials required.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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