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.
From people doing the work
Day-to-day, it's a mix of careful prep work, applying coats, and ensuring a clean finish. You're often working outdoors or in different buildings, so there's variety, but also physical demands. It's satisfying to see a space transformed by your work.
Drawn from Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA), r/Painting, Fine Homebuilding, Paint Talk, Pro Painter Podcast
Attribution: Composite
Composite · Synthesised from Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA), r/Painting, Fine Homebuilding, Paint Talk
A day in the life of Painters, Construction and Maintenance
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- 80% Team / 20% Solo
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- Moderate
- Travel
- Occasional
- Schedule flexibility
- Rigid
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40-50
- Stress level
- Moderate
Painters, Construction and Maintenance salary, education and outlook at a glance
- Median salary
- $48,660
- Entry-level
- $36,000
- Senior
- $68,000
- Growth by 2033
- +3.8%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Moderate
- Salary growth potential
- 89%
- Typical student debt
- Moderate
Skills you need as Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Hard skills
- Building and Construction
- Operating system software
- Administration and Management
Soft skills
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Active Listening
Technical complexity: Low
Tools of the trade
Core tools
- Paint Sprayer (Hardware): Applies paint quickly and evenly to large surfaces.
- Paint Roller (Hardware): Applies paint to various surfaces, providing a smooth finish.
- Paint Brush Set (Hardware): Used for detailed work, cutting in, and applying paint to intricate areas.
Commonly used
- Scraper (Hardware): Removes old paint, wallpaper, or other materials from surfaces.
- Drop Cloths (Hardware): Protects floors and furniture from paint spills and splatters.
- Ladders and Scaffolding (Hardware): Provides safe access to elevated work areas.
- Respirator Mask (Hardware): Protects against inhaling paint fumes and dust particles.
Specialist tools
- Color Matching Software (Software): Helps in accurately matching and mixing paint colors.
How to become Painters, Construction and Maintenance
- Minimum education
- High School Diploma
- Licensing
- Varies by State
- Years to mid-career
- 5-8
- Years to senior
- 12-18
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
- Construction Laborer: Individuals often start as general construction laborers and learn painting skills on the job.
- Drywall Installer: Experience with surface preparation and finishing from drywall installation can lead to painting roles.
- Maintenance Worker: Maintenance workers often perform painting tasks as part of their general upkeep responsibilities.
Where you can go from here
- Painting Contractor: Experienced painters can advance to owning and operating their own painting businesses.
- Surface Preparation Technician: Specializing in surface preparation, such as sandblasting or chemical stripping, for various finishes.
- Estimator (Construction): Painters with good math and organizational skills can move into estimating project costs.
- Foreman/Supervisor (Painting): Experienced painters can move into supervisory roles, managing painting crews and projects.
Typical progression
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance Lead
- or Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Painters, Construction and Maintenance job outlook and future demand
- Automation probability
- High
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
Job satisfaction as Painters, Construction and Maintenance
- Overall satisfaction
- 6.5/10
- Meaning
- 6.5/10
- Work-life balance
- 5.5/10
- Prestige
- 5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate
Where practitioners gather
Professional organisations
- Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA): A professional organization for painting and decorating contractors offering resources and networking.
Podcasts and media
- Fine Homebuilding: A publication offering articles and advice on various aspects of home construction and renovation, including painting.
- Pro Painter Podcast: A podcast dedicated to professional painters, covering industry news, tips, and interviews.
Reddit communities
- r/Painting: An online community for painters to share work, ask questions, and discuss techniques.
Online communities
- Paint Talk: An online forum for professional painters to discuss techniques, products, and business practices.