Painters, Construction and Maintenance

Summary

Painters commonly use brushes and rollers to apply paint to a wall.

Quick Facts: Painters, Construction and Maintenance
2010 Median Pay	$34,280 per year $16.48 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Less than high school
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2010	390,500
Job Outlook, 2010-20	18% (About as fast as average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	72,100

What Painters, Construction and Maintenance Do

Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls, buildings, bridges, and other structures.

Work Environment

Painting requires a lot of climbing, bending, kneeling, and stretching. Most industrial painters work outside, almost always in dry, warm weather. Those who paint bridges or building infrastructure may be exposed to extreme heights and uncomfortable positions.

How to Become a Painter, Construction or Maintenance

Although most painters learn their trade informally on the job, some learn through a formal apprenticeship.

Pay

The median annual wage of painters was $34,280 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of painters is projected to grow 18 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Overall job prospects should be good, and opportunities for industrial painters and coaters are expected to be excellent, especially in the Gulf Coast region.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of painters, construction and maintenance with similar occupations.

O*NET

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about painters, construction and maintenance by contacting these additional resources.

What Painters, Construction and Maintenance Do About this section

Painters sometimes wear self-contained suits for protection from fumes.

Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls, buildings, bridges, and other structures.

Duties

Painters typically do the following:

• Cover floors and furniture with drop-cloths and tarps to protect surfaces
• Remove fixtures such as pictures, door knobs, or electric switch covers
• Put up scaffolding and set up ladders
• Fill holes and cracks with caulk, putty, plaster, or other compounds
• Prepare surfaces by scraping, wire brushing, or sanding to a smooth finish
• Calculate the area to be painted and the amount of paint needed
• Apply primers or sealers so the paint will adhere
• Choose and mix paints and stains to reach desired color and appearance
• Apply paint or other finishes using hand brushes, rollers, or sprayers

Applying paint to interior walls makes surfaces attractive and vibrant. In addition, paints and other sealers protect exterior surfaces from erosion caused by exposure to the weather.

Because there are several ways to apply paint, workers must be able to choose the proper tool for each job, such as the correct roller, power sprayer, and the right size brush. Choosing the right tool typically depends on the surface to be covered and the characteristics of the finish.

A few painters—mainly industrial—must use special safety equipment. For example, painting in confined spaces such as the inside of a large storage tank, requires workers to wear self-contained suits to avoid inhaling toxic fumes. When painting bridges, tall buildings, or oil rigs, painters may work from scaffolding, bosun’s chairs, and harnesses to reach work areas.

The following are examples of types of painters:  

Construction painters apply paints, stains, and coatings to interior and exterior walls, new buildings, and other structural surfaces.

Maintenance painters remove old finishes and apply paints, stains, and coatings later in a structure’s life. Some painters specialize in painting or coating industrial structures, such as bridges and oil rigs, to prevent corrosion.

Artisan painters specialize in creating distinct finishes by using one of many decorative techniques. One technique is adding glaze for added depth and texture. Other common techniques may include sponging, distressing, rag-rolling, color blocking, and faux finishes. 

Painting and coating workers apply materials to manufactured products, such as furniture, toys and pottery, as well as transportation equipment including trucks, buses, boats, and airplanes. For more information about these painters, see the profile on painting and coating workers.

Work Environment About this section

Many painters work outdoors.

Painters held about 390,500 jobs in 2010, of which 29 percent were employed in the painting and wall covering contractors industry. About 53 percent were self-employed.

Because painters apply finishes to a wide variety of structures—from bridges to the interiors and exteriors of buildings—they may work both indoors and out. Painting requires a lot of climbing, bending, kneeling, and stretching. Industrial painters typically work outdoors in dry, warm weather. Those who paint bridges or building infrastructure may be exposed to extreme heights and uncomfortable positions; some painters work suspended with ropes or cables.

Injuries

Painters have a rate of injury and illness that is among the highest of all occupations. Falls from ladders, muscle strains from lifting, and exposure to irritants such as plaster dust are common risks.

Work Schedules

Most painters work full time. About 53 percent of painters were self-employed in 2010. Self-employed workers may be able to set their own schedule. Those who paint bridges, buildings, and other structures outside are not able to work when it rains.

How to Become a Painter, Construction or Maintenance About this section

Some specialty painters may need certification.

Although most painters learn their trade informally on the job, some learn through a formal apprenticeship.

Training

Some painters learn their trade through a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship, although a few local unions have additional time requirements. For each year of the program, apprentices must have at least 144 hours of technical instruction and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training. Through technical instruction, apprentices learn how colors go together; how to use and care for tools and equipment, to prepare surfaces, mix and match paint, and read blueprints; application techniques; characteristics of different finishes; wood finishing; and safety practices. 

After completing an apprenticeship program, painters are considered journey workers and may do tasks on their own.

Unions and contractors sponsor apprenticeship programs. The basic qualifications to enter an apprenticeship program are as follows:

• Minimum age of 18
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Physically able to do the work

Although the vast majority of workers learn their trade informally on the job or through a formal apprenticeship, some contractors offer their own training program.  

Education

There is no formal educational requirement, but high school courses in English, math, shop, and blueprint reading can be useful. Also, some 2-year technical schools offer courses connected to union and contractor organization apprenticeships. Credits earned as part of an apprenticeship program usually count toward an associate’s degree.

Certification

Those interested in industrial painting can earn several certifications from the National Association of Corrosion Engineers. The most common one for construction painters is called Protective Coating Specialist. Courses range from 1 day to several weeks, depending on the certification program and specialty. Applicants must also meet requirements for work experience.

Important Qualities

Color recognition. Painters must be able to identify and differentiate between subtle differences in paint color.

Customer-service skills. Workers who paint the inside and outside of residential homes often interact with clients. They must communicate with the client, listen to what the client wants, and select colors and application techniques that satisfy the client.

Detail oriented. Painters must be precise when creating or painting edges because minor flaws can be noticeable.

Stamina. Painters should be able to stay physically active for many hours, as they spend most of the day standing with their arms often raised above their head.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of construction and maintenance painters was $34,280 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,450, and the top 10 percent earned more than $58,480.

The starting pay for apprentices is usually between 30 percent and 50 percent of what fully trained painters make. They get pay increases as they gain more skill.

Most painters work full time. About 53 percent of painters were self-employed in 2010. Self-employed workers may be able to set their own schedule. Those who paint bridges, buildings, and other structures outside are not able to work when it rains.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of painters is expected to grow 18 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The relatively short life of paint on homes as well as changing trends in color and application will continue to support demand for painters. Investors who sell properties or rent them out will also require painters’ services. Nonetheless, the ability of many homeowners to do the work themselves will somewhat temper employment growth.

Growing demand for industrial painting will be driven by the need to prevent corrosion and deterioration of the many industrial structures by painting or coating them. Applying a protective coating to the inside of a steel tank, for example, can add years to its life expectancy.

Job Prospects

Overall job prospects should be good because of the need to replace workers who leave the occupation. There are no formal training requirements for entry into these jobs, so many people with limited skills work as painters for a relatively short time and then move on to other types of work with higher pay or better working conditions.

Job opportunities for industrial painters should be excellent as the positions available should be greater than the pool of qualified individuals to fill them. Although industrial structures that require painting are located throughout the nation, the best employment opportunities should be in the Gulf Coast region, where strong demand and the largest concentration of workers exist.

New painters and those with little experience should expect some periods of unemployment. In addition, many construction painting projects last only a short time. Employment of painters, like that of many other construction workers, is also sensitive to fluctuations in the economy. On the one hand, painters may experience periods of unemployment when the overall level of construction falls. On the other hand, peak periods of building activity may produce shortages of painters.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For details about apprenticeships or other work opportunities for painters, contact the offices of the state employment service, the state apprenticeship agency, local contractors or firms that employ painters, or local union-management painter apprenticeship committees. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor's toll free help line, 1 (877) 872-5627 or Employment and Training Administration.

For more information about painters, including training opportunities, visit

Associated Builders and Contractors

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

National Center for Construction Education and Research  

Painting and Decorating Contractors of America

For general information about the work of industrial painters and opportunities for training and certification as a protective coating specialist, visit

NACE International