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 Annual Wage: $35,950

Education: High school diploma or equivalent (52%); Less than high school diploma (30%); Post-secondary certificate (8%)

Projected Growth: Faster than average (15% to 21%)

Related Job Titles: Painter; Facilities Painter; Maintenance Painter; Highway Painter; Industrial Painter; Foreman; House Painter; Journeyman Painter; Painter Foreman; Senior Painter

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Painters, Construction and Maintenance.

More Construction and Extraction Careers

  • Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting.
  • Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines.
  • Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements.
  • Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare wood or metal, for finish coats.
  • Apply paint, stain, varnish, enamel, or other finishes to equipment, buildings, bridges, or other structures, using brushes, spray guns, or rollers.
  • Erect scaffolding or swing gates, or set up ladders, to work above ground level.
  • Mix and match colors of paint, stain, or varnish with oil or thinning and drying additives to obtain desired colors and consistencies.
  • Calculate amounts of required materials and estimate costs, based on surface measurements or work orders.
  • Polish final coats to specified finishes.
  • Wash and treat surfaces with oil, turpentine, mildew remover, or other preparations, and sand rough spots to ensure that finishes will adhere properly.
  • Select and purchase tools or finishes for surfaces to be covered, considering durability, ease of handling, methods of application, and customers' wishes.
  • Remove old finishes by stripping, sanding, wire brushing, burning, or using water or abrasive blasting.
  • Remove fixtures such as pictures, door knobs, lamps, or electric switch covers prior to painting.
  • Use special finishing techniques such as sponging, ragging, layering, or faux finishing.
  • Cut stencils and brush or spray lettering or decorations on surfaces.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Painters, Construction and Maintenance.

  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Painters, Construction and Maintenance.

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