### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Painters, Construction and Maintenance Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			painters construction and maintenance imagePainters cover trim and molding before applying paint.							
						Quick Facts:     Construction and Maintenance Painters2023     Median Pay
            						$47,700     per year
										$22.94     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    No formal educational credentialWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Moderate-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    372,400Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    1% (Little or no change)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    5,500What Construction and Maintenance Painters  Do
                                                
                        
                        
Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, large machinery and equipment, and bridges and other structures.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Painters work indoors and outdoors. Painting is physically demanding and requires a lot of bending, kneeling, reaching, and climbing. Those who paint bridges or buildings may work at extreme heights or in uncomfortable positions.
            
                                                How to Become a Construction and Maintenance Painter
                                                
                        
Painters typically learn their trade on the job. No formal education is typically required to enter the occupation.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for painters, construction and maintenance was $47,700 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of painters, construction and maintenance is projected to show little or no change							 from 2022 to 2032.
						Despite  limited  employment growth, about 29,300 openings for painters, construction and maintenance are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for painters, construction and maintenance.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of painters, construction and maintenance with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about painters, construction and maintenance by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Construction and Maintenance Painters  Do 
            

			Painters, construction and maintenancePainters sometimes wear self-contained suits for protection.			
Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, large machinery and equipment, and bridges and other structures.
Duties
Painters typically do the following:
Protect floors, furniture, and trim by covering surfaces with drop cloths and tarps and securing with tape
Install scaffolding and raise ladders
Fill holes and cracks with putty or plaster
Prepare surfaces by removing outlet and switch covers and by scraping, wire brushing, or sanding to a smooth finish
Calculate the size of the area to be painted and the amount of paint needed for the area
Apply primers or sealers so the paint will stick to the surface
Apply paint, coatings, or other finishes, using hand brushes, rollers, or sprayersPainters apply liquid coatings and other sealers that dry into solids to add texture or color to interiors and to protect exterior surfaces from damage caused by weather, sunlight, and pollution.
For each job, painters must choose the correct tool, such as a roller, power sprayer, or brush. There are several ways to apply paint, and deciding on which tool to use typically depends on both the type of surface to be painted and the characteristics of the paint. Some employers require painters to provide their own tools
The following are types of painters:
***Commercial painters*** prepare and paint the interiors and exteriors of offices, businesses, and other nonresidential buildings. Commercial painters may work with and be responsible for large areas due to the size of buildings involved in nonresidential projects.
***Industrial painters*** prepare and paint large machinery, such as industrial or manufacturing equipment; vehicles, such as cars and ships; and structures, such as bridges and water towers. Industrial painters may also apply special coating materials to structure or equipment surfaces to protect them from corrosion or deterioration.
Industrial painters must contain the area in which they are working to prevent hazardous materials from contaminating the environment and exposing the public to risks. Industrial and commercial painters also must perform quality control and quality assurance to ensure that they find mistakes, meet technical specifications, and use materials appropriately.
***Residential painters*****prepare and paint the interiors and exteriors of homes and multifamily residential buildings. Residential painters may interact with customers living in the home while painting is in progress. As a result, residential painters may need to adjust their hours or work plans to accommodate customer needs or schedules.
 Work Environment
			Painters, construction and maintenanceMany painters work outdoors.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Painters, construction and maintenance held about 372,400 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of painters, construction and maintenance were as follows:
        Self-employed workers
                41%Painting and wall covering contractors
                37Residential building construction
                4Government
                2Nonresidential building construction
                2Painters work on a variety of structures, including bridges, machinery, and the interiors and exteriors of buildings. Painting requires a lot of bending, kneeling, reaching, and climbing. Those who paint bridges or buildings may work at extreme heights or in uncomfortable positions; some painters are suspended by ropes or cables as they work.
Painters typically work both indoors and outdoors. When working outside or in confined spaces, painters may be exposed to extreme temperatures.
Painters may need to wear special safety equipment for a job. For example, painters working in confined spaces, such as the inside of a large storage tank, must wear self-contained suits to avoid inhaling toxic fumes. Some painters wear additional clothing and protective eyewear when operating abrasive blasters to remove old coatings. When painting bridges, ships, tall buildings, or oil rigs, painters may work from scaffolding or harnesses.
Injuries and Illnesses
Painters risk injury on the job. Common hazards include falls from ladders, muscle strains from lifting, and exposure to drywall dust and other irritants.
Work Schedules
Most painters work full time. Self-employed painters may be able to set their own schedules. Industrial painters may be required to travel for work. Painting jobs that are outdoors may be seasonal.
 How to Become a Construction and Maintenance Painter

			Painters, construction and maintenanceSome specialty painters may need certification.			
Painters typically learn their trade on the job. No formal education is typically required to enter the occupation.
Education
There are no formal education requirements to become a painter. Some technical schools offer optional certificates in painting.
Training
Painters typically learn on the job: how to prepare surfaces, apply coating, hang wall covering, and match colors. Painters may have to complete additional safety training in order to work with scaffolding and harnesses.
Although less common, painting apprenticeships lasting 3 or 4 years may be available for candidates who have a high school diploma or equivalent and who are at least 18 years old. For example, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, in conjunction with the Finishing Trades Institute, offers a 3-year apprenticeship for painters. For each year of a typical program, apprentices must complete a predetermined number of hours of technical training and paid on-the-job training before becoming journey workers. Apprenticeship program requirements differ based on the type of program and by region.
Although most painters learn their trade on the job or through an apprenticeship, some new workers enter training programs offered by the hiring contractor.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Those interested in industrial painting can earn several certifications from NACE International Instituteor from the Society for Protective Coatings. Courses range from 1 day to several weeks, depending on the certification program and specialty. Applicants also must meet work experience requirements.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides certification for lead paint abatement.
Some states require licensing for lead paint removal. Contact your state’s licensing board for more information.
Employers may require workers to have a driver’s license to commute to jobsites.
Advancement
After gaining experience, painters may advance to supervisors, superintendents, or managers, directing other painters and the jobsite. Painters may also work as estimators or start their own business.
Painters who work in a union may have advancement opportunities within the organization as a union official, training instructor, or business manager.
Important Qualities
***Ability to work at heights.*** Painters must be able to work at heights on scaffolding, lifts, and ladders.
***Communication skills.*** Painters interact with clients and must be able to convey information in order to ensure accuracy of color selection and application techniques. Painters must also communicate with coworkers.
***Detail oriented.*** Painters must be precise when creating or painting edges for overall quality of appearance.
***Physical stamina.*** Painters should be able to stay physically active for many hours and spend much of the workday standing or climbing ladders.
***Physical strength*.**Painters must be able to lift at least 50 pounds and move heavy items during the course of a job.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Construction and Maintenance PaintersMedian annual wages, May 2023Construction trades workers$52,000  Total, all occupations$48,060  Painters, construction and maintenance$47,700Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for painters, construction and maintenance was $47,700 in May 2023. 


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 $35,570, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $76,030.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for painters, construction and maintenance in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Government
                $64,000Nonresidential building construction
                50,710Residential building construction
                49,350Painting and wall covering contractors
                47,210Apprentices make less than fully trained painters, but they receive increases as they learn to do more.
Most painters work full time. Self-employed workers may be able to set their own schedule.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Construction and Maintenance PaintersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Construction trades workers3%  Total, all occupations3%  Painters, construction and maintenance1%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of painters, construction and maintenance is projected to show little or no change				 from 2022 to 2032.
			
			Despite  limited  employment growth, about 29,300 openings for painters, construction and maintenance are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
The expected increase in new construction will continue to create a need for painters. Investors who sell or lease properties also will require painters’ services. However, many homeowners choose to do painting themselves rather than hire workers for it, which will temper employment growth for painters.
			

                        Employment projections data for     painters, construction and maintenance, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Painters, construction and maintenance**
			47-2141
			372,400
			377,900
			1
			5,500
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Painters, construction and maintenance **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of painters, construction and maintenance. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Carpenters**
            Carpenters construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $56,350**Construction Laborers and Helpers**
            Construction laborers and helpers perform tasks, such as using, supplying, or holding materials or tools and cleaning work areas and equipment, on construction sites.
            See How to Become One
            $44,310**Painting and Coating Workers**
            Painting and coating workers apply finishes, often using machines, to a range of products.
            See How to Become One
            $45,340**Drywall Installers, Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers**
            Drywall and ceiling tile installers hang wallboard and install ceiling tile inside buildings. Tapers prepare the wallboard for painting.
            No formal educational credential
            $57,010**Hazardous Materials Removal Workers**
            Hazardous materials removal workers identify and dispose of harmful substances such as asbestos, lead, and radioactive waste.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $47,280**Flooring Installers and Tile and Stone Setters**
            Flooring installers and tile and stone setters lay and finish carpet, wood, vinyl, tile, and other materials.
            No formal educational credential
            $48,690
 Contacts for More Information
								
Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship program online or by phone at 877-872-5627. 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. Visit Apprenticeship.govto search for apprenticeship opportunities.
For more information about painters and training opportunities, visit
Associated Builders and Contractors
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Home Builders Institute
NCCER
Painting and Decorating Contractors of America
For more information about pre-apprenticeship training, visit
Home Builders Institute
For more information about the work of industrial painters and about opportunities for training and certification as a protective coating specialist, visit
NACE International Institute
Society of Protective Coatings
For information about opportunities for military veterans, visit:
Helmets to Hardhats

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Painters, Construction and Maintenance
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Painters, Construction and Maintenance, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/painters-construction-and-maintenance.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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