They risk slips and falls from high, exposed places, such as ladders or scaffolds. They wear breathing masks to protect themselves from occasional fumes, odors, dusts, and toxic chemicals. Painters and paperhangers often work alone. Most painters and paperhangers work 40 hours a week. About one out of six works part time.
Many painters are members of a union.
Wages vary with level of training, experience and location. Entry level wages may be lower. Paperhangers generally earn higher wages than painters. Painters can lose time because of weather delays or being between projects. Thus, their overall earnings may be lower than these wages suggest.