Construction and extraction
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 pay
$49,400
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
24,900
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Painters, construction and maintenance
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to painters, construction and maintenance
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Painters, construction and maintenance: 16% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting.
- Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements.
- Apply paint, stain, varnish, enamel, or other finishes to equipment, buildings, bridges, or other structures, using brushes, spray guns, or rollers.
- Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.
- Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines.
- Erect scaffolding or swing gates, or set up ladders, to work above ground level.
- Wash and treat surfaces with oil, turpentine, mildew remover, or other preparations, and sand rough spots to ensure that finishes will adhere properly.
- Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare wood or metal, for finish coats.
Also called: Building Trades Painter · Commercial Painter · Facilities Painter · Highway Painter · House Painter · Industrial Painter · Maintenance Painter · Painter
Outlook and AI
Painters, construction and maintenance held 326,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 336,700 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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