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