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.
What it pays
Painters, Construction and Maintenance earn a median of $23.75/hr — about $49,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $18.00/hr; the top 10% earn $37.89/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Painters, Construction and Maintenance earn a median of $23.75/hr — about $49,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $18.00/hr; the top 10% earn $37.89/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.
- 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.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Less than high school. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 33.8% of painters, construction and maintenance are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers
- Electricians
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Construction and Building Inspectors
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Quick questions
- How much does a painters, construction and maintenance make?
- The median pay is $23.75 per hour — roughly $49,500 a year, with the real range running from about $18.00/hr (10th percentile) to $37.89/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a painters, construction and maintenance?
- The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
- What does a painters, construction and maintenance actually do all day?
- Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives. 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.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.