Painters, Construction and Maintenance: Career Overview
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.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Painters, Construction and Maintenance Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of painters, construction and maintenance span:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Top painters, construction and maintenance rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Painters, Construction and Maintenance Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Architectural Coating Finisher
- Bitumastic Applier
- Bridge Painter
- Brush Painter
- Building Painter
- Building Trades Painter
- Calciminer
- Caulker
Job Outlook
There are roughly 678,452 painters, construction and maintenance working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +4.9% over the projection horizon.
Painters, Construction and Maintenance Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $77,350 |
| Hourly median | $37.19 |
| 10th percentile | $51,844 |
| 25th percentile | $64,597 |
| 75th percentile | $90,103 |
| 90th percentile | $102,856 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Painters, Construction and Maintenance Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $67,620 |
| Alaska | $65,610 |
| Illinois | $62,390 |
| Minnesota | $60,900 |
| New Jersey | $60,290 |
| District of Columbia | $59,810 |
| Washington | $58,520 |
| California | $57,450 |
| North Dakota | $57,390 |
| Maine | $56,270 |
| New York | $56,020 |
| Massachusetts | $55,870 |
| Delaware | $55,770 |
| Ohio | $53,650 |
| Connecticut | $53,610 |
| Nevada | $52,300 |
| Rhode Island | $51,420 |
| Colorado | $50,650 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,230 |
| Missouri | $50,150 |
| Wisconsin | $50,020 |
| Indiana | $50,010 |
| New Hampshire | $49,600 |
| Vermont | $49,460 |
| Michigan | $49,360 |
| Maryland | $49,060 |
| Montana | $48,920 |
| Oregon | $48,880 |
| Iowa | $48,780 |
| Georgia | $47,690 |
| Arizona | $47,290 |
| South Dakota | $46,600 |
| Idaho | $46,490 |
| Florida | $46,060 |
| New Mexico | $45,910 |
| Utah | $45,900 |
| Wyoming | $45,820 |
| Alabama | $45,690 |
| Kentucky | $45,630 |
| Oklahoma | $45,610 |
| Nebraska | $45,020 |
| Kansas | $44,890 |
| Virgin Islands | $44,720 |
| Virginia | $44,670 |
| Texas | $44,160 |
| North Carolina | $43,890 |
| Louisiana | $43,700 |
| West Virginia | $43,450 |
| South Carolina | $42,950 |
| Mississippi | $40,750 |
| Tennessee | $40,710 |
| Arkansas | $38,420 |
| Guam | $34,950 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,530 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for painters, construction and maintenance differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $56,933 | 25.2% | 1.51 |
| Middle Atlantic | $54,666 | 13.1% | 0.89 |
| New England | $54,299 | 5.0% | 1.15 |
| Great Lakes | $54,134 | 11.0% | 0.77 |
| Plains States | $51,529 | 6.1% | 0.90 |
| Rocky Mountains | $47,952 | 4.7% | 1.23 |
| Southwest | $45,073 | 12.7% | 1.05 |
| Southeast | $44,815 | 21.9% | 1.07 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | IL | $79,960 | 190 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $72,970 | 160 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $66,610 | 1,200 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | AK | $65,830 | 60 |
| Rockford, IL | IL | $65,730 | 140 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $64,580 | 250 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $63,140 | 5,390 |
| Peoria, IL | IL | $62,600 | 130 |
Which Industries Hire Painters, Construction and Maintenance
The bulk of painters, construction and maintenance are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 181,500 | $48,350 |
| Manufacturing | 5,190 | $49,150 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 4,900 | $47,220 |
| Educational Services | 4,190 | $55,350 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 3,370 | $57,870 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 2,270 | $52,400 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1,300 | $55,660 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,080 | $57,740 |
Painters, Construction and Maintenance work in the following industries:
Software Painters, Construction and Maintenance Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for painters, construction and maintenance reflects the following characteristics:
- Spend Time Standing
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Time Pressure
How to Become Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Entry-level painters, construction and maintenance positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons (Supplemental)
- Carpenters (Supplemental)
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles (Supplemental)
- Tile and Stone Setters (Supplemental)
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (Supplemental)
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (Supplemental)
- Construction Laborers (Supplemental)
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future painters, construction and maintenance commonly pursue programs in:
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2141.00 (Painters, Construction and Maintenance).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.