Painters (Construction and Maintenance)
O*NET title: 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.
Also called: Architectural Coating Finisher, Bitumastic Applier, Bridge Painter, Brush Painter, Building Painter, Building Trades Painter
Median pay
$49,400
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$37,440 – $78,810
People employed
225,190
Holland code
RCA
Realistic · Conventional · Artistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 2.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 3.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 4.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
Painters (Construction and Maintenance) pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Painters (Construction and Maintenance) salary in every state →
What painters (construction and maintenance) do
- 01Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting.
- 02Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements.
- 03Apply paint, stain, varnish, enamel, or other finishes to equipment, buildings, bridges, or other structures, using brushes, spray guns, or rollers.
- 04Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.
- 05Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines.
- 06Erect scaffolding or swing gates, or set up ladders, to work above ground level.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Building and Construction
- Administration and Management
- Public Safety and Security
- Chemistry
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from painters (construction and maintenance)
- Furniture Finishers84% · −10%
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers81% · −16%
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters75% · −4%
- Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons74% · −18%
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers73% · 0%
Change into painters (construction and maintenance)
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers84% · $41,600
- Furniture Finishers78% · $44,540
- Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons75% · $40,470
- Pest Control Workers67% · $45,250
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers66% · $41,640
Majors that lead here
- Painting/Painter and Wall Coverer
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.