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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.
What Do Painters, Construction and Maintenance Take On?
The core tasks performed by painters, construction and maintenance include:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top painters, construction and maintenance combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Painters, Construction and Maintenance Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Architectural Coating Finisher
- Bitumastic Applier
- Bridge Painter
- Brush Painter
- Building Painter
- Building Trades Painter
- Calciminer
- Caulker
How Many Painters, Construction and Maintenance Are There?
The U.S. employs around 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 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Painters, Construction and Maintenance Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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
Compensation for painters, construction and maintenance vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| 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 |
Top Industries Employing Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Most painters, construction and maintenance work in these industries:
| 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
Daily working conditions for painters, construction and maintenance is shaped by 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
Education and Training
Most painters, construction and maintenance positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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)
Degree Programs
Future painters, construction and maintenance commonly pursue programs in:
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes 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).
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