Painters, Construction and Maintenance

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Annual Earnings Percentiles

Skill Scores

  • creative icon 35

    Creative

  • purpose icon 16

    Purpose

  • supported icon 16

    Supported

  • analytical icon 7

    Analytical

  • social icon 5

    Social

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College Majors

  • Painters and paperhangers

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    What Construction and Maintenance Painters Do

    Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, bridges, and other structures.

    Work Environment

    Painting requires a lot of climbing, bending, kneeling, and reaching. Most industrial painters work outside, almost always in dry, warm weather. Those who paint bridges or buildings may be exposed to extreme heights and uncomfortable positions.

    How to Become a Construction and Maintenance Painter

    Most painters learn their trade on the job. No formal education is typically required to enter the occupation.

    Job Outlook

    Employment of painters is projected to grow 7 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Overall job prospects should be good, and opportunities for industrial painters and coaters are expected to be excellent, especially in the Gulf Coast region.

    Job Trends for Painters, Construction and Maintenance

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    This occupation supported 316,200 jobs in 2012 and 360,500 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 14.0%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 19.8% in 2022 to 378,800 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 328,700, compared with an observed value of 360,500, 9.7% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 8.4% in 2024 to 387,100 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 391,300 jobs for 2024, 1.1% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are about on track with the 2012 trend within this occupation.