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Painter

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AVG. SALARY

$43,540

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EDUCATION

No standard requirement

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What To Learn

High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Architecture and Construction cluster Construction pathway.

Beyond High School

Here's a list of programs that you should consider if you're interested in this career:

Education Level

Education training and experience are required at different levels for success in different occupations.

No standard requirement

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

Insider Info

Additional Information

Painters can enter the trade either through informal on-the-job training or through apprenticeship programs. Depending on where you live, these programs could include many hours of related classroom instruction.

Classroom instruction covers color harmony, use and care of tools and equipment, surface preparation, application techniques, paint mixing and matching, characteristics of different finishes, blueprint reading, wood finishing and safety.

To become an apprentice, you have to be hired by a company that's willing to train you. After you've been hired, the next step is to contact your local apprenticeship board. Contact your state apprenticeship agency for information about job training.

While trade certification isn't necessary to work as a painter, experts agree it's the best way to ensure a good job at decent pay. You can become certified by taking an apprenticeship program, during which you'll be paid a portion of a certified tradesperson's wage.

Talk to someone who works as a painter. It may even lead to a summer job, which would be a great way to see if you'd like the work.

Also try a job shadowing program where you can work alongside a painter for a day. Experts suggest the more contacts you make in this field, the better your chances for landing a good apprenticeship and employment.

Extra Requirements

Those interested in industrial painting can earn several certifications from the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP).

For additional information, visit these websites:

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support