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. Excludes “Paperhangers” (47-2142).
National median · BLS
$49,400
▲ +1.52%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$55,420
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
225,190
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$37,440
25th
$44,640
Median (50th)
$49,400
75th
$61,660
90th — top pay
$78,810
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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⇄
Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Painters, Construction and Maintenance
BLS projects employment of painters, construction and maintenance to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 24,900 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
326,900 → 336,700
+9,800 jobs
Projected change
+3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
24,900
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
31.3% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Painters, Construction and Maintenance salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Painters, Construction and Maintenance salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Painters, Construction and Maintenance
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening3.0
Critical Thinking3.0
Time Management3.0
Coordination2.9
Monitoring2.9
Social Perceptiveness2.9
Judgment and Decision Making2.8
Reading Comprehension2.8
Service Orientation2.4
Speaking2.4
Top knowledge areas
Customer and Personal Service3.2
Building and Construction3.0
Administration and Management2.9
Public Safety and Security2.8
Chemistry2.7
Transportation2.6
Education and Training2.6
Production and Processing2.6
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordAct!Corel Paint Shop ProCorel PainterEvergreen Technology Eagle Bid EstimatingEvergreen Technology Total FauxInsight Direct ServiceCEOOn Center Quick BidTurtle Creek Software Goldenseal
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What painters, construction and maintenance do
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.
Also called
Building Trades PainterIndustrial PainterMaintenance PainterPainterCommercial PainterFacilities PainterHighway PainterHouse PainterProfessional PainterTexturer
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Painters, Construction and Maintenance, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $49,400.
