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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $48,660 in the US and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a No formal educational credential, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.45 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Coordination, Monitoring.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £32,763 a year for Painters and decorators (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £28,462 to £39,007 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 5323). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Craft and related trades workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Painters, construction and maintenance, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 7. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Qualification ITI trade 'Painter (General)' (2 years, after Class 8) under the Craftsmen Training Scheme[1][2]
- 2 · Certification Pass the all-India trade test to get the National Trade Certificate (NTC) from DGT[1]
- 3 · First role Painter (general)[1]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- DGT — Painter (General) trade syllabus (Craftsmen Training Scheme) (read on 2026-09-27)
- DGT — List of CTS courses (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Building and Construction
- Administration and Management
- Public Safety and Security
- Chemistry
- Transportation
- Education and Training
- Production and Processing
What you'd actually 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Painters, construction and maintenance do?
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.
How much does Painters, construction and maintenance earn?
The median annual salary for Painters, construction and maintenance in the US is $48,660.
What is the job outlook for Painters, construction and maintenance?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 342,200 workers.
How do I become painters, construction and maintenance?
The typical entry education is a No formal educational credential. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Painters, construction and maintenance need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Coordination, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Painters, construction and maintenance?
Our AI-durability model gives Painters, construction and maintenance a score of 0.45 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Painters, construction and maintenance has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.