CAREER OVERVIEW  

Painters 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. 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

Painters and paperhangers should have good manual dexterity, vision, and color sense. They also need physical stamina and balance to work on ladders and platforms. Primary skills include: prepare building surfaces for paint, finishes, wallpaper, or adhesives; paint walls or other structural surfaces; follow safe waste disposal procedures and other safety procedures; apply adhesives, caulking, sealants, or coatings; apply plaster, stucco or related material; repair cracks, defects, or damage in installed building materials; use power tools and spray paint equipment; read work orders; communicate with customers. 

AVERAGE SALARY

• $42,220 (annually)
• $20.30 (hourly)

SALARY RANGES 

• $35,090 – $57,680 (annually)
• $16.87 – $27.73 (hourly)

*SOURCE: Occupational Employment Statistics Program, US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Colorado, from May 2020. https://www.bls.gov/oes/

 * Low range wage rates based on the 25^th percentile wage level. High range wage rates based on the 90^th percentile wage level.

VIDEO SOURCE: Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration on careeronestop.org