Painter job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

15

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 1-2 of 5

very little to some preparation

Typical entry education

No formal educational credential

BLS 2025–35

Median pay

$49,400

BLS May 2025

Data Government data groups this job as Painters, Construction and Maintenance (O*NET-SOC 47-2141.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting. importance 4.6 of 5
2. Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements. importance 4.5 of 5
3. Apply paint, stain, varnish, enamel, or other finishes to equipment, buildings, bridges, or other structures, using brushes, spray guns, or rollers. importance 4.5 of 5
4. Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives. importance 4.5 of 5
5. Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines. importance 4.2 of 5
6. Erect scaffolding or swing gates, or set up ladders, to work above ground level. importance 4.1 of 5
7. Wash and treat surfaces with oil, turpentine, mildew remover, or other preparations, and sand rough spots to ensure that finishes will adhere properly. importance 4.0 of 5
8. Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare wood or metal, for finish coats. importance 3.9 of 5
9. Calculate amounts of required materials and estimate costs, based on surface measurements or work orders. importance 3.6 of 5
10. Remove old finishes by stripping, sanding, wire brushing, burning, or using water or abrasive blasting. importance 3.5 of 5
11. Remove fixtures such as pictures, door knobs, lamps, or electric switch covers prior to painting. importance 3.5 of 5
12. Use special finishing techniques such as sponging, ragging, layering, or faux finishing. importance 3.3 of 5
13. Waterproof buildings, using waterproofers or caulking. importance 3.2 of 5
14. Select and purchase tools or finishes for surfaces to be covered, considering durability, ease of handling, methods of application, and customers' wishes. importance 3.1 of 5
15. Mix and match colors of paint, stain, or varnish with oil or thinning and drying additives to obtain desired colors and consistencies. importance 3.1 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Performing General Physical Activities, Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials and Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Polish final coats to specified finishes.
• Cut stencils and brush or spray lettering or decorations on surfaces.

Knowledge areas: Customer and Personal Service and Building and Construction.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, Corel Paint Shop Pro, Corel Painter. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry-level education.
• Experience: BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation as typical to enter.
• Training on the job: BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 1-2 of 5 (very little to some preparation). Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board.

Job title: Painter
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring a Painter to paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will 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.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists no formal educational credential as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists no related work experience as typical to enter; set what this role needs]
- Strength in time management, active listening and critical thinking
- Working knowledge of Customer and Personal Service and Building and Construction
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office software]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

The median annual wage was $49,400 in May 2025. The median hourly wage was $23.75. BLS estimates about 225,190 jobs in this occupation in the U.S.

BLS projects employment of Painters, Construction and Maintenance to grow 3.0% from 2025 to 2035, with about 24,900 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

See the full painter salary breakdown by percentile, state and metro.

• Read a real painter posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect…”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only painter work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (time management and active listening); painter interview questions turns them into practice questions.