Careers / Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Painters, Construction and Maintenance — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$49,400
United States, 2025
Employment
225,190
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 47-2141.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$37,440
25th percentile
$44,640
75th percentile
$61,660
90th percentile
$78,810
Most important skills
- Time Management3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Coordination2.9
- Monitoring2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Speaking2.4
- Service Orientation2.4
- Management of Personnel Resources2.0
- Writing2.0
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 3 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
3
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 2.8 | Not selected | 2.8 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Painters, Construction and MaintenanceHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign, IL | $84,370 | 160 | 2025 |
| Kahului, HI | $73,650 | 180 | 2025 |
| Rockford, IL | $72,700 | 130 | 2025 |
| HI | $68,220 | 1,900 | 2025 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $66,160 | 1,390 | 2025 |
| Bremerton, WA | $65,080 | 810 | 2025 |
| Peoria, IL | $64,450 | 110 | 2025 |
| Bay City, MI | $64,200 | 60 | 2025 |
| Springfield, IL | $63,930 | 110 | 2025 |
| Hanford, CA | $63,800 | 40 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $63,600 | 5,310 | 2025 |
| Saginaw, MI | $63,360 | 130 | 2025 |
| Portland, ME | $63,120 | 1,550 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $62,790 | 730 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $62,400 | 230 | 2025 |
| Vallejo, CA | $62,370 | 410 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $61,970 | 2,410 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $61,740 | 5,480 | 2025 |
| Albany, GA | $61,530 | 70 | 2025 |
| Anniston, AL | $61,480 | 70 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Painters, Construction and Maintenance to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.