Painter

• Covers floors and furniture with drop-cloths and tarps to protect surfaces.
• Removes fixtures such as pictures, door knobs, or electric switch covers.
• Puts up scaffolding and set up ladders.
• Fills holes and cracks with caulk, putty, plaster, or other compounds.
• Prepares surfaces by scraping, wire brushing, or sanding to a smooth finish.
• Calculates the area to be painted and the amount of paint needed.
• Applies primers or sealers so the paint will adhere.
• Chooses and mixes paints and stains to reach desired color and appearance.
• Applies paint or other finishes using hand brushes, rollers, or sprayers.

• Manual dexterity: good with your hands
• Hand eye coordination
• Critical thinking and problem-solving: You will encounter unexpected problems and you will have to figure them out in a timely fashion.
• Attention to detail
• Physical strength and stamina

• Construction painters apply paints, stains, and coatings to interior and exterior walls, new buildings, and other structural surfaces.

• Maintenance painters remove old finishes and apply paints, stains, and coatings later in a structure’s life. Some painters specialize in painting or coating industrial structures, such as bridges and oil rigs, to prevent corrosion.

• Artisan painters specialize in creating distinct finishes by using one of many decorative techniques. One technique is adding glaze for added depth and texture. Other common techniques may include sponging, distressing, rag-rolling, color blocking, and faux finishes.​​​​​​

• Painting and coating workers apply materials to manufactured products, such as furniture, toys and pottery, as well as transportation equipment including trucks, buses, boats, and airplanes. For more information about these painters, see the profile on painting and coating workers.

• Painting and covering contractor company: Range from mom and pop shop (4-8 painters) to large shops (200+ painters)
• It’s common that you stay with one contractor your whole career but you can also move around.

• Indoors and Outdoors: Because painters apply finishes to a wide variety of structures—from bridges to the interiors and exteriors of buildings.
• Physical: Requires a lot of climbing, bending, kneeling, and stretching.

• Union negotiates competitive rates: For example) In SF Bay Area, $33.86 per hour as journeyman which is the position after you are an apprentice.
• Full medical benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• Pension
• Annuity
• Access to better jobs and amazing opportunities

“I’ve worked on the Golden Gate bridge, the top of the tower of the new Bay Bridge, and every aspect of the California Academy of Sciences. Those opportunities would not have been given to me if I wasn’t a union painter.” Robert Williams III, Business Rep, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 16, Northern California

• Dangerous: Those who paint bridges or building infrastructure may be exposed to extreme heights and uncomfortable positions; some painters work suspended with ropes or cables.
• Irregular work schedule: Sometimes you might work really early in the morning. Sometimes at night.
• Might have to drive long distance for job site.

• Building and fixing things! : working with your hands
• Being outside in nature.
• Sports
• "I liked working on cars."

“Some of us we have more Neanderthal DNA than others. You’ve got to be able to express that in the best way possible. We all have a sense of creativity that can be shown and it’s finding that way to show that creativity. Some people they can do that behind a computer, other people it’s great to be able to build a building. It all comes into that sense of being of whatever makes you feel alive.” Robert Williams III, Business Rep, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 16, Northern California