Decorator vs paint preparer

The differences between decorators and paint preparers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a paint preparer has an average salary of $33,153, which is higher than the $32,136 average annual salary of a decorator.

The top three skills for a decorator include customer service, product knowledge and in-home. The most important skills for a paint preparer are caulking, mask, and painting process.

Decorator vs paint preparer overview

	Decorator	Paint Preparer
Yearly salary	$32,136	$33,153
Hourly rate	$15.45	$15.94
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	1,847	1,548
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	High School Diploma, 48%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

Decorator vs paint preparer salary

Decorators and paint preparers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Decorator	Paint Preparer
Average salary	$32,136	$33,153
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $43,000	Between $24,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between decorator and paint preparer education

There are a few differences between a decorator and a paint preparer in terms of educational background:

	Decorator	Paint Preparer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	High School Diploma, 48%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Automotive Technology
Most common college	-	-

Decorator vs paint preparer demographics

Here are the differences between decorators' and paint preparers' demographics:

	Decorator	Paint Preparer
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 22.6% Female, 77.4%	Male, 84.4% Female, 15.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 3.5% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 3.3% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between decorator and paint preparer duties and responsibilities

Decorator example responsibilities.

Maintain cleanliness and area sanitation in accordance with company practices and regulatory requirements.
Develop mixed bake and decorate specialty cakes and cupcakes.

Paint preparer example responsibilities.

Install, repair and fabricate fiberglass components within specifications dictate by military contracts.
Determine paint flow, viscosity, and coating quality by performing visual inspections, or by using viscometers.

Decorator vs paint preparer skills

Common decorator skills

Customer Service, 20%
Product Knowledge, 19%
In-Home, 13%
Bakery Products, 11%
Safety Regulations, 10%
Display Cases, 8%

Common paint preparer skills

Caulking, 59%
Mask, 17%
Painting Process, 14%
Coats, 9%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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