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The differences between drywall finishers and journeyman painters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a drywall finisher, becoming a journeyman painter takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a journeyman painter has an average salary of $40,885, which is higher than the $39,376 average annual salary of a drywall finisher.
The top three skills for a drywall finisher include hand tools, ladders and scaffolding. The most important skills for a journeyman painter are coats, work ethic, and exterior surfaces.
| Drywall Finisher | Journeyman Painter | |
| Yearly salary | $39,376 | $40,885 |
| Hourly rate | $18.93 | $19.66 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 14,312 | 8,020 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
As a part of the construction team, the drywall finisher is the last to touch the product and place pieces, paint, and decorations for the final look. Also, they are to put premade walls on surfaces. Drywall finishers cut out the excess, position it properly, and fasten it to the interior for a glossy finish. As it is, drywall finishers must have a great sense of focus to grasp the instructions given to avoid mistakes. They must communicate well with others on the team to finish the project entirely and perfectly.
A Journeyman Painter specializes in painting walls and other surfaces according to project needs. Aside from applying paint, a journeyman painter is also responsible for cleaning and scraping off the dirt to prepare the painting procedures, identify client preferences, select equipment, and technique, and apply other finishes. They must also monitor their supplies and maintain the cleanliness of their work areas. Moreover, a Journeyman Painter typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Drywall finishers and journeyman painters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Drywall Finisher | Journeyman Painter | |
| Average salary | $39,376 | $40,885 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $62,000 | Between $26,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Swinerton | University of Southern California |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a drywall finisher and a journeyman painter in terms of educational background:
| Drywall Finisher | Journeyman Painter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Fine Arts |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between drywall finishers' and journeyman painters' demographics:
| Drywall Finisher | Journeyman Painter | |
| Average age | 41 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.9% Female, 9.1% | Male, 94.0% Female, 6.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 30.0% Asian, 1.1% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 32.4% Asian, 2.5% White, 51.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 5% |