How To Become A Painter Apprentice: What It Is and Career Path

What is a painter apprentice and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Before you can put the finishing touches on a painting career, you'll first need to learn the ropes. The best way to this is to start out as a painter apprentice. As a painter apprentice, you will get a chance to learn the trade firsthand by learning on the job. In this entry-level position, you'll learn how to perform painting, finishing on a wide variety of interior and exterior surfaces and structures.

Some of the tasks you'll learn to perform on the job include applying undercoats and finishing coats, mixing and matching paint finishes, along with carrying out power washing, preparation and paint application.

A big part of your job will involve assisting journeyman painters. To help them get the job done, you'll be expected to erect scaffolding, clean work areas and equipment, and apply protective coatings such as masking tape.

If you're looking to get a job as a painter apprentice, typically, all you'll need is a high school diploma or GED and the physical ability to do the work.

ScorePainter ApprenticeUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $37,030

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.4

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.92%

Asian 2.49%

Black or African American 8.48%

Hispanic or Latino 32.07%

Unknown 4.85%

White 51.20%

Gender

female 12.73%

male 87.27%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.5

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a painter apprentice

Explore painter apprentice education requirements

Most common painter apprentice degrees

High School Diploma

50.5 %

Associate

15.9 %

Bachelor's

14.6 %

Start to develop specific painter apprentice skills

Skills	Percentages
Work Ethic	24.00%
Coats	15.15%
Scaffolding	12.27%
Exterior Surfaces	11.33%
Direct Supervision	10.81%

Complete relevant painter apprentice training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New painter apprentices learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a painter apprentice based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real painter apprentice resumes.

Research painter apprentice duties and responsibilities

Manage painting crews in both commercial and industrial environments from swing stage to high boom work.
Used HVLP spray gun to paint truck and horse trailer.
Conduct job performance evaluations, JHA, and JSA.
Operate scissor lifts and boom lifts to mask various airplanes for paint process.

Prepare your painter apprentice resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your painter apprentice resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a painter apprentice resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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