How to hire a Painter Apprentice

How to hire a painter apprentice, step by step

Here's a step-by-step painter apprentice hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a painter apprentice job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new painter apprentice
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a Painter Apprentice do?

Post A Painter Apprentice Job For Free, Promote It For A Fee

Post Free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your painter apprentice job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a painter apprentice for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A painter apprentice's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, painter apprentices from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of painter apprentice salaries for various roles:

   Type Of Painter Apprentice	Description	Hourly Rate
   Painter Apprentice	Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, bridges, and other structures.	$13-22
   Mason	A mason is responsible for shaping artificial mineral products, concrete blocks, stone pieces, and bricks to create structures essential for construction or other building purposes using various machinery and equipment, following the highest safety standards and production procedures. Masons analyze schematics and blueprints, applying the clients' specifications and customization to their product expertise... Show More	$13-32
   Tile Setter	A Tile Setter often does tile installations. First of all, he/she cuts the tiles into different or specific sizes using different tools like tile scribes, handheld tile cutters, or wet saws... Show More	$12-31

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Work Ethic
   • Coats
   • Scaffolding
   • Exterior Surfaces
   • Direct Supervision
   • Caulking
   • Protective Coverings
   • Safety Rules
   • Drywall Repair
   • Surface Preparation
   • Paint Guns
   • Mask
   • HVLP
   • Buffing Tools

   Check All Skills

   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.
   • Conduct QA and QC in accordance to QP-1 & QP-2 standards and requirements.
   • Apply tape, paper and stencils as well as remove them after paint has been apply.

   More Painter Apprentice duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your painter apprentice job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A painter apprentice salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a painter apprentice in Mississippi may be lower than in California, and an entry-level painter apprentice usually earns less than a senior-level painter apprentice. Additionally, a painter apprentice with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average painter apprentice salary

   $37,030yearly

   $17.80 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level painter apprentice salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated March 21, 2025

   Average painter apprentice salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	California	$49,734	$24
   2	New Jersey	$44,995	$22
   3	Massachusetts	$43,979	$21
   4	New York	$42,755	$21
   5	Washington	$40,921	$20
   6	Pennsylvania	$39,955	$19
   7	Connecticut	$39,758	$19
   8	Illinois	$39,545	$19
   9	Colorado	$38,720	$19
   10	Montana	$37,268	$18
   11	Oregon	$36,048	$17
   12	Utah	$34,264	$16
   13	Idaho	$32,839	$16
   14	Tennessee	$32,392	$16
   15	Florida	$32,379	$16
   16	Arizona	$31,629	$15
   17	Texas	$31,245	$15

   Average painter apprentice salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Comtech Telecommunications	$44,662	$21.47
   2	Abel Construction	$39,146	$18.82
   3	Prospec Limited	$38,925	$18.71
   4	Colossal Media	$37,669	$18.11
   5	Tradesmen International	$37,034	$17.80	203
   6	CIT Trucks	$35,936	$17.28
   7	Sunset Honda	$34,060	$16.38
   8	Six Flags	$27,256	$13.10	4

4. Writing a Painter Apprentice Job Description

   A painter apprentice job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a painter apprentice job description:

   Painter Apprentice job description example

   Considering a career with Ken Garff Automotive Group means you are in for a great ride (excuse the car metaphor)! We're not your standard dealership or group of dealerships and we are pretty darn proud of that. We are out to do things differently and want to consistently change, grow, and progress. For that reason, our employees are proud of where they work!
   
   GMC of Riverdale, a Ken Garff Automotive Dealership, is currently looking for a talented Collision Repair Painter Apprentice that aligns with our core values and acts with respect, intelligence, greatness, honesty and teamwork.
   
   As a group, we aim to become the most esteemed automotive group by treating people R.I.G.H.T and creating lifetime customers!
   Here's why you want to work here:
   We pay our Technicians 17% more than independent repair shops Paid training, certifications and real career growth Great people with a great culture Paid Time Off and 401k with Company match Medical, Dental, Vision, Short and Long-term disability, AD&D and Life InsuranceYear-end bonus program for all employees (Garff Giveback) Red Wing Boot Program1:1 Tech to PC- You'll have information at your fingertips Employee discounts on Vehicle Purchase, Parts, Service and More!
   
   Here's what you'll be doing:
   Properly formulate all refinish coatings including primers/undercoats, base or color coats and clear coats as directed by paint supplier's technical data support documents for each product Provide properly matched (OEM spec) refinish color products in “ready to spray” formulas to painter, utilizing all color tools provided by paint supplier (i.e., spray out cards, vehicle production data, chip cards, etc.) Mix only the amount of refinish products (primer, base and clear) required to cover repair/refinish area and limit waste, using paint suppliers “mix-management system”Properly clean and maintain, in proper working order, all paint formulation and spray application equipment (i.e., paint guns, mixing system, computer equipment, etc.) as directed by management Update all paint supplier color, technical data and material as received Assure paint area (i.e., booth, prep station, etc.) and paint mix/storage rooms are clean and all refinish products are stored as directed Manage, order and inventory refinish supplies to meet production needs Visibly demonstrate safety commitment by following all safety and health and compliance procedures and modeling the behaviors related to such Paint Vehicles with detail and skill Perform other duties as assigned by manager or supervisor, i.e., may spray paint vehicles if necessary, etc.
   
   Here's what you'll need:
   Minimum of 5 years as an Automotive PainterMinimum 2 years of experience in automotive paint color matching requiredI-CAR certifications preferred Must be at least 18 years old with ability to work in the USHigh school diploma or equivalent Excellent manual dexterity skills as well as patience and an eye for detail Valid in-state driver's license with good driving record, per company standards Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role
   
   We are an Equal Opportunity Employer
   (( We Hear You ))

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right painter apprentice for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with painter apprentices they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit painter apprentices who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   To find painter apprentice candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as constructionjobs.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting painter apprentices requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new painter apprentice

   Once you've selected the best painter apprentice candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new painter apprentice. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign Up To Download Full List

   Sign Up

How much does it cost to hire a painter apprentice?