Painter helper vs journeyman painter

The differences between painter helpers and journeyman painters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes More than 10 years to become both a painter helper and a journeyman painter. Additionally, a journeyman painter has an average salary of $40,885, which is higher than the $32,449 average annual salary of a painter helper.

The top three skills for a painter helper include safety rules, OSHA and painting equipment. The most important skills for a journeyman painter are coats, work ethic, and exterior surfaces.

Painter helper vs journeyman painter overview

	Painter Helper	Journeyman Painter
Yearly salary	$32,449	$40,885
Hourly rate	$15.60	$19.66
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	17,183	8,020
Job satisfaction	4.25	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 49%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	-	-

What does a painter helper do?

A painter helper is a specialist who assists the principal painter with the preparation of a room, building, car, or other objects. You will be responsible for the preliminary work before the actual painting, such as preparing the work area, scraping off old paint, buffing and sanding surfaces, and applying filler and taping. Paint helpers are essential for the efficient and timely completion of a painting project. They are primarily in the automotive, home, or construction industries, where most painting work is done.

What does a journeyman painter do?

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.

Painter helper vs journeyman painter salary

Painter helpers and journeyman painters have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Painter Helper	Journeyman Painter
Average salary	$32,449	$40,885
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $48,000	Between $26,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	Southampton, NY	Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New Jersey
Best paying company	Cenergy International Services	University of Southern California
Best paying industry	Energy	Automotive

Differences between painter helper and journeyman painter education

There are a few differences between a painter helper and a journeyman painter in terms of educational background:

	Painter Helper	Journeyman Painter
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 55%	High School Diploma, 49%
Most common major	Automotive Technology	Fine Arts
Most common college	-	-

Painter helper vs journeyman painter demographics

Here are the differences between painter helpers' and journeyman painters' demographics:

	Painter Helper	Journeyman Painter
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 84.1% Female, 15.9%	Male, 94.0% Female, 6.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 35.4% Asian, 2.2% White, 47.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	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	5%	5%

Differences between painter helper and journeyman painter duties and responsibilities

Painter helper example responsibilities.

Manage painting crews in both commercial and industrial environments from swing stage to high boom work.
Apply exterior caulking to building joints and seams, tape around windows and fixtures prior to painting walls.
Sand vehicle surfaces between coats of paint and primer in order to remove flaws and enhance adhesion for subsequent coats.
Apply paint and stencils to product per spec using high volume/low pressure sprayer.
Learned how to operate and maintain HVLP and pressure pot spray equipment during summer vacations.
Help painters, sandblasters set up maintain sand pods full keep a safe working area.

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Journeyman painter example responsibilities.

Manage painting crews in both commercial and industrial environments from swing stage to high boom work.
Apply materials with HVLP, airless, electro-static and conventional spray equipment.
Smooth and sand surfaces to remove ridges, tool marks, glue, and caulking.
Apply necessary masking and prep work prior to applying primer and finish coats to insure proper coating for any application.
Climb ladders and complete work utilizing rollers with extensions requiring repetitive motion.
Use special finishing techniques such as sponging, ragging, layering, or faux finishing.

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Painter helper vs journeyman painter skills

Common painter helper skills

Safety Rules, 13%
OSHA, 10%
Painting Equipment, 9%
Hazardous Waste, 7%
Hazardous Materials, 6%
Surface Preparation, 5%

Common journeyman painter skills

Coats, 14%
Work Ethic, 11%
Exterior Surfaces, 10%
Scaffolding, 10%
Ladders, 9%
Safety Procedures, 6%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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