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The differences between painter helpers and lead 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 lead painter. Additionally, a lead painter has an average salary of $40,823, 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 lead painter are XRF, safety procedures, and OSHA.
| Painter Helper | Lead Painter | |
| Yearly salary | $32,449 | $40,823 |
| Hourly rate | $15.60 | $19.63 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 17,183 | 5,163 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.25 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
Lead Painters are responsible for supervising team operations and maintaining required standards in a painting project. Their duties include painting permanent structures, backdrops, cutouts, set pieces, faux treatment applications, spray painting, varnishing, and plastering. They also conduct work inspection of painters, implement equipment usage and work schedule, plan equipment maintenance procedures, undertake correction action to maintain work standards, and maintain material and payroll records. Other duties include submitting progress reports, assist in installation duties, and ensure work complies with safety protocols at all times.
Painter helpers and lead painters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Painter Helper | Lead Painter | |
| Average salary | $32,449 | $40,823 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $48,000 | Between $24,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Southampton, NY | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | Cenergy International Services | - |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a painter helper and a lead painter in terms of educational background:
| Painter Helper | Lead Painter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between painter helpers' and lead painters' demographics:
| Painter Helper | Lead Painter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.1% Female, 15.9% | Male, 91.5% Female, 8.5% |
| 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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 28.4% Asian, 2.1% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |