Painter Education Requirements And Courses

Painter education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, painters don't need a college education. The most common degree for painters is high school diploma with 49% graduates, with only 18% painter graduates earning bachelor's degree. Painters who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Central State University. Some good skills to have in this position include ladders, coats and safety procedures.

Popular painter certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate , EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA), or Painting Contractor Certification. To improve painter qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in painter education paths.

What education do you need to become a painter?

What degree do you need to be a painter?

The most common degree for painters is high school diploma, with 49% of painters earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 18% and bachelor's degree degree at 14%.

High School Diploma, 49%

Bachelor's, 18%

Associate, 14%

Diploma, 12%

Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a painter?

You should major in business to become a painter. 18% of painters major in business. Other common majors for a painter include general studies and fine arts.

Business, 18%

General Studies, 12%

Fine Arts, 9%

Automotive Technology, 8%

Other Majors, 53%

Best majors for painters

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	18.2%
2	General Studies	12.0%
3	Fine Arts	9.4%
4	Automotive Technology	8.2%
5	Criminal Justice	6.4%

Show more common painter majors

20 best online courses for painters

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1. Hard Surface Modelling in Maya

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Model hard surface objects inside of Maya with proper topology and edge flow...

2. The Acrylic Painting Academy

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Get Started With Acrylic Painting...

3. Impressionism - Paint this Autumn painting in oil or acrylic

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Learn Impressionism techniques creating this Autumn landscape painting. For total beginner through advanced painters...

4. Foundations for Mastering Watercolor Painting / FIRST STEPS

4.9

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An in-depth, approachable look at painting materials that will make mastering the medium truly possible...

5. Impressionism - Paint this Italy Scene in Oil or Acrylic

4.7

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Learn Impressionism techniques by creating this Italian street painting. For total beginner through advanced painters...

6. Art Fundamentals: Foundations of Painting and Drawing Course

4.3

(1,206)

Learn the principles underlying how to draw, how to paint and how to communicate visually...

7. Acrylic Painting - Introduction to Acrylic Painting

4.6

(1,233)

An Introduction to Acrylic Painting For Beginners. Learn how to paint in Acrylics using the Moore Method of Painting...

8. Zbrush: Hard Surface Sculpting for All Levels!

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An in depth tutorial to sculpting hard surface through Booleans...

9. Acrylic Painting for Beginners

4.8

(687)

The Complete Guide to Your First Acrylic Painting...

10. Watercolor Painting For Intermediates I Techniques & Effects

4.6

(880)

By Award Winning Artist I Taking Beginner Watercolor Painters To The Next Level I Wet On Wet Watercolor Painting...

11. The Oil Painting Process

4.8

(315)

A comprehensive, simplified look at how to build an oil painting, from substructure to varnish...

12. The Digital Painting MEGA Course: Beginner to Advanced

4.5

(4,814)

Learn to paint in 7 different styles!...

13. NEW! Complete Guide to Substance Painter 2022

4.5

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Learn Texturing in Substance Painter from Beginners to Advanced Level with 3 complete projects...

14. Painting Watercolors From Photographs The Easy Way

4.5

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Turn your photographs into lively watercolor paintings. Create light and atmosphere in easy steps using a simple palette...

15. Painting Machines: Concept Art Vehicles, Robots & Weapons

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Learn Incredibly Cool Photoshop Painting Techniques to Create Professional Level Machine Art...

16. The Ultimate Acrylic Painting Course

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This course has it all! From Your First Brushstroke to Your Ultimate Masterpiece! One course - all aspects of acrylic...

17. The Mechanics of Watercolor Painting / LEARN THE BASICS

4.8

(1,102)

A comprehensive approach to the fundamentals of watercolor painting by NWS Signature Artist...

18. Watercolor Fast and Loose! Express yourself in your painting

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Learn how to paint with freedom using the methods of seven masters of impressionist watercolor painting...

19. How to Loosen Up Your Painting

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Learn to Paint in a Loose Style with Oils or Acrylics...

20. The Ultimate Digital Painting Course - Beginner to Advanced

4.5

(15,276)

Everything from drawing fundamentals to professional painting techniques...

Average painter salary by education level

Painters with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $43,620 annually. With a High School Diploma degree, painters earn a median annual income of $43,542 compared to $43,450 for painters with an Bachelor's degree.

Painter education level	Painter salary
High School Diploma or Less	$43,542
Bachelor's Degree	$43,450
No Education	$41,268
Some College/ Associate Degree	$43,620