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The differences between painters 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 and a lead painter. Additionally, a painter has an average salary of $42,339, which is higher than the $40,823 average annual salary of a lead painter.
The top three skills for a painter include ladders, coats and safety procedures. The most important skills for a lead painter are XRF, safety procedures, and OSHA.
| Painter | Lead Painter | |
| Yearly salary | $42,339 | $40,823 |
| Hourly rate | $20.36 | $19.63 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 4,482 | 5,163 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Painters are skilled professionals who handle the painting needs of clients. They work closely with their clients to ensure that they will be able to do what is expected of them. Painters are responsible for preparing paints needed for the project. They mix and swatch paints to determine which would be the best fit for the clients' needs. Painters are expected to be experts on different types of surfaces and paint bases that work on each type. As such, painters are responsible for preparing the surface for paint jobs. This may include the removal of previous paints or wallpapers. Once they have prepared the surface, they then start putting on coats of paint until the desired color or effect is met.
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.
Painters and lead painters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Painter | Lead Painter | |
| Average salary | $42,339 | $40,823 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $59,000 | Between $24,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | Dell | - |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a painter and a lead painter in terms of educational background:
| Painter | Lead Painter | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between painters' and lead painters' demographics:
| Painter | Lead Painter | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% | Male, 91.5% Female, 8.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 28.6% Asian, 2.1% White, 54.6% 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% |