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The differences between painters and painter helpers 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 painter helper. Additionally, a painter has an average salary of $42,339, which is higher than the $32,449 average annual salary of a painter helper.
The top three skills for a painter include ladders, coats and safety procedures. The most important skills for a painter helper are safety rules, OSHA, and painting equipment.
| Painter | Painter Helper | |
| Yearly salary | $42,339 | $32,449 |
| Hourly rate | $20.36 | $15.60 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 4,482 | 17,183 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.5 | 4.25 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 55% |
| 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.
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.
Painters and painter helpers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Painter | Painter Helper | |
| Average salary | $42,339 | $32,449 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $59,000 | Between $21,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Southampton, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Dell | Cenergy International Services |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Energy |
There are a few differences between a painter and a painter helper in terms of educational background:
| Painter | Painter Helper | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 49% | High School Diploma, 55% |
| Most common major | Business | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between painters' and painter helpers' demographics:
| Painter | Painter Helper | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% | Male, 84.1% Female, 15.9% |
| 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, 9.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 35.4% Asian, 2.2% White, 47.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |