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Spray painter vs painter apprentice

The differences between spray painters and painter apprentices 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 spray painter and a painter apprentice. Additionally, a spray painter has an average salary of $40,155, which is higher than the $37,030 average annual salary of a painter apprentice.

The top three skills for a spray painter include painting equipment, spray guns and coats. The most important skills for a painter apprentice are work ethic, coats, and scaffolding.

Spray painter vs painter apprentice overview

Spray PainterPainter Apprentice
Yearly salary$40,155$37,030
Hourly rate$19.31$17.80
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs4,3259,612
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 59%High School Diploma, 51%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a spray painter do?

A spray painter applies spray paint to automobiles. They also apply primers, remove old paint, and repair minor damages. They must work quickly and accurately. They are also responsible for cleaning and maintaining their painting equipment.

What does a painter apprentice do?

Painter Apprentices work for an organization either full time or part-time while undertaking formal training on the job. Their duties include working out needed materials quantity through job specifications, drawings, or surface measurements, and erecting structures to protect the area from paint such as ladders, scaffoldings, and drop sheets. Painter Apprentices are responsible for removing old paint, preparing surfaces, selecting paints, rolling, brushing, and spraying paint, wallpapering, and putting on decorative finishes such as marbling, color glaze, and stencils.

Spray painter vs painter apprentice salary

Spray painters and painter apprentices have different pay scales, as shown below.

Spray PainterPainter Apprentice
Average salary$40,155$37,030
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $65,000Between $28,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityHicksville, NYSanta Rosa, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyCalifornia
Best paying companyHarvey Building ProductsComtech Telecommunications
Best paying industryAutomotiveConstruction

Differences between spray painter and painter apprentice education

There are a few differences between a spray painter and a painter apprentice in terms of educational background:

Spray PainterPainter Apprentice
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 59%High School Diploma, 51%
Most common majorBusinessFine Arts
Most common college--

Spray painter vs painter apprentice demographics

Here are the differences between spray painters' and painter apprentices' demographics:

Spray PainterPainter Apprentice
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 88.9% Female, 11.1%Male, 87.3% Female, 12.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 28.5% Asian, 2.1% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 32.1% Asian, 2.5% White, 51.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between spray painter and painter apprentice duties and responsibilities

Spray painter example responsibilities.

  • Replace, wood trim, windows, doors, and screen.
  • Sanitize work area wearing proper PPE
  • Paint various faux finishes, murals, etc.
  • Assemble doors, jambs and windows back into frames.
  • Prep including wall paper removal, sanding, drywall repairs, patching and caulking.
  • Mask off areas of the truck or miscellaneous parts that are not being paint.
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Painter apprentice example responsibilities.

  • Manage painting crews in both commercial and industrial environments from swing stage to high boom work.
  • Used HVLP spray gun to paint truck and horse trailer.
  • Conduct job performance evaluations, JHA, and JSA.
  • Operate scissor lifts and boom lifts to mask various airplanes for paint process.
  • Conduct QA and QC in accordance to QP-1 & QP-2 standards and requirements.
  • Apply tape, paper and stencils as well as remove them after paint has been apply.
  • Show more

Spray painter vs painter apprentice skills

Common spray painter skills
  • Painting Equipment, 11%
  • Spray Guns, 9%
  • Coats, 8%
  • Paint Guns, 8%
  • Primer, 6%
  • Surface Preparation, 5%
Common painter apprentice skills
  • Work Ethic, 24%
  • Coats, 15%
  • Scaffolding, 12%
  • Exterior Surfaces, 11%
  • Direct Supervision, 11%
  • Caulking, 3%

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