Painters prepare, coat, and finish walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces using brushes, rollers, and spray guns. They fill cracks and holes, sand and smooth surfaces, apply primers and sealers, and mix paints and stains to the exact color and finish a job calls for. Work ranges from new construction to maintenance and restoration, on interiors and exteriors alike, often from ladders, scaffolding, or lifts. It's a trade built on surface prep, color, and precision — the difference between a coat that lasts and one that doesn't.

• ✓ Apply paint, stain, varnish, enamel, or other finishes to equipment, buildings, bridges, or other structures, using brushes, spray guns, or rollers.
• ✓ Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.
• ✓ Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting.
• ✓ Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines.
• ✓ Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare wood or metal, for finish coats.
• ✓ Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors to determine work requirements.
• ✓ Erect scaffolding or swing gates, or set up ladders, to work above ground level.

Prevailing wage is set per county and local, so actual pay varies by employer and location. Source: ACT Ohio county prevailing-wage schedules.

Typical Entry Requirement — A high school diploma or GED is the standard minimum; no four-year degree is required.

Apprenticeship Path — Most painters enter the trade through a registered apprenticeship sponsored by IUPAT joint apprenticeship committees and the Finishing Trades Institute, combining paid on-the-job training with in-class instruction.

Core Coursework — Surface preparation, color and coatings theory, blueprint reading, and safety are emphasized throughout the apprenticeship.

Certifications — Many painters pursue OSHA safety credentials and specialty certifications — lead abatement, industrial coatings, scaffold and aerial lift — to qualify for higher-hazard or specialized work.