Painter Decorator and Paperhanger
Painter Decorator and Paperhanger
Construction and Building Trades
Construction painters prepare and coat interior and exterior surfaces; paperhangers install wallcoverings and decorative materials.
What You Would Do
- Protect adjacent finishes and prepare surfaces by cleaning, scraping, sanding or patching
- Select and mix coatings for the substrate and conditions
- Apply paint by brush, roller or spray
- Lay out, cut and install wallcoverings
- Inspect adhesion, coverage, color and finish quality
- The exact work depends on the employer, project and specialty.
Types of Work You Could Explore
Residential and commercial painting — Prepare and coat surfaces in homes and larger buildings.
Decorative finishes — Create specialty colors, patterns, textures or faux finishes.
Wallcovering — Measure, cut and install wallpaper and other wall materials.
Spray application — Apply coatings efficiently with spray equipment.
Restoration — Match and renew finishes in older or historic buildings.
Lead-safe renovation — Use required controls when disturbing lead-based paint.
You do not have to choose a specialty before you begin. Job titles and specialty names vary among employers and training programs, and one job may include more than one type of work.
Who Might Like This Career
This career may appeal to you if you like transforming spaces, working with color and producing clean, visible results. It can suit people who are patient with preparation, attentive to detail and comfortable working in different settings.
Where You Could Work
Homes, offices, schools, hospitals, exterior facades and renovation sites, often in occupied spaces or at height.
Work Conditions and Safety
Like many hands-on careers, this work can involve hazards. The specific risks depend on the job and work setting. Training, safe work practices and protective equipment help workers do the job safely. New workers should perform unfamiliar or hazardous tasks only with proper instruction and supervision.
Pay and Job Outlook
Median annual pay: $49,400 in May 2025 for construction and maintenance painters.
These are national U.S. figures for the occupation or comparison group named above, not a promised starting salary. Pay can vary considerably by location, experience, specialty, overtime, union agreement, employer and project. People starting the career commonly earn less than experienced workers; paid training programs may increase wages as skills grow.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics career and pay information
Skills You Can Start Building
- Prepare surfaces before coating or covering
- Recognize coating, primer and wallcovering types
- Cut clean lines and maintain consistent coverage
- Match colors, patterns and existing finishes
- Protect nearby surfaces and maintain an orderly work area
- How Painter Decorator and Paperhanger Is Changing
Painter Decorator and Paperhanger remains highly hands-on, but tools, materials and construction methods continue to change.
Low-VOC coatings, airless equipment, color-matching tools, specialty finishes and stricter containment practices are changing the work.
Software and AI may also affect planning, estimating, scheduling, documentation, design coordination and the way workers receive instructions. The effect will vary by employer, project and specialty.
Much of the work still takes place in changing physical environments, where workers need to measure, fit, adjust, inspect, solve problems and make judgments based on actual conditions. Skilled workers remain responsible for safe execution and checking the finished work.
Education and Training
Requirements vary by employer, specialty and location. People may prepare through apprenticeship, paid employer training, career and technical education, community or technical college, a related degree, or entry-level work. The best route depends on whether this occupation normally uses apprenticeship and on what employers in your area require.
Career Pathways and Apprenticeship Availability
Typical pathway: Established apprenticeship route.
Painter Decorator and Paperhanger are recognized apprenticeship titles. Programs may combine paid field training with surface preparation, coating technology, spray, color, safety and wallcovering instruction.
A Registered Apprenticeship follows an approved training plan and combines paid work, supervised learning, related instruction and progressive skill development. Some employers use the word apprenticeship for paid programs that are not registered. Ask the sponsor which type it is and what credential, wage progression and job it provides.
Licenses and Certifications
Lead-safe renovation, respirator, lift, scaffold or hazardous-coating credentials may apply; contractor licensing varies. Requirements differ by state and employer. Check them before paying for training so you know whether the program prepares you for the needed license, exam or documented work experience.
Look up licenses in your state
Career Pathways to Learn Painter Decorator and Paperhanger and Gain Experience
Apprenticeship — Learn through real paid work with experienced workers who teach and guide you, supported by technical instruction and a structure for developing and measuring progress. Some apprenticeships are Registered Apprenticeships; others are not.
Entry-Level Jobs — Gain paid experience with tools, materials, safety and workplace practices through beginning work in the field.
Youth Apprenticeship — Begin developing career skills through work while continuing high-school education.
Career and Technical Education CTE — Gain hands-on knowledge through a high-school or postsecondary program related to the career.
Pre-Apprenticeship — Learn introductory skills, safety and workplace expectations while preparing for apprenticeship or employment. Verify that the program connects participants with real employers and does not charge tuition simply for possible access to an apprenticeship.
Co-op — Combine education with career-related work experience through a high school, CTE program, community college or other educational program.
Paid Work-Based Learning — Get paid to do real work for an employer while learning skills and gaining experience related to the career.
From Learning to Experienced Work
Skills develop through practice and experience. People who are new to the work usually receive more instruction and supervision. As they demonstrate skill, judgment and reliability, they take on more difficult work, greater responsibility and more independent assignments.
A common progression: Learn → Practice → Gain Experience → Build Confidence → Take on More Responsibility → Work More Independently
Experienced workers may eventually supervise work or teach and guide newer workers, trainees and apprentices.
Where This Career Can Lead
With experience, you may choose a specialty, become a lead worker or foreperson, help train newer workers, or move into estimating, inspection, safety, instruction, supervision, project management or business ownership. The realistic next step depends on the occupation, your experience, education and local licensing rules.
Questions to Ask Before You Apply
- Is this a paid job from the beginning?
- Is it a Registered Apprenticeship, an employer-run apprenticeship, another training program or a regular job with training?
- What work will I learn, and who will teach me on the job?
- How does pay increase as I gain skills?
- Who provides the classes, and can I earn college credit or an industry credential?
- What tools, transportation, physical requirements, licenses or costs should I expect?
Explore related careers
Industrial Painter and Coatings Applicator
Restoration and Historic Preservation
Drywall Installer and Finisher
Explore opportunities
Search apprenticeships and programs on Apprenticeship.com
Explore Apprenticeship.com state apprenticeship guides
Learn more from official career resources
Occupational Outlook Handbook career profile
Apprenticeship gov occupation finder