How to Become a Painter?
Are you thinking of becoming a Painter or already started your career and planning the next step? Learn how to become a Painter, what skills you need to succeed, how to advance your career and get promoted, and what levels of pay to expect at each step on your career path. Explore new Painter job openings and options for career transitions into related roles.
Steps to Become a Painter
If you're considering starting your Painter career path, it's important to note the skills, qualifications, and time it takes to become a professional Painter and how to advance your career path. Below are the steps generally required to begin and advance your Painter career.Contents
1
Earn a Degree
To begin your Painter career path, a Bachelor's Degree in Other or a related field is usually necessary in order to remain a competitive option for employers. Focus on industry-specific skill development during your education in order to be properly equipped when applying for entry-level positions and entering the job force. A Painter internship may be required to earn your Bachelor's Degree and acquire necessary on-the-job skills before entering the workforce.What type of degree should you pursue to become a Painter?
100% of people working as a Painter earned a Bachelor's Degree
What skills do you need to be a Painter?
- Putty
- Sanding
- Estimates
- Strong WORK Ethic
- Spray Painting
- English Language
- Buffing
- Dexterity
2
Choose a Specialty in Your Field
As an Painter, you may be required to choose a specialty within your field. Determine which part of the Painter field you feel strongest in, and continue taking active steps toward growing in your chosen Painter specialty.3
Get an Entry-Level Position as a Painter
Once you've acquired a Bachelor's Degree in Other or a related field, you'll typically begin your career as an entry-level Painter. In general, you can become a Painter after completing your 4 year Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline. Depending on the type of Painter role you’re pursuing, you may want to explore certification in certified plus staffing.4
Advance in Your Painter Career
Following entry-level, there are several Painter career path levels to advance into. It can take 2 years as an entry-level Painter to progress to the journeyman painter position. Each advanced Painter position requires approximately 2 years of experience at each level to advance in your Painter career path. It may be necessary to receive additional education, an advanced degree such as a Master's Degree in a related field, or special certifications in order to advance your Painter career path.5
Continued Education for Your Painter Career Path
Not all industries and companies require continued education to advance your Painter career path. However, earning this degree may help you advance to higher-earning positions more quickly. Earning a Bachelor's Degree in Other can take 4 years to complete. People that have earned their Bachelor's Degree typically make $56,620 compared to $28,154 for those without that type of degree.Painter Career Path
Painter
2 - 4Years of Experience
$35K - $48K /yrMost Likely Range
Painter Supervisor
No Years of Experience Reports
$42K - $61K /yrMost Likely Range
18% advanced to
Lead Painter
5 - 7Years of Experience
$42K - $61K /yrMost Likely Range
Total Pay Trajectory
Painter Career Path
Painter Apprentice
Painter
Assistant Supervisor of Painting
Painter Supervisor
Lead Painter
Painter V
$20K
$30K
$40K
$50K
$70K
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Related Careers in the Skilled Labor & Manufacturing Industry
Interested in other Skilled Labor & Manufacturing careers? Below are occupations that have high affinity with Painter skills. Discover some of the most common Painter career transitions, along with skills overlap.