Painter and decorator
Painters and decorators apply paint, wallpaper and other finishes to the inside and outside of buildings.
- Starter salary£17,000 a year
- Experienced£32,000 a year
- Typical hours42 to 44 a week
What you'll do
As a painter and decorator, you could:
- work out the amount of paint or wall covering needed for a job
- lay down dust sheets and prepare materials
- strip off old wallpaper or layers of paint
- fill holes and cracks and make sure surfaces are level
- cover surfaces with primer and undercoat
- mix paint to the right shade, often using computerised colour-matching equipment
- apply coats of paint or hang wallpaper
- add special finishes like stains, varnishes or marbling
- tidy up after finishing, and clean your tools
Working environment
You could work at a client's home or at a client's business.
Your working environment may be at height.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to work well with your hands
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- customer service skills
- knowledge of public safety and security
- business management skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a painter and decorator
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
College
You could take a college course like:
- Level 2 or Level 3 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
- T Level in On Site Construction
This will teach you some of the skills you'll need and help you to find a job as a trainee with a decorating company.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:
- Finishing Trades Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
- Painter and Decorator Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Craft Painter and Decorator Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
Work
You could work as a painter and decorator's labourer or 'mate'. Your employer may give you the chance to take further training on the job to become a qualified painter and decorator.
Foundation apprenticeship
You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.
If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:
- have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- are in care or have been in care
- are in prison or have been in prison
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- be able to cope with working at height
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a team supervisor or move into related areas like estimating, contract management, interior or set design, or heritage conservation.
You could set up your own business.
You could also move into apprentice training or teaching in a further education college.
Find out more about teaching in further education from Teach in further education .
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Painting and Decorating Association for professional development and to make industry contacts.
Registration
- you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site
Guides for this industry
Related roles
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