Everybody needs some painting done at one time or another, so there is always work to be had for painters. Painters apply paint, varnish, and other finishes to buildings and other structures. They prepare the surfaces to be covered, so that the paint will adhere properly. This often requires the removal of the old coat of paint by stripping, sanding, wire brushing, burning, or water and abrasive blasting. Painters also wash walls to remove dirt and grease, fill nail holes and cracks, sandpaper rough spots, and brush off dust.

Painters must stand for long periods and often work on scaffolding and ladders. The job entails lots of climbing and bending. This requires physical fitness because much of the work is done with one's arms raised overhead. Painters sometimes work with hazardous or toxic materials. This often mandates a sealed self-contained suit to prevent inhalation of or contact with hazardous materials.

Painting is learned mostly through on-the-job training and by working as a helper to an experienced painter. Besides these apprenticeships, some novice painters attend technical schools that offer training. These schools take about a year to complete. Some receive training through local vocational schools. Applicants should have good manual dexterity and color sense. A colorblind painter is not a good thing.

Apprenticeships for painters usually involve two to four years of on-the-job training, and 144 hours of related classroom instruction each year. Apprentices must be at least eighteen years old and in good physical shape. A high school education or equivalent is necessary to enter an apprenticeship program. Instruction includes study in color harmony, use and care of tools and equipment, surface preparation, application techniques, paint mixing and matching, characteristics of different finishes, blueprint reading, and safety.

Painters can advance to supervisory jobs with painting and decorating contractors. A lot of them establish their own painting businesses. As is true of all the jobs described in this chapter, bilingualism is a plus. The average hourly salary for painters is $14.55. The government pays a little more, averaging $18.36. Some painters join the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades.