Construction Painter Apprenticeship in District of Columbia

Wages, programs & career outlook

Construction painters prep and coat surfaces on new builds and remodels — drywall, trim, siding, steel, and everything in between. The job combines surface prep, color mixing, and application technique (brush, roller, sprayer) for a durable, uniform finish.

DC Median Salary
$59,810/yr
+23% vs. national
National Median
$48,660/yr
DC Employment
420
Construction Painters employed
DC Sponsors
0
Registered programs
Training Term
3.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
3.8%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
28,100
Nationally, per yr

Construction Painter Apprenticeship in District of Columbia: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered construction painter apprenticeship in District of Columbia combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 3.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

District of Columbia pay vs. national

Median construction painter wages in District of Columbia are $59,810/year, +23% above the national median of $48,660. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

District of Columbia has 0 registered apprenticeship sponsors for construction painter listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.8% job growth for construction painters nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 28,100 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — District of Columbia-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

District of Columbia Wage Spread

Annual wages for Construction Painters in District of Columbia across all experience levels.

10th pct
$42,740
Median
$59,810
90th pct
$81,950
Middle 50% of workers earn $47,980$70,520

Current Construction Painter Apprenticeship Openings in District of Columbia

No construction painter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for District of Columbia. That doesn't mean programs don't exist — smaller regional contractors often aren't included in the national directory. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Construction Painter Apprenticeship Sponsors in District of Columbia

Our directory doesn't surface Construction Painter-specific registered sponsors in District of Columbia. This usually reflects a smaller regional market where sponsors use generic company names rather than trade-specific branding — it doesn't mean programs don't exist. Direct search on apprenticeship.gov is the most reliable way to find current openings.

Search apprenticeship.gov for current Construction Painter openings

Filter by occupation code 47-2141 and state DC for the most relevant results.

Construction Painter Apprenticeship in District of Columbia

Construction Painter apprenticeship opportunities in District of Columbia are best found through direct outreach: contact the relevant national union's closest local chapter, search apprenticeship.gov for current programs, or reach out to your state apprenticeship agency. Our directory reflects what sponsors self-identify by name, which can understate coverage in smaller markets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Construction Painter salary in District of Columbia?
The BLS reports a median wage of $59,810/yr for Construction Painters in District of Columbia (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
What is the length of a Construction Painter apprenticeship program?
The standard Construction Painter apprenticeship is 3 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
Should I do a Construction Painter apprenticeship or go to trade school?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Construction Painters combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
Where can I apply for a Construction Painter apprenticeship in District of Columbia?
We don't have Construction Painter-identified sponsors listed in District of Columbia, but that doesn't mean programs don't exist — small regional contractors often aren't identifiable by name. Start with apprenticeship.gov's job finder (filter by occupation and ZIP), then contact nearby-state IUEC/IBEW/UA/SMART locals if nothing shows up locally.
Do Construction Painter apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In District of Columbia, a first-year Construction Painter apprentice might earn around $29,905/yr (roughly half the $59,810 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 3-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Construction Painters also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 43 Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection programs nationwide →
Too few District of Columbia-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Construction Painter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in District of Columbia

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.