Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Maine

Wages, programs & career outlook
ME Median Salary
$56,270/yr
+16% vs. national
National Median
$48,660/yr
ME Employment
1,950
Construction Painters employed
ME Sponsors
370
Registered programs

Maine Wage Spread

Annual wages for Construction Painters in Maine across all experience levels.

10th %ile
$45,430
25th %ile
$48,420
Median
$56,270
75th %ile
$61,540
90th %ile
$73,640

Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Maine

Construction Painters in Maine earn $56,270/yr at the median — 17% above the $48,060 national average across all occupations. A solid middle-class income that typically comes without student debt.

Maine pays modestly above the national Construction Painter median — $56,270 vs. $48,660, a 16% premium. Not a top-paying state, but above average.

The employment outlook is solid if unspectacular: 3.8% growth projected through 2034 for Construction Painters. What matters more than the growth rate is the 28,100 annual openings — mostly from retirements — that keep demand steady.

Only 1,950 Construction Painters work in Maine — 0.9% of the national total. The limited scale can mean fewer formal apprenticeship programs, pushing some candidates toward nearby states with larger trade economies.

Expect a 3-year commitment for a Construction Painter apprenticeship: 6,000 hours of supervised field work alongside coursework in blueprint reading, building codes, and material estimation. Pay starts lower but scales up — most programs bump wages every six months.

The 370 registered sponsors in Maine provide functional apprenticeship coverage for most of the state's population centers. Trade unions and contractor groups account for the majority of placements.

From $45,430 at the 10th percentile to $73,640 at the 90th, Construction Painter wages in Maine are fairly compressed. Flat wage structures are common in heavily unionized trades where pay scales are negotiated collectively.

Registered Apprenticeship Sponsors in Maine

370 registered apprenticeship sponsors in Maine. Contact directly for program availability and application details.

Organization City County
County of York Alfred York County
Dobson Funeral Services Arundel York County
Davis Ulmer Auburn Androscoggin County
H.E. Callahan Construction Inc. Auburn
Panolam Industries, Inc. Auburn Androscoggin County
Riverwatch, LLC, dba Hilton Garden Inn Riverwatch Auburn
SLH Maine Manager LLC dba Clover Healthcare Auburn
Station Class Constructors Auburn
W.D. Matthews Machinery Co. Auburn Androscoggin County
Associated General Contractors of Maine, Inc. Augusta Kennebec County
Augusta CareerCenter Augusta
CPK Manufacturing DBA Kenway Composites Augusta
Central/Western Maine Workforce Investment Board Augusta
City of Augusta Augusta Kennebec County
Ganneston Construction Corp. Augusta
HospitalityMaine Augusta Kennebec County
HospitalityMaine Education Foundation Augusta
Kennebec Technologies Augusta
Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home Augusta
Maine Department of Corrections Augusta Kennebec County
Maine Department of Health and Human Services Augusta Kennebec County
Maine Department of Labor, Maine Apprenticeship Program Augusta
Maine Department of Marine Resources - Bureau of Marine Patrol Augusta Kennebec County
Maine State Apprenticeship Agency Augusta
Maine State Workforce Board Augusta
+ 5 more sponsors in Maine

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Construction Painters earn in Maine?
The BLS reports a median wage of $56,270/yr for Construction Painters in Maine (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How long is a Construction Painter apprenticeship?
Most Construction Painter apprenticeships run 3 years. Apprentices work under a journeyman while attending classes, typically earning wages from day one with scheduled increases.
What's the difference between a Construction Painter apprenticeship and trade school?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Construction Painters, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
What is the job outlook for Construction Painters?
The BLS projects 3.8% employment growth for Construction Painters through 2034 — steady demand. About 28100 positions open annually through both growth and retirements.
How do I find a Construction Painter apprenticeship in Maine?
Contact one of the 370 registered apprenticeship sponsors in Maine, or visit apprenticeship.gov to search for programs. Local union halls, community colleges, and state apprenticeship agencies are good starting points.
How much do Construction Painter apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40-60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $28,135/yr in Maine). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Construction Painter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Maine

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