Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Michigan

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.

MI Median Salary
$49,360/yr
+1% vs. national
National Median
$48,660/yr
MI Employment
4,930
Construction Painters employed
MI Sponsors
8
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 Michigan: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered construction painter apprenticeship in Michigan 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.

Michigan pay vs. national

Median construction painter wages in Michigan are $49,360/year, +1% above the national median of $48,660. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Michigan has 8 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 — Michigan-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Michigan Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$36,630
Median
$49,360
90th pct
$70,540
Middle 50% of workers earn $44,360$61,930

Current Construction Painter Apprenticeship Openings in Michigan

No construction painter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Michigan. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. 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 Michigan

8 construction painter-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Michigan. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current construction painter apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Casa Pintura - Precision Painting Byron Center
Painting Academy Byron Center Kent County
The Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Peninsula Gladstone Delta County
Sherwin Williams Holland Allegan County
Elite Coatings, LLC Morrice Shiawassee County
AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS Mount Clemens Macomb County
Dan Brady Painting Services LLC Traverse City Grand Traverse County
The Finishing Trades Institute of the Great Lakes Warren Macomb County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Construction Painter openings

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

Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Michigan

The 8 Construction Painter-related registered sponsors in Michigan mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Construction Painters make in Michigan?
Construction Painters in Michigan earn a median salary of $49,360/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $48,660 for the trade.
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 Michigan?
Contact one of the 8 Construction Painter-adjacent registered sponsors in Michigan (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
Do Construction Painter apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Michigan, a first-year Construction Painter apprentice might earn around $24,680/yr (roughly half the $49,360 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 Michigan-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Construction Painter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Michigan

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