Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Minnesota

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.

MN Median Salary
$60,900/yr
+25% vs. national
National Median
$48,660/yr
MN Employment
3,480
Construction Painters employed
MN Sponsors
2
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 Minnesota: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered construction painter apprenticeship in Minnesota 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.

Minnesota pay vs. national

Median construction painter wages in Minnesota are $60,900/year, +25% above the national median of $48,660. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Minnesota has 2 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 — Minnesota-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Minnesota Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$36,510
Median
$60,900
90th pct
$91,550
Middle 50% of workers earn $46,030$76,960

Current Construction Painter Apprenticeship Openings in Minnesota

No construction painter apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Minnesota. 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 Minnesota

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

Organization City County
FINISHING TRADES OF THE UPPER MIDWEST Little Canada Ramsey County
North Dakota Painters & Allied Trades JATC Little Canada Ramsey County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Construction Painter openings

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

Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Minnesota

With 2 trade-specific sponsors in our directory, Minnesota's Construction Painter apprenticeship landscape is limited. Candidates should also consider nearby states or contact national union offices for referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Construction Painter salary in Minnesota?
The BLS reports a median wage of $60,900/yr for Construction Painters in Minnesota (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How long is a Construction Painter apprenticeship?
A typical Construction Painter apprenticeship lasts approximately 3 years (6,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Construction Painters?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 3 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
How do I find a Construction Painter apprenticeship in Minnesota?
Contact one of the 2 Construction Painter-adjacent registered sponsors in Minnesota (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
How much do Construction Painter apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $30,450/yr in Minnesota). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the 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 Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection programs in Minnesota →
Or see all 43 programs nationwide.

Construction Painter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Minnesota

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