Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Pennsylvania

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.

PA Median Salary
$50,230/yr
+3% vs. national
National Median
$48,660/yr
PA Employment
6,110
Construction Painters employed
PA Sponsors
6
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 Pennsylvania: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered construction painter apprenticeship in Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania pay vs. national

Median construction painter wages in Pennsylvania are $50,230/year, +3% above the national median of $48,660. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Pennsylvania has 6 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 — Pennsylvania-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Pennsylvania Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$36,580
Median
$50,230
90th pct
$72,790
Middle 50% of workers earn $43,890$60,420

Current Construction Painter Apprenticeship Openings in Pennsylvania

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

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

Organization City County
FINISHING TRADES INSTITUTE OF WESTERN PA (DC 57) J Carnegie Allegheny County
PAINTER JATC OF NE. PA Drums Luzerne County
Capital Coating Kinzers Lancaster County
THE FINISHING TRADES INSTITUTE - MID ATLANTIC REGION Philadelphia Philadelphia County
D & M PAINTING CORPORATION Washington Washington County
D&M Painting Corp. Washington Washington County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Construction Painter openings

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

Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Pennsylvania

The 6 Construction Painter-related registered sponsors in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage for Construction Painters in Pennsylvania is $50,230 as of May 2024. Wages range from $36,580 at the 10th percentile to $72,790 at the 90th percentile.
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.
Should I do a Construction Painter apprenticeship or go to trade school?
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.
Where can I apply for a Construction Painter apprenticeship in Pennsylvania?
Our directory surfaces 6 Construction Painter-related registered sponsors in Pennsylvania. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
How much do Construction Painter apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Pennsylvania, a first-year Construction Painter apprentice might earn around $25,115/yr (roughly half the $50,230 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 Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection programs in Pennsylvania →
Or see all 43 programs nationwide.

Construction Painter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Pennsylvania

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