Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Tennessee

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.

TN Median Salary
$40,710/yr
-16% vs. national
National Median
$48,660/yr
TN Employment
3,630
Construction Painters employed
TN Sponsors
3
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 Tennessee: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered construction painter apprenticeship in Tennessee 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.

Tennessee pay vs. national

Median construction painter wages in Tennessee are $40,710/year, -16% below the national median of $48,660. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Tennessee has 3 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 — Tennessee-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Tennessee Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$30,770
Median
$40,710
90th pct
$59,760
Middle 50% of workers earn $36,360$47,240

Current Construction Painter Apprenticeship Openings in Tennessee

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

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

Organization City County
Tim Payne Painting Chattanooga Hamilton County
MEMPHIS PAINTERS JAC Memphis Shelby County
Finishing Trades Institute Midwest Journeyman & Apprenticeship Training Fund (JATF) Nashville Davidson County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Construction Painter openings

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

Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Tennessee

The 3 Construction Painter-related registered sponsors in Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
The median annual wage for Construction Painters in Tennessee is $40,710 as of May 2024. Wages range from $30,770 at the 10th percentile to $59,760 at the 90th percentile.
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.
What's the difference between a Construction Painter apprenticeship and 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 Tennessee?
Contact one of the 3 Construction Painter-adjacent registered sponsors in Tennessee (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?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $20,355/yr in Tennessee). 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 43 Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection programs nationwide →
Too few Tennessee-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Construction Painter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Tennessee

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