Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Virginia

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.

VA Median Salary
$44,670/yr
-8% vs. national
National Median
$48,660/yr
VA Employment
5,300
Construction Painters employed
VA 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 Virginia: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered construction painter apprenticeship in Virginia 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.

Virginia pay vs. national

Median construction painter wages in Virginia are $44,670/year, -8% below the national median of $48,660. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Virginia 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 — Virginia-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Virginia Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$35,160
Median
$44,670
90th pct
$58,760
Middle 50% of workers earn $38,040$49,220

Current Construction Painter Apprenticeship Openings in Virginia

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

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

Organization City County
My Painter LLC Fairfax
AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS Front Royal Warren County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Construction Painter openings

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

Construction Painter Apprenticeship in Virginia

The 2 Construction Painter-related registered sponsors in Virginia 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

What is the average Construction Painter salary in Virginia?
Construction Painters in Virginia earn a median salary of $44,670/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is below the national median of $48,660 for the trade.
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.
Should I do a Construction Painter apprenticeship or go to 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.
Where can I apply for a Construction Painter apprenticeship in Virginia?
Our directory surfaces 2 Construction Painter-related registered sponsors in Virginia. 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.
Do Construction Painter apprentices get paid during training?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Virginia, a first-year Construction Painter apprentice might earn around $22,335/yr (roughly half the $44,670 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 Virginia →
Or see all 43 programs nationwide.

Construction Painter in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Virginia

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