Painter and decorator Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

As a painter and decorator, you would work on a variety of domestic and industrial projects ranging from re-decorating homes to applying heavy-duty finishes to large structures like bridges.

On a domestic job, you would use paint, varnishes and wallpaper to decorate rooms. You would follow the householder's instructions about choice of colour, finishing texture and wallpaper patterns. Your main tasks would include:

• measuring surface areas to work out how much paint or wall covering you need
• stripping off old wallpaper or paint
• filling holes and cracks and making sure surfaces are level
• preparing surfaces with primer and undercoat
• mixing paint to the right shade, either by hand or using computerised colour-matching equipment
• applying layers of paint and hanging wallpaper
• tidying up after finishing a job.

On some jobs you might apply specialist finishes such as rag rolling, graining and marbling. You would often work from ladders or raised platforms to reach ceilings.

For industrial projects, such as bridges or ships, you would remove old paintwork with abrasive blasting methods before applying new coatings using industrial paint spraying equipment. You would use a cradle or safety harness when working.

Paints and solvents give off fumes, so you may have to wear a protective mask or use fume extraction equipment on some jobs, if in enclosed spaces.

Hours

You would work around 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Extra hours may be necessary to meet deadlines.

You would be expected to travel from site to site and some jobs may require overnight stays away from home.

Income

Starting salaries can be between £13,500 and £16,500 a year.

Average salaries for qualified painters and decorators are between £17,000 and £21,500 a year. Decorators with supervisor duties or specialist skills can earn over £23,000 a year.

Overtime and shift allowances can increase income. Self-employed painters and decorators set their own pay rates.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

Employers often prefer people with some relevant experience, so you could start by looking for work as a painter and decorator's labourer or 'mate'. Once you are working, your employer may give you the opportunity for further training in painting and decorating. See the Training and Development section below for more details.

Another option is to take a college course, which would give you some of the skills needed for the job. Relevant courses include:

• City & Guilds Level 1 Certificate in Basic Construction Skills (Painting and Decorating)
• CSkills Level 1 Diploma in Painting and Decorating
• CSkills Intermediate and Advanced Construction Award (Decorative Occupations – Painting and Decorating).

For more details about courses and entry requirements, contact your local colleges.

A common way into this career is through an Apprenticeship scheme. You will need to check which schemes are available in your area. To do an Apprenticeship, you may need GCSEs in subjects such as maths, English and design and technology, or equivalent qualifications such as the BTEC Introductory Certificate and Diploma in Construction. This course includes options in painting and decorating.

To find out more about Apprenticeships, see the Apprenticeships website.

• Apprenticeships

For more information about careers and qualifications in painting and decorating, see the bConstructive website.

• bConstructive

The Know Your Place campaign promotes the construction trades as a career choice for women. See the Know Your Place website for details.

• Know Your Place

Training and development

Once you are working, you could take an NVQ in Decorative Finishing and Industrial Painting Occupations. This is split into two main areas:

• painting and decorating – brush and roller techniques for interiors and exteriors, fitting and hanging wall coverings, specialised finishes, and installing coving and centre pieces
• industrial painting – preparing work areas using special treatments and abrasive blasting, applying industrial finishes and paint spraying methods.

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)

Many building contractors now insist that you have a CSCS card to work on their sites. The card is proof of your skills and competence. To get your card you must:

• pass a health and safety assessment
• have an NVQ or equivalent qualification.

If you are working without qualifications, you may be able to use On-Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) or Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) to get your NVQ and card. Contact CSCS for further details. You can also find out more on the ConstructionSkills website:

• On-Site Assessment and Training
• Experienced Worker Practical Assessment

Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme

The aim of the Traditional Building Skills Bursary scheme is to reduce the shortage of skills in the traditional crafts and built heritage sector. It is doing this by offering bursaries and organising work-based training placements for suitable applicants.

To find out more about the scheme, suitability and available placements, see the Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme website.

• Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme

Skills and knowledge

To be a painter and decorator, you should have:

• good practical and creative skills
• the ability to work carefully and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work alone and as part of a team
• a good head for heights and sense of balance
• an awareness of health and safety issues.

More information

Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA)
Kingsley House
Ganders Business Park
Kingsley
Bordon
Hampshire
GU35 9LU
Tel: 01420 471619
www.irata.org

National Heritage Training Group
www.nhtg.org.uk

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)
Tel: 0844 576 8777
www.cscs.uk.com

ConstructionSkills
Bircham Newton
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE31 6RH
Tel: 0344 994 4400
www.cskills.org

Opportunities

You could find work with building and specialist painting contractors, local authorities and the NHS. Some companies may specialise in particular techniques like heavy industrial painting.

With experience, you could progress to supervisor roles or move into related areas such as estimating and contract management. You could also take further training to specialise in restoration work. A popular option is to set up your own business and work on a sub-contract basis.

Jobs can be advertised in the local press and in Jobcentre Plus offices. The following websites may also be useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in a new window):

• bConstructive (list of building firms)
• Construction Jobs Network
• Directgov (Jobseekers page)

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

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