Painter and decorator
Decorate and protect walls, ceilings and other surfaces to create pleasant places for people to live and work.
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£327
Entry level
£615
Experienced
Monthly
£1,417
Entry level
£2,667
Experienced
Yearly
£17,000
Entry level
£32,000
Experienced
8,600
people are currently employed
High growth
600 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would decorate and protect surfaces such as plaster, metal and wood to create pleasant spaces for people to live and work in.
You could work on everything from redecorating living rooms to painting large structures like bridges.
When working in a home, you would use paint, varnishes and wallpaper to decorate rooms. You would follow instructions about colours, textures and wallpaper patterns.
You would:
Measure areas to work out how much paint or wall covering you need
Strip off old wallpaper or paint
Fill holes and cracks and make sure surfaces are level
Prepare surfaces with primer and undercoat
Mix paint to the right shade, either by hand or using computerised colour-matching equipment
Apply layers of paint and hang wallpaper
Tidy 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.
You’d need a good awareness of health and safety issues for this role.
Hours
Environment
Travel
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- time management
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- observation
- creative
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Art and Design
Practical Craft Skills
Skills for Work: Construction Craft
You would need a Modern Apprenticeship leading to relevant qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification Decorative Finishing Occupations (Construction): Painter and Decorator (SVQ level 3).
You must register with the Scottish Painting and Decorating Apprenticeship Council (SPADAC) or the Scottish Building Apprenticeship Training Council (SBATC).
You do not always need formal qualifications for an apprenticeship but four Standard Grades or National 4s (SCQF level 4) or National 5s (SCQF level 5) are sometimes required. You usually have to pass an aptitude test before entry an apprenticeship.
Some employers may ask for qualifications at SCQF level 4/5.
Qualifications that show understanding of the industry and practical skills such as Skills for Work Construction Crafts (SCFQ level 4/5).
A Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent safety passport, and pass a health and safety test to train or work on construction sites
A driving licence, for some jobs
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