Become a Painter & Decorator
Painters & Decorators use a wide range of paints, varnishes, wallpapers and other coverings to protect and enhance indoor and outdoor surfaces. They can work on domestic houses, commercial properties, hospitals and schools, large structures like bridges and heritage sites. Hours of work vary, typically Monday to Friday with overtime at weekends and possibly overnight when working on commercial jobs.
- Practical
- Creative
- Attention to detail
- Numeracy skills
- Comfortable working at heights
- Physically fit
- Number skills to work out surface areas and quantities
- The ability to follow job instructions
Painting & Decorating is available as a study programme, part-time and apprenticeship course. Good GCSEs are recommended for measurements and calculations.
At Leeds College of Building entry is via a basic skills test or for part-time courses a relevant qualification.
Starting salaries can be between £15,000 and £17,000 a year.
Average salaries for qualified painters and decorators are between £17,500 and £23,000 a year.
Decorators with supervisor duties or specialist skills can earn between £25,000 and £30,000 a year.