Roofers, glaziers, painters, decorators and floor covering installers

How to become a painter or decorator

Official title: Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)

Also called: Painter, Roof painter, House painter, Bridge painter, Building painter, Painter-decorator, Maintenance painter, Residential painter, Construction painter, Painter and decorator, Painter and paperhanger, Plant maintenance painter

Painters and decorators apply paint, wallpaper and other finishes to interior and exterior surfaces of buildings and other structures. They are employed by construction companies, painting contractors and building maintenance contractors, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Main tasks

Read specifications to determine quantities of materials required
Prepare and clean surfaces using methods such as scraping, sanding, sandblasting, hydro-blasting and steam-cleaning; remove old wallpaper and loose paint; repair cracks and holes in walls; and sandpaper and apply sealer
Mix and thin paint to obtain desired colour and texture
Apply paint or other materials, such as stains, lacquer, enamel, oil, varnish, fibreglass, metal coating or fire retardant using brushes, rollers or spray equipment
Measure, cut and apply wallpaper or fabric to walls
Assemble and erect scaffolding and swing stages
May advise customer on selection of colour schemes and choice of wall coverings
May provide cost estimates to clients

How to become one

Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or Over three years of work experience in the trade is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Trade certification for painters and decorators is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the territories. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified painters and decorators upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

See the full NOC 2021 profile

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Red Seal trade. Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or Over three years of work experience in the trade is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Red Seal endorsement is available. Apprenticeships are run by each province and territory.

Pay · Outlook

Median pay: $54,600 a year The middle half earn $46,800 to $68,250.
About 39,200 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 41,200 are projected by 2033. (+5.1%)
Projected labour market to 2033: moderate risk of shortage.

Questions people ask

How do I become a painter or decorator?

How much does a painter or decorator earn in Canada?

Median full-time pay is $54,600 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $46,800 to $68,250.

Is a painter or decorator a growing career in Canada?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2033, from about 39,200 to about 41,200 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).

Do you need a degree to become a painter or decorator?

Usually not. Only 8% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Red Seal trade.

Sources

Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03