PAINTER (INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCIAL)
Surface prep and coating for buildings, bridges, industrial structures. Often paired with related trades (drywall, glazing) under IUPAT. Washington is not a right-to-work state — union density is higher than average and prevailing wage rules cover most public projects.
The License.
Most states issue a journeyman license (allows you to work under a licensed contractor) and a separate master or contractor license (allows you to pull permits and run your own business). The journeyman license typically requires completing your apprenticeship and passing a written exam; the master/contractor license requires additional field hours — usually 2 years as a journeyman — and a separate exam.
Requirements in Washington: confirm current hour and exam requirements directly with Washington State Dept. of Labor and Industries (L&I). Rules update frequently and our data reflects published standards as of early 2025.
The Money.
Pay data for this trade in Washington. BLS metro-level data was not available for this combination. National medians shown below.
| Stage | Hourly range | Approx. annual |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 apprentice | $15–$22/hr | $30,000 – $44,000 |
| Journeyman scale | $25–$42/hr | $50,000 – $84,000 |
| BLS national median | — | $47,700 |
| BLS top 10% | — | $76,790 |
Washington is NOT a right-to-work state. Union scale in Washington's major metros typically runs 20–40% above the national median. Prevailing wage laws apply to most public-sector projects.
The Path.
Washington is a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) state — it administers its own apprenticeship programs separately from the federal RAPIDS system. Contact the state labor department directly or visit apprenticeship.gov and filter by state.
- · IUPAT (International Union of Painters and Allied Trades)
The Exam.
Most construction trade licenses at the contractor level require a business and law exam in addition to the trade exam. Washington may have this structure. Pass rates are not published uniformly — ask the licensing board directly for current data. Prevailing wage requirements in Washington apply to most public-sector projects, which ties exam and licensure to wage scale compliance for contractors.
Be honest about pass rates. Many licensing boards do not publish them. When they do, first-time pass rates for journeyman exams in the trades typically run 50–75%. Preparation time varies — most serious candidates spend 60–120 hours on exam prep. Use code books from the correct edition, not what's currently in print.
What recruiters won't tell you.
- 01Solvent and lead exposure are real career risks. PPE discipline matters.
- 02Residential painting pay is often poor — industrial/commercial is where money lives.
- 03Many non-union painting jobs misclassify employees as 1099 contractors (illegal in most states).