Career comparison
Building Maintenance Technician vs. Painter
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Building maintenance technicians earn more at the median ($49,590 vs. $49,400), while painters usually get to work faster (1–6 months on the job of training). Building maintenance technicians keep apartments, offices, schools and facilities running with everyday repairs. Painters prepare and paint walls, trim, buildings and structures for protection and a clean finish.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Building Maintenance Technician | Painter | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $49,590 ($23.84/hr) | $49,400 ($23.75/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,350 – $77,180 | $37,440 – $78,810 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.2% (about as fast as average) | +3.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 148,700 | 24,900 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | 3–12 months on the job | 1–6 months on the job |
| Key credential | EPA Section 608 certification | EPA RRP Certified Renovator |
| Work setting | Technicians work in apartment communities, schools, hospitals, hotels, offices and plants. | Painters work indoors and outdoors in homes, offices, schools, factories and on bridges and tanks. |
What each job does
Building Maintenance Technician
- Respond to work orders and repair requests
- Repair plumbing fixtures, leaks and drains
- Replace lights, switches and outlets within allowed scope
- Service HVAC equipment and change filters
- Patch drywall, paint and repair doors and locks
Painter
- Protect floors, furniture and fixtures before work starts
- Wash, scrape, sand and patch surfaces
- Caulk gaps and apply primer
- Apply paint and coatings with brushes, rollers and sprayers
- Mix and match colors and finishes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, indoor work, and working independently. They sit in different fields, mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing and skilled trades & construction, but share transferable skills such as problem solving and attention to detail.
Which should you choose?
Choose building maintenance technician if…
- I like fixing many kinds of things
- I enjoy a different task every hour
- I’m comfortable with plumbing, electrical and carpentry basics
Choose painter if…
- I like making spaces look clean and finished
- I’m patient with careful prep work
- I’m comfortable on ladders
Still torn? Take the Building Maintenance Technician fit quiz and the Painter fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, building maintenance technician or painter?
Building Maintenance Technicians earn more at the median: $49,590 versus $49,400 for painters, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Painters typically train faster (1–6 months on the job) than building maintenance technicians (3–12 months on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects building maintenance technicians to grow +4.2% from 2025–35, compared with +3.0% for painters.