Career comparison
Industrial Painter vs. Painter
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Painters earn more at the median ($49,400 vs. $48,250), while industrial painters usually get to work faster (A few months on the job of training). Industrial painters spray paint and coat products on production lines. 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
| Industrial Painter | Painter | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $48,250 ($23.20/hr) | $49,400 ($23.75/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,260 – $74,730 | $37,440 – $78,810 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.5% (about as fast as average) | +3.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 15,300 | 24,900 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | A few months on the job | 1–6 months on the job |
| Key credential | PCI powder coating training | EPA RRP Certified Renovator |
| Work setting | Painters work in spray booths and paint lines.. | Painters work indoors and outdoors in homes, offices, schools, factories and on bridges and tanks. |
What each job does
Industrial Painter
- Prep surfaces
- Mask parts
- Mix coatings
- Spray paint
- Run powder coating
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 and indoor work. They sit in different fields, mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing and skilled trades & construction, but share transferable skills such as attention to detail and attention to detail.
Which should you choose?
Choose industrial painter if…
- I like finishing work
- I have a good eye
- I can wear PPE
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 Industrial Painter fit quiz and the Painter fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, industrial painter or painter?
Painters earn more at the median: $49,400 versus $48,250 for industrial painters, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Industrial Painters typically train faster (A few months on the job) than painters (1–6 months on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects painters to grow +3.0% from 2025–35, compared with +2.5% for industrial painters.