Painter and Decorator
Also advertised as: Commercial Painter, Decorator, Painter, Painter and Decorator, Painting and Decorating Contractor, Self-employed Decorator
Prepares and finishes interior and exterior surfaces with paint, wallpaper and coatings.
What the job involves
Painters and decorators prepare surfaces properly before applying paint, wallpaper or specialist coatings, since a good finish depends as much on preparation as on the final coats. You work across new build sites, renovations and domestic redecoration, often managing your own small jobs directly for customers. It is one of the more accessible trades to enter and to go self-employed in.
Typical responsibilities
- Prepare surfaces by filling, sanding and priming
- Apply paint, varnish and specialist coatings
- Hang wallpaper and other wall coverings
- Estimate materials and time for jobs
- Protect furniture and fittings while working
Common employers
- Construction contractors
- Property maintenance companies
- Self-employment
- House building companies
- Facilities management firms
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£20,000 – £25,000 a year
With experience
£27,000 – £38,000 a year
Typical hours
Standard daytime hours, flexible for self-employed work
Working environment
Indoor and outdoor, domestic and commercial premises
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Surface preparation
- Paint application techniques
- Wallpapering
- Colour and material knowledge
- Customer service
Transferable skills you may already have
- Attention to finish and detail
- Time estimating
- Working directly with customers
Requirements employers ask for
- Surface preparation
- Paint application techniques
- Wallpapering
- Colour and material knowledge
- Customer service
- Level 2 apprenticeship in painting and decorating, or equivalent experience
- CSCS card for construction site work
Useful but not essential
- Attention to finish and detail
- Time estimating
- Working directly with customers
- Level 3 qualification for specialist finishes and heritage work
Helpful qualifications
- Level 3 qualification for specialist finishes and heritage work
Licences and checks
- CSCS card for construction site work
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Painter and Decorator (Level 2)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Design and technology
- Related subject: Art and design
Where this career can lead
next
Decorating Team Leader
next
Self-employed Contractor
next
Site Supervisor
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Low-cost, accessible entry into a skilled trade
- Strong self-employment route
- Steady demand from both new build and redecoration
What people find hard
- Repetitive physical tasks such as sanding and rolling
- Exposure to fumes from paints and solvents
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a painter and decorator?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a painter and decorator earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £20,000 to £25,000 a year, rising towards £38,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Attention to finish and detail, Time estimating, Working directly with customers.
Related careers
Groundworker
Prepares the ground and lays foundations, drainage and roads before other trades begin.
Plasterer
Applies plaster, render and decorative finishes to walls and ceilings.
Gas Engineer
Installs, services and repairs gas boilers, cookers and heating appliances.
Heating and Ventilation Engineer
Installs and maintains heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in buildings.
Bricklayer
Builds walls, structures and features from bricks, blocks and mortar.
Roofer
Fits and repairs roofs using tiles, slates, felt or flat roofing systems.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 16 September 2026.
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