Painter at Construction Industry Training Council of Washington - Painter - Decorator

Time-BasedRegistered ApprenticeshipPaid Training

at Construction Industry Training Council of Washington - Painter - Decorator in Bellevue, WA

About This Program

The Construction Industry Training Council of Washington — Painter/Decorator program, located in Bellevue, WA, offers an employer-sponsored painter apprenticeship for individuals pursuing a career in the painting and decorating trades. This non-union program is administered through an established training council with a strong regional presence.

The apprenticeship spans 3 years and combines 6,000 hours of on-the-job training with 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices learn surface preparation, application of paint and specialty coatings, wallcovering installation, decorative finishing techniques, and safety practices used across commercial and residential projects in the Pacific Northwest.

Graduates complete the program as qualified journey-level painter/decorators ready to work independently on a wide range of finishing trade projects. Paid training from day one means apprentices develop valuable skills while maintaining financial stability throughout their training.

Wage & Training

Journeyman Wage

$22

BLS 2023

OJT Hours

6,000

Apprenticeship.gov 2025

RTI Hours

432

Apprenticeship.gov 2025

Duration

3 years

Apprenticeship.gov 2025

Wage data is the national median for this occupation (BLS, May 2023), not specific to this program.

Painter Career Outlook

National Median

$22.47/hr

~$46,737.6/yr

Apprentice Start

$14/hr

Earn while you learn

Job Outlook

Painter employment is projected to grow in line with construction and renovation activity. Residential repainting and commercial building maintenance provide steady, recurring demand. Painters with industrial coating experience, lead abatement certification, or decorative finishing skills command higher wages and have the strongest employment prospects.

What to Expect as a Painter Apprentice

Duration

3 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom instruction

On-the-Job Training

~40 hours/week of hands-on work under journeyman supervision (6,000 total hours)

Classroom Instruction

432 hours of related technical instruction (~144 hours/year)

Paid Training

You earn a wage from day one, starting at a percentage of the journeyman rate and increasing as you progress

Time-based program: You'll progress through the program based on completing a set number of hours in both on-the-job training and classroom instruction.

Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Painter

Apprenticeship

Cost$0 (earn while you learn)
Duration3 years
Starting wage$14.00/hr
Journeyman wage$22.47/hr
CredentialJourneyman card

Trade School

Cost$5,000–$20,000+
Duration6–24 months
Starting wageEntry-level
ExperienceHands-on labs
CredentialCertificate / diploma

Licensing in Washington

Painters in Washington are required to hold a license. Licensing is issued by Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

View full Washingtonlicensing requirements →

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