Painter at Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho Painters and Allied Trades Apprenticeship Committee

Time-BasedRegistered ApprenticeshipPaid Training

at Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho Painters and Allied Trades Apprenticeship Committee in Seattle, WA

About This Program

The Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho Painters and Allied Trades Apprenticeship Committee, registered in Seattle, WA, sponsors this painter apprenticeship serving apprentices across eastern Washington and northern Idaho. This employer-sponsored program provides structured training for individuals entering the painting and allied trades.

The program runs for 3 years and includes 6,000 hours of on-the-job training alongside 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices learn surface preparation, application methods for interior and exterior coatings, use of spray equipment, industrial and protective coatings, and jobsite safety standards applicable to commercial and residential environments.

Upon completing the apprenticeship, graduates are prepared for journey-level work in the painting trades across a broad geographic region. Apprentices are paid throughout training, allowing them to build skills and earn income simultaneously without the burden of student loan debt.

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 →

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!

See something wrong? Help us improve this page.