Painter at North Dakota Painters & Allied Trades JATC
at North Dakota Painters & Allied Trades JATC in Little Canada, MN
About This Program
The North Dakota Painters & Allied Trades JATC Painter Apprenticeship is a registered union program administered from Little Canada, MN, serving apprentices in the upper Midwest region. As a JATC program, it is jointly managed by labor and management to ensure rigorous training standards and union-level wages and benefits for every apprentice.
The program runs for 3 years and combines 6,000 hours of on-the-job training with 432 hours of related technical instruction. Working alongside union journeymen, apprentices build skills in surface preparation, paint and coating application, spray equipment operation, color blending, and finishing inspection. Technical coursework addresses trade safety, materials identification, blueprint reading, and industry standards.
Graduates complete the program as journey-level painters with union standing, ready to work on commercial, industrial, and residential projects across North Dakota and the surrounding region. Apprentices earn wages throughout the entire program, and union membership provides access to negotiated pay scales, health coverage, and retirement benefits starting from day one.
Wage & Training
Journeyman Wage
$22
OJT Hours
6,000
RTI Hours
432
Duration
3 years
Wage data is the national median for this occupation (BLS, May 2023), not specific to this program.
How to Apply
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.
This is a union-affiliated program. Union apprenticeships typically offer strong benefits packages, pension contributions, and structured career advancement through the local hall.
Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Painter
Apprenticeship
Trade School
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