by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 4 U.S. colleges awarded 29 degrees and certificates in Painting/Painter & Wall Coverer. Certificates are the most popular award, at 79% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Painting/Painter & Wall Coverer Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $33,822 one year after completing, rising to $44,811 after four years.
A major in Painting/Painter & Wall Coverer covers Painting/painter And Wall Coverer. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Finish Exterior And Interior Structural Surfaces By Applying Protective Or Decorative Coating Materials, Such As Paint, Lacquer, And Wallpaper. Includes Instruction In Surface Preparation; Selecting, Preparing, And Applying Paints And Other Coatings; Hanging Wallpaper; Equipment Operation And Maintenance; Finish Selection; Safety And Clean-Up; Environmental Effects On Finishes; Adhesion Properties; And Applicable Codes And Standards.. Examples: [Painting (Commercial)], [Painter And Decorator], [Painter And Decorator - Commercial And Residential].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., painting/painter & wall coverer draws strong interest, with 29 degrees awarded annually. 4 colleges award painting/painter & wall coverer degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 17.
By level, the 29 awards include 23 certificates, 2 associate degrees and 4 master’s degrees.
Women earned 28% of painting/painter & wall coverer degrees and certificates in the latest year (8 of 29). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (17) and Hispanic or Latino (4), and international students earned 2.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Painting/Painter & Wall Coverer Schools ranking. It also ranks painting/painter & wall coverer schools within 1 state. In all, 4 colleges offer painting/painter & wall coverer programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Painting/Painter & Wall Coverer Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common painting/painter & wall coverer credential is the certificate: 23 of the 29 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to painting/painter & wall coverer call most for Coordination, Active Listening and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Building and Construction, Customer and Personal Service and Administration and Management, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Oral Comprehension and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a painting/painter & wall coverer degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 23 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to painting/painter & wall coverer, at 43.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 43.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 20.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 18.1% |
| Some college courses | 8.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Painting/Painter & Wall Coverer, with an average median salary of $63,496; the strongest outlook belongs to Paperhangers, at 10.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Filler, Kalsominer, Building Painter and Line Painting Machine Operator.
The occupation related to painting/painter & wall coverer with the most projected jobs is Painters, Construction and Maintenance, at 711,576.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | 711,576 | 4.9% |
| Paperhangers | 673,438 | 10.2% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 646,091 | 3.6% |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | 484,877 | 9.2% |
Painting/Painter & Wall Coverer graduates earn a median $33,822 one year after completing their program, $44,811 after four years and $36,597 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,822 |
| 4 years | $44,811 |
| 5 years | $36,597 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to painting/painter & wall coverer is First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, with a median salary of $83,555.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $83,555 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $77,350 |
| Solar Energy Installation Managers | $57,985 |
| Paperhangers | $35,095 |
Painting/Painter & Wall Coverer has 12 similar majors in the Construction Trades field, which together award 7,775 degrees a year; the largest are Building/Property Maintenance (2,462), Building Construction Technology/Technician (2,137) and Building/Construction Site Management/Manager (1,748). Browse all Construction Trades majors or the full list of college majors.
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