Painters and Decorators
Official O*NET title: Painters, Construction and Maintenance (47-2141.00)
Also called: building trades painter, commercial painter, facilities painter, highway painter, house painter
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Calculate amounts of required materials and estimate costs, based on surface measurements or work orders
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing painters and decorators work
2 of 15 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use yet) — 13%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Calculate amounts of required materials and estimate costs, based on surface measurements or work orders (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Apply paint, stain, varnish, enamel, or other finishes to equipment, buildings, bridges, or other structures, using brushes, spray guns, or rollers (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Erect scaffolding or swing gates, or set up ladders, to work above ground level (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Wash and treat surfaces with oil, turpentine, mildew remover, or other preparations, and sand rough spots to make sure that finishes will adhere properly (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Remove old finishes by stripping, sanding, wire brushing, burning, or using water or abrasive blasting (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Remove fixtures such as pictures, door knobs, lamps, or electric switch covers before painting (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Use special finishing techniques such as sponging, ragging, layering, or faux finishing (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Waterproof buildings, using waterproofers or caulking (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Select and purchase tools or finishes for surfaces to be covered, considering durability, ease of handling, methods of application, and customers' wishes (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Mix and match colors of paint, stain, or varnish with oil or thinning and drying additives to obtain desired colors and consistencies (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Polish final coats to specified finishes — no recorded AI use
- Cut stencils and brush or spray lettering or decorations on surfaces — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Calculate amounts of required materials and estimate costs, based on surface measurements or work orders”. Try the prompt for: “Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and painters and decorators
Will AI replace painters and decorators?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 2 of the 15 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use yet). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 15 of the 17 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which painter tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: calculate amounts of required materials and estimate costs, based on surface measurements or work orders; fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.
Which painter tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting; read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements; apply paint, stain, varnish, enamel, or other finishes to equipment, buildings, bridges, or other structures, using brushes, spray guns, or rollers. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 31% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a painter start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Painters and Decorators ranks #419 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #17 of 44 in Trades & Repair.