We surveyed 1,303 professional painters to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical professional painter. Here are the results.

How much intelligence is required as a professional painter?

Low

High

Working as a professional painter typically doesn’t require the use of high levels of intelligence in daily tasks.

Can I learn to become a professional painter?

Intrinsic Talent

Acquired Talent

A career as a professional painter typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.

Is it easy to get a job as a professional painter?

Easy

Hard

It’s typically not very difficult to find a job as a professional painter. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for professional painters.

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Do professional painters work full-time or part-time?

35% of professional painters work in full-time roles while 65% work part-time.

Is being a professional painter stressful?

Low

High

Professional painters tend not to find their jobs stressful, which likely contributes positively to career satisfaction.

Is being organized important as a professional painter?

Low

High

Organization is not considered a particuarly important part of being a professional painter.

How competitive is the workplace for professional painters?

Low

High

Professional painters see mild competition in their workplace.

Does being a professional painter require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?

Low

High

Professional painters will have to sometimes face time pressure on the job.

Are professional painters allowed to express themselves creatively?

Low

High

Professional painters are afforded a certain level of ability to express themselves creatively, compared to other careers.

Do professional painters have control over the direction of their work?

Low

High

Professional painters tend to have a set and inflexible work schedule that they are unable to deviate from too much.

Is being a professional painter physically demanding?

Low

High

Being a professional painter requires significant physical work, and is not a career for those unable to perform continuous and/or strenuous physical activity.

Are professional painters exposed to a wide variety of work?

Low

High

While sometimes repetitive, professional painters tend to have opportunities for variety in their work.

Does being a professional painter require attention to detail?

Low

High

As in many careers, attention to detail is quite helpful for professional painters.

Does being a good professional painter require compassion and empathy?

Low

High

The ability to be compassion and empathetic isn't considered fundamental to success as a professional painter.