PAINTER (INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCIAL)
Surface prep and coating for buildings, bridges, industrial structures. Often paired with related trades (drywall, glazing) under IUPAT. South Carolina is a right-to-work state — union density is lower than the national average, but licensed tradespeople still command solid wages on prevailing wage projects.
The License.
Most states issue a journeyman license (allows you to work under a licensed contractor) and a separate master or contractor license (allows you to pull permits and run your own business). The journeyman license typically requires completing your apprenticeship and passing a written exam; the master/contractor license requires additional field hours — usually 2 years as a journeyman — and a separate exam.
Requirements in South Carolina: confirm current hour and exam requirements directly with SC Contractor's Licensing Board (LLR). Rules update frequently and our data reflects published standards as of early 2025.
The Money.
Pay data for this trade in South Carolina. BLS metro-level data was not available for this combination. National medians shown below.
| Stage | Hourly range | Approx. annual |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 apprentice | $15–$22/hr | $30,000 – $44,000 |
| Journeyman scale | $25–$42/hr | $50,000 – $84,000 |
| BLS national median | — | $47,700 |
| BLS top 10% | — | $76,790 |
South Carolina is a right-to-work state. Union scale in major South Carolina metros typically runs 10–20% above the national median on public projects with prevailing wage requirements; non-union pay can run 15–30% below union scale on private work.
The Path.
In South Carolina, apprenticeships are administered through the federal RAPIDS system via the U.S. Department of Labor. To find registered programs, go to apprenticeship.gov and filter by state. Most joint apprenticeship training committees (JATCs) also accept direct applications.
- · IUPAT (International Union of Painters and Allied Trades)
The Exam.
Most construction trade licenses at the contractor level require a business and law exam in addition to the trade exam. South Carolina may have this structure. Pass rates are not published uniformly — ask the licensing board directly for current data. Note: prevailing wage rules in South Carolina apply primarily to public projects — private-sector jobs in this right-to-work state are exempt.
Be honest about pass rates. Many licensing boards do not publish them. When they do, first-time pass rates for journeyman exams in the trades typically run 50–75%. Preparation time varies — most serious candidates spend 60–120 hours on exam prep. Use code books from the correct edition, not what's currently in print.
What recruiters won't tell you.
- 01Solvent and lead exposure are real career risks. PPE discipline matters.
- 02Residential painting pay is often poor — industrial/commercial is where money lives.
- 03Many non-union painting jobs misclassify employees as 1099 contractors (illegal in most states).