Painter job description template: repaint, new construction or commercial, EPA lead-safe rules, respirators and ladders
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"Painter wanted, experience required" brings in everyone from a spray-rig operator on new apartment buildings to a brush-and-roll repaint painter who works in occupied homes, and none of them can tell from the post which one you want. The difference matters to output, to quality and to the rules. A repaint crew in older homes is almost always disturbing paint covered by EPA's lead-safe rules, a spray painter may need a respirator program, and nearly every painter works from ladders. A useful painter job description names the type of work, the methods and coatings, the surfaces and heights, who handles lead-safe work, and the pay. Below are the work types, the EPA and OSHA lines with sources, a copy-ready template, screening and scorecard rows, and common mistakes. For the call, use painter screening questions.
Not legal advice. The EPA, OSHA, child labor and licensing points below were checked against EPA, 40 CFR Part 745 and 29 CFR Part 570 on Cornell's Legal Information Institute, OSHA, the Department of Labor, the California Contractors State License Board and BLS as of October 2026. Some states run their own lead program in place of EPA's; check yours.
Pick the type of painting work
| Work type | What the day looks like | Must-have that separates it |
|---|---|---|
| Residential repaint | Occupied homes, interior and exterior, heavy prep, protecting furniture and floors, many pre-1978 houses | Careful prep and masking; lead-safe work practices; comfortable with homeowners present |
| New construction production | Spraying and back-rolling new walls and trim, production targets, multiple units a day | Airless spray experience and speed with clean lines |
| Commercial and industrial coatings | Offices, warehouses, steel, epoxies and specialty coatings, lifts and scaffolds, night work in occupied buildings | Experience with the named coatings and lift equipment |
| Drywall finish and paint | Patching, taping, mudding and texture matching before painting | Can match textures and finish to a paint-ready surface |
| Maintenance painter | Apartment turns, facilities touch-ups, work orders, a property portfolio | Fast, consistent turns and a work-order routine |
Then settle the level and the conditions: helper, painter or lead; spray, brush and roll or both; typical heights and whether you use extension ladders, scaffolds or lifts. BLS notes that painters typically learn on the job, that apprenticeships of 3 or 4 years exist but are less common, and that common hazards include falls from ladders and exposure to dust and irritants (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, last modified August 27, 2026).
EPA lead-safe rules for painters
EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule, in 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart E, applies to renovations performed for compensation in target housing (generally pre-1978 homes) and child-occupied facilities such as day care centers and kindergartens built before 1978. The core points for a painting posting:
- The firm is certified. Firms that perform renovations for compensation must apply to EPA (or an authorized state) for certification, assign a certified renovator to each renovation, and make sure everyone else doing the work is a certified renovator or has been trained by one (40 CFR 745.89).
- The certified renovator has on-site duties. They must be on site while warning signs are posted, while containment is set up and during post-renovation cleaning, be reachable on site or by phone during the work, and keep copies of their training certificates on site (40 CFR 745.90).
- Certification has a clock. A refresher is due within 5 years of the initial course; a refresher with hands-on training keeps certification for 5 years, one without it for 3 years (745.90; see also EPA's RRP rules page).
- Small jobs can be excluded. Minor repair and maintenance that disturbs 6 square feet or less of painted surface per room inside, or 20 square feet or less outside, is excluded, but not if it involves window replacement, demolition of painted surfaces or prohibited practices (40 CFR 745.83).
In the posting, say which role the hire fills: "EPA certified renovator required" for a lead who will be assigned jobs, or "we train you in lead-safe work practices" for a crew painter. BLS also notes that some states require a license for lead paint removal, which is abatement and a separate discipline from RRP work.
Respirators, ladders, licensing and minors
Lead exposure on the job. OSHA's lead standard for construction, 29 CFR 1926.62, sets an action level of 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air as an 8-hour average and applies to construction work where lead may be disturbed, including paint removal. It is separate from EPA's rule, which protects occupants.
Respirators. If you require a respirator for spraying or prep, OSHA requires a medical evaluation of the employee's ability to use it before fit testing or use, and fit testing before initial use and at least annually (29 CFR 1910.134, which construction adopts through 1926.103). Write "we provide respirators, the medical evaluation and fit testing."
Ladders and heights. OSHA requires fall protection in construction at 6 feet or more above a lower level (1926.501) and ladder training as necessary (1926.1060). State the typical heights and equipment.
Licensing. Licensing usually belongs to the business. California's Contractors State License Board, for example, licenses C-33 painting and decorating contractors. Do not ask employees for a contractor license.
Minors. 14- and 15-year-olds may not work in construction or do any work requiring ladders or scaffolds (29 CFR 570.33). Federal rules also bar workers under 18 from most roofing work (HO 16) (DOL Fact Sheet #43). See hiring minors and work permits before posting summer helper jobs.
The painter job description template
Painter — [Residential Repaint / New Construction / Commercial /
Maintenance], [Helper / Painter / Lead]
[Company], based in [city, state], working in [area]
Pay: $[min]–$[max] per hour [plus production bonus on [what], with
how it is calculated]. [Benefits summary, if required.]
SUMMARY
You will [prep and paint interiors and exteriors of occupied homes
/ spray new units / coat commercial spaces] with a crew of [N].
Many of our homes were built before 1978, so we use EPA lead-safe
work practices [if true]. Hours are [start time] to [end time],
[days], with [night or weekend work for commercial jobs].
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Protect floors, furniture and landscaping; mask and cover.
- Prep surfaces: wash, scrape, sand, patch, caulk and prime.
- Apply [paints and coatings] by [brush, roller, airless sprayer].
- Work from [ladders / scaffolds / lifts] using the fall
protection we provide.
- Follow lead-safe containment and cleanup on pre-1978 jobs.
- Clean equipment and leave each room ready for the client.
YOU MUST HAVE
- [N] years of [repaint / production / commercial] painting.
- [Lead: EPA certified renovator, or able to certify before start
at our cost.] [Crew: willing to be trained in lead-safe work.]
- Ability to use a respirator after our medical evaluation and fit
test, if the work requires one.
- Valid driver's license [if you drive a company vehicle].
- Ability to climb ladders and work at heights up to [N] feet, with
or without reasonable accommodation.
NICE TO HAVE
- [Spray / epoxy / wallcovering / drywall texture] experience.
If you meet the must-haves and none of these, please apply.
WE PROVIDE
[Ladders, sprayers, respirators, drop cloths, PPE, uniforms,
company vehicle.]
[EEO STATEMENT]
To request an adjustment to apply or interview, contact [contact].Pay and EEO
Post the hourly range and explain any production or piece-rate bonus with how it is calculated. The BLS painters profile linked above (last modified August 27, 2026) publishes pay data; this page does not quote figures. Check pay transparency laws by state and close with a short EEO statement covering the characteristics the EEOC lists.
From must-haves to screening questions and scorecard rows
| Must-have | Screening question | Scorecard competency | Evidence of a strong answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prep discipline | "Walk me through prepping a peeling exterior window frame before paint." | Surface preparation | Wash, scrape loose paint, sand or feather edges, spot-prime bare wood, caulk, then finish coats |
| Lead-safe work | "The house was built in 1965 and you need to scrape the trim. How does your setup change?" | Lead-safe practices | Assumes lead unless tested, sets containment and signs, uses wet methods, HEPA cleanup, involves the certified renovator |
| Spray skill (production) | "How do you set up and test an airless sprayer before a full room, and how do you avoid runs?" | Spray technique | Right tip size for the product, pressure test on cardboard, consistent overlap and distance |
| Customer homes | "A homeowner asks you to also paint a closet that is not on the work order. What do you say?" | Professionalism | Polite, refers to the lead or office for a change order, does not freelance |
| Heights | "The job uses 32-foot extension ladders on a two-story exterior. Comfortable with that?" | Not scored | Knockout confirmed |
A short paid working test, such as cutting in a wall, shows more than any answer; the interview guide for construction roles explains how to score one. If you are hiring finish carpenters for the same remodels, see the carpenter job description template.
Common mistakes in painter job descriptions
Nothing about older homes
If your crews scrape paint in pre-1978 houses, say you follow lead-safe rules and who the certified renovator is.
"Must have own sprayer"
Equipment requirements shrink the pool. List what you provide and what painters bring.
No heights or equipment
A painter who is fine on a stepladder may not want a 32-foot extension ladder. State the heights.
Respirator use without the program
Requiring respirators means providing the medical evaluation and fit test. Say so in the posting.
Before you publish
- Work type, methods and level are in the title and summary.
- The lead-safe line says who must be a certified renovator.
- Respirator, ladder and height conditions are stated, with what you provide.
- Pay, any production bonus, the EEO statement and accommodation contact are present.
Questions people ask
Does a painter need EPA lead certification?
Under EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, a firm doing paid work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 housing or child-occupied facilities must be certified, a certified renovator must be assigned to each job, and other workers must be certified renovators or trained by one. Work that disturbs 6 square feet or less of painted surface per room inside, or 20 square feet or less outside, is excluded unless it involves window replacement, demolition or prohibited practices.
How long does EPA renovator certification last?
A refresher course must be taken within 5 years of the initial course. A refresher that includes hands-on training keeps the certification for 5 years; one without hands-on training keeps it for 3 years. If the window is missed, the renovator must retake the initial course.
Do painters who spray need a medical evaluation?
If the employer requires a respirator, OSHA's respiratory protection standard requires a medical evaluation of the employee's ability to use it before fit testing or use, and fit testing before initial use and at least annually. Say in the posting that you provide the respirator, the evaluation and the fit test.
Do painters need a license?
Painting licenses usually apply to the contracting business, not the employee. California, for example, licenses painting and decorating contractors under the C-33 classification. BLS notes that some states require a license for lead paint removal. Check your state licensing board and ask employees only for what the job requires.