Painting Contractor (Commercial)

Painting contractors contract with clients to paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges and other structural surfaces using brushes, rollers and spray guns. They may also remove old paint to prepare a surface prior to painting or mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency. Typically, only contractors require licenses, not the painters who work for them. In some states, licensing requirements differ based on the setting. Those with a residential license may work only on residential properties, while those with a commercial license may work on commercial properties. Other states require the same license regardless of the setting, and this report records that license in both settings. Many states have contract minimums before the contractor’s license applies. See Appendix B for details.

Twenty-two states license painting contractors working on commercial properties. Nine states require between two and five years of experience working under a licensed contractor. Alabama and Mississippi require completion of three contracted jobs. Eleven states require no experience. On average, states require 488 days of education and experience, $382 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and one exam. These high barriers give commercial painting contractors the 31st most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.

Burden Rank	State	States Licensed	Fees	Estimated Calendar Days Lost	Education	Experience	Exams	Minimum Grade	Minimum Age
1	Arkansas	22	$180.00	1,825	-	5 years	1	0	0
2	Nevada	22	$1,078.25	1,460	-	4 years	2	0	18
3	California	22	$579.00	1,460	-	4 years	3	0	18
4	Hawaii	22	$615.00	1,460	-	4 years	2	0	18
5	Oregon	22	$385.00	1,463	16 clock hours	4 years	1	0	18
6	Arizona	22	$956.00	730	-	2 years	2	0	18
7	Virginia	22	$320.00	731	8 clock hours	2 years	1	0	18
8	Utah	22	$549.00	733	20 clock hours	2 years	2	0	0
9	South Carolina	22	$250.00	730	-	2 years	1	0	0
10	Mississippi	22	$640.00	67	-	3 jobs, contractors	2	0	0
11	Alabama	22	$492.00	67	-	3 jobs, contractors	2	0	0
12	Louisiana	22	$460.00	0	-	-	2	0	0
13	Rhode Island	22	$200.00	1	5 clock hours	-	0	0	18
14	North Dakota	22	$125.00	0	-	-	0	0	18
15	D C	22	$654.50	0	-	-	0	0	0
16	Tennessee	22	$305.00	0	-	-	1	0	0
17	West Virginia	22	$132.00	0	-	-	1	0	0
18	Alaska	22	$300.00	0	-	-	0	0	0
19	Washington	22	$113.40	0	-	-	0	0	0
20	Iowa	22	$50.00	0	-	-	0	0	0
21	Idaho	22	$30.00	0	-	-	0	0	0
22	Nebraska	22	$0.00	0	-	-	0	0	0