Painter & Decorator Jobs

Jooble’s market data shows the average painter and decorator earning €33,696 per year, equivalent to €17.35 per hour, as of May 2026. Furthermore, broader data for painters specifically shows an average of €35,751 per year, based on 133 salary submissions.

What Does a Painter & Decorator Do?

Far more than applying paint — the trade combines surface preparation, colour expertise, and increasingly, period building restoration

Core duties on the job

A painter and decorator applies paint coatings, wall coverings, and other decorative materials both internally and externally, working on properties for both preservation and decorative purposes. Core duties include thorough surface preparation — sanding, filling, and priming — before any paint or covering is applied, since the quality of preparation directly determines the durability and finish of the final result. Furthermore, the role frequently involves designing and producing sign work and displays, alongside advising clients directly on colour selection and interior design choices.

Period building restoration: a specialist niche

Qualified painters and decorators are frequently involved in the renovation and restoration of period buildings, a specialism that demands particular sensitivity to historical materials, traditional techniques, and conservation requirements. Moreover, Ireland’s substantial stock of Georgian, Victorian, and other period properties creates sustained demand for tradespeople with genuine expertise in this area. Consequently, painters who develop skills specifically in heritage restoration can access a distinct, often well-regarded niche within the broader trade.

Where the work happens

Painters and decorators work across private residential properties, commercial premises, new-build construction sites, and renovation projects of every scale. Furthermore, some painters specialise primarily in new-build work alongside construction teams, while others build a career focused on existing buildings — repaints, refurbishments, and decorative upgrades for homeowners and businesses. Therefore, as with most skilled trades, the day-to-day variety available within painting and decorating is considerable, and individuals can shape their career toward the specific type of work they find most rewarding.

• CareersPortal — Painter / Decorator Occupation Profile — Official overview of the role, entry requirements, and current salary data sources

The Apprenticeship: Requirements & Structure

A four-year SOLAS apprenticeship with one unusual entry requirement — a specific colour vision test

Eligibility and academic requirements

The current approved minimum educational requirements for the painting and decorating apprenticeship are broadly in line with other craft trades. Furthermore, prior experience in subjects including Art, Technical Drawing, Technology, and Construction Studies is advantageous, though not strictly essential to begin the programme. To become an apprentice in Ireland, you must first be hired by an employer who is formally approved by SOLAS in advance of taking on apprentices.

The Ishihara Colour Vision Test

A distinctive entry requirement specific to this trade is the Ishihara Colour Vision Test, in its 24 Plate Edition, which every painting and decorating apprenticeship candidate must pass before being accepted onto the programme. This requirement exists because accurate colour matching, mixing, and selection sits at the heart of professional decorating work — a colour vision deficiency would genuinely limit a tradesperson’s ability to deliver consistent, accurate results for clients. Therefore, candidates considering this trade should be aware of this specific health requirement early in their planning, distinct from the general colour vision checks used in some other construction trades.

Programme structure and outcome

The painting and decorating apprenticeship runs over a minimum of four years, combining on-the-job training with off-the-job study delivered through institutions such as TU Dublin and local Education and Training Boards. Moreover, on successful completion, apprentices receive a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft – Painting and Decorating, a nationally recognised qualification confirming full trade competence. Consequently, this qualification opens the door to working with established building or painting contractors, or to establishing a self-employed decorating business.

• Qualifax — Painting & Decorating Apprenticeship — Official course information including qualification outcome and how to find apprenticeship vacancies

Pay in 2026: What the Data Shows

€33,000–€36,000 average across multiple sources, with experience and location both driving meaningful variation

What the broader market data shows

Jooble’s data places the average painter and decorator salary at €33,696 per year, equivalent to €17.35 per hour, as of May 2026. Indeed Ireland’s painter-specific data shows a slightly higher average of €35,751 per year, based on 133 salary reports. Furthermore, PayScale’s broader hourly data shows considerable variation by experience: early-career painters with one to four years of experience earn an average total compensation of €12.50 per hour, while mid-career painters with five to nine years of experience earn €14.75 per hour. Therefore, a realistic expectation for a painter and decorator in Ireland in 2026 ranges from approximately €26,000 at entry level to €37,000 or more with several years of established experience.

How location affects pay

CareersPortal’s occupation profile, drawing on SOLAS and CIF (Construction Industry Federation) rate data, notes that positions based in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries than equivalent roles in other parts of the country. Moreover, this pattern is consistent with the broader Irish construction sector, where higher property values and a greater concentration of commercial and high-end residential work in the capital tend to support stronger rates. Consequently, painters willing to work in or near Dublin may access a somewhat higher earning ceiling than those working exclusively in regional markets.

Apprentice pay during training

As an apprentice, you earn while you learn through two distinct payment streams. The Employment Salary is paid by your employer for on-the-job training, with the specific rate agreed directly between you and your employer. Separately, a Training Allowance is paid by your local Education and Training Board while you attend off-the-job training, calculated based on the gross wages typically paid across the construction industry. Furthermore, in some cases, a contribution toward travel or accommodation costs during off-the-job training blocks may also be available, easing the practical burden of attending training centres away from home.

• Indeed Ireland — Painter Salaries — Live salary data based on 133 reports from painters across Ireland

Life After Qualifying: Employed or Self-Employed?

A qualified painter and decorator has a genuine choice — work for an established contractor, or build an independent business

Working with a contractor

Many newly qualified painters and decorators choose to work with established building or painting contractors initially, gaining further practical experience across a wider range of project types and client environments. Furthermore, contractor employment typically offers more predictable, regular income and reduces the administrative burden of running a business, since invoicing, marketing, and client acquisition are handled at the company level rather than individually.

The self-employed route

Alternatively, qualified painters and decorators frequently transition into self-employment, building their own client base and reputation over time. One documented example is Fergal Feehely, a Painter Decorator who took over his family business in 2008, illustrating how the trade can support genuine long-term, even multi-generational, business ownership. Moreover, self-employment offers significantly higher earning potential for those who build a strong reputation and client referral network, though it requires additional skills in pricing, scheduling, and client management beyond the core craft itself.

Specialising to increase earning potential

Beyond the basic choice between employment and self-employment, qualified painters can increase their earning potential by developing specific specialisms — period building restoration, decorative sign work, or high-end residential and commercial finishes among them. Furthermore, painters who build strong client-facing skills around colour consultation and interior design advice often command a premium over those focused purely on application work. Consequently, the trade offers multiple realistic paths to higher earnings beyond simply accumulating years of general experience.

• TU Dublin — Painting & Decorating Apprenticeship — Course details and eligibility criteria for the official apprenticeship programme

How to Start Your Apprenticeship

Find an approved employer first, then register through SOLAS — here is the practical path forward

Finding an approved employer

Since the apprenticeship is fundamentally a contract of employment, your first step is finding and securing a position with an employer formally approved by SOLAS. Furthermore, you can search current apprenticeship vacancies directly on the Apprenticeship Jobs page at apprenticeship.ie, filtering by location and specific trade. Additionally, your local Education and Training Board may hold details of employers actively seeking to take on a painting and decorating apprentice, making direct contact with your regional ETB a worthwhile complementary step.

What to prepare before applying

Before approaching potential employers, candidates should be prepared to demonstrate genuine interest in the trade, reliability, and a careful, detail-oriented approach to work. Moreover, since the Ishihara Colour Vision Test is a mandatory entry requirement, it is worth confirming your own colour vision status early, ideally before investing significant time pursuing a specific employer or training place. Therefore, a brief check with an optician in advance can save considerable disappointment later in the process.

What to expect once you start

Once registered as an apprentice, expect a structured rhythm alternating between practical, on-the-job learning under experienced tradespeople and dedicated off-the-job training blocks at your assigned training provider. Furthermore, Connect — Ireland’s largest trade union representing construction, electrical, and technical workers — provides support and representation for apprentices throughout this process, including guidance on pay rates and working conditions. Consequently, apprentices have access to genuine institutional support well beyond their individual employer relationship.

• CareersPortal — Painter/Decorator Apprenticeship Pay Structure — Detailed breakdown of Employment Salary and Training Allowance during the apprenticeship

Pay Progression Table

Apprentice to experienced tradesperson — how painter and decorator earnings progress in Ireland in 2026

How to read the table

The table below combines figures from Jooble, Indeed, and PayScale to give a realistic picture of how pay typically progresses across a painting and decorating career in Ireland. Furthermore, these figures represent averages drawn from multiple sources rather than a single legally binding scale, since — unlike plumbing — painting and decorating pay is not currently governed by its own Sectoral Employment Order. Therefore, actual pay for any individual role will depend significantly on the specific employer, region, and whether the work is residential, commercial, or specialist restoration in nature.