Painting sits at the lower end of the construction award scale as an apprentice, and there’s a specific reason for it that’s worth understanding rather than just accepting. Here are the actual Fair Work minimums as at 1 July 2026.
What a painting apprentice earns
Legal minimums for a four-year painting apprenticeship in the residential sector under the Building and Construction General On-site Award (MA000020), for apprenticeships started after 1 January 2014.
| Stage | Weekly (38 hrs) | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year — did not complete Year 12 | $623.16 | $16.40 |
| 1st year — completed Year 12 | $679.12 | $17.87 |
| 2nd year — did not complete Year 12 | $735.07 | $19.34 |
| 2nd year — completed Year 12 | $791.03 | $20.82 |
| 3rd year | $902.94 | $23.76 |
| 4th year | $1,070.80 | $28.18 |
Painters and signwriters share a rate band that sits about $31 a week below carpenters in first year. That gap is almost entirely the tool allowance — a painter’s kit is cheaper to build and maintain than a carpenter’s, so the allowance folded into the rate is smaller. The base percentage of the qualified rate is the same.
Where painters make up the difference
Painting has one of the shorter gaps between apprentice and qualified earnings, and the trade is unusually accessible to solo contracting — low equipment cost, no heavy plant, and residential repaint work available year-round. A qualified painter can start taking their own jobs with a licence and a van rather than needing significant capital.
Spray work, protective coatings and industrial application sit well above domestic brush-and-roller rates. If you’re weighing painting against a higher-paying apprenticeship, that specialisation path is the honest counterweight.
Painting is licensed in more states than most trades
This is the real difference between painting and the other construction trades on pay. Several states require a painter’s licence to carry out painting work above a fairly low job value — not just to contract, but to do the work at all. NSW, Queensland and others have specific painting licence classes, and the thresholds are lower than for most trades.
That means the qualification has direct earning value the day you finish, and it’s worth confirming your state’s rules with NSW Fair Trading, the QBCC, the VBA or your local equivalent well before you complete.
Health matters more here than the pay tables suggest
Solvent exposure, isocyanates in two-pack products, and lead paint in pre-1970 housing are genuine occupational risks in this trade. Lead removal in particular has strict handling requirements. Proper respiratory protection isn’t optional, and it’s a legitimate thing to raise with an employer early in your apprenticeship.
What sits on top
The table is ordinary hours. Overtime runs at time-and-a-half for the first two hours then double time, with weekend and public holiday penalties. Most on-site apprentices also receive the daily fares and travel allowance. Commercial and civil work pays on a higher schedule, and an enterprise agreement on your site replaces the award entirely.
Your qualification
The trade qualification is CPC30620 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating, covering surface preparation, application by brush, roller and spray, decorative finishes and wallpapering across residential and commercial work.
How to check your exact rate
Run your details through the Fair Work Pay Calculator — award, sector, year, start date — for your legal minimum. If your payslip doesn’t match, the Fair Work Ombudsman’s free helpline is 13 13 94.
FAQ
How much does a first-year painting apprentice get paid?
From 1 July 2026, $623.16 a week without Year 12 or $679.12 with it, for residential work under MA000020 — $16.40 and $17.87 an hour.
Why do painters get paid less than other trades?
The base percentage is identical. The difference is the tool allowance built into the rate, which is lower for painting because the required kit costs less.
Do I need a licence to work as a painter?
In several states, yes — painting is licensed at lower job values than most trades. Check your state regulator, because the rules differ more here than in other trades.
Is painting a good trade financially?
Apprentice pay is at the lower end, but startup costs for contracting are among the lowest in construction and specialised coatings work pays well above domestic rates.
General information only — not financial or legal advice. Rates were correct at 1 July 2026 and change annually. Check the official source and your state authority before acting.
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