Mostly Resilient
Last Update: 11/4/2026
AI Resilience Score for Painters, Constr & Maint:
58.0%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
AI Resilience Report forPainters, Construction and Maintenance
$49,400 median salary•24,900 annual openings•SOC Code: 47-2141.00
Painters, Construction and Maintenance are somewhat more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 7 sources.
Painting is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because the physical, hands-on work that makes up most of the job, like prepping surfaces, caulking, handling tricky corners, and reading each unique jobsite, is still very hard for robots and AI to do reliably. While AI is taking over some of the paperwork side of the trade (things like writing bids, measuring surfaces, and managing schedules), those tasks are a smaller piece of what painters actually do day to day.
Learn more about how you can thrive in this position
This role is mostly resilient
Painting is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because the physical, hands-on work that makes up most of the job, like prepping surfaces, caulking, handling tricky corners, and reading each unique jobsite, is still very hard for robots and AI to do reliably. While AI is taking over some of the paperwork side of the trade (things like writing bids, measuring surfaces, and managing schedules), those tasks are a smaller piece of what painters actually do day to day.
Read full analysisAnalysis of current AI resilience
Painters, Constr & Maint
Updated quarterly
How can Painters, Constr & Maint prepare for AI?
Latest AI news for Painters, Constr & Maint
These articles highlight the evolving role of AI in the "Painters, Construction and Maintenance" fields. The AI-driven painting robot showcased in the first article could help alleviate the skills shortage in the industry, making it easier to tackle larger projects. Additionally, as noted in the discussion around job security, construction roles are less vulnerable to AI disruption compared to desk jobs, suggesting a stable future. Students entering these careers can find hope in the AI boom, which may enhance their work rather than replace it.
Kansas City data centers and AI flip the script on job security
thebeaconnews.org • 3/18/2026
KC's data center boom is a windfall for construction trades. But the AI inside those buildings is already reshaping who has job security.
An OpenAI cofounder 'vibe coded' an analysis of the U.S. labor market's exposure to AI
fortune.com • 3/15/2026
Andrej Karpathy used AI to gauge which U.S. professions are most vulnerable to the technology amid growing fears that a jobs apocalypse may...
Nvidia's Huang says AI boom will create 'six-figure salaries' for those building chip factories
www.cnbc.com • 1/22/2026
Nvidia's Jensen Huang and other leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos highlighted the importance of skilled trade work as AI...
The biggest winners — and losers — in the coming AI job apocalypse
www.businessinsider.com • 11/1/2023
Desk jobs are staring down decades of an AI job apocalypse. But careers like nursing, construction, and plumbing are booming — and safe from...
Video | AI-driven painting robot aims to address skills shortage
constructionmanagement.co.uk • 11/28/2022
A new AI-driven painting and decorating robot could help address a shortage of painters and decorators on larger-scale housing projects.
More Career Info
Career: Painters, Construction and Maintenance
They make buildings look new and protected by applying paints, stains, and coatings to walls and surfaces.
Parent Careers
Similar Careers
Alternate Titles
Building Trades Painter · Industrial Painter · Maintenance Painter · Painter · Commercial Painter · Facilities Painter · Highway Painter · House Painter · Professional Painter · Texturer
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$49,400
Jobs (2025)
326,900
Growth (2025-35)
+3.0%
Annual Openings
24,900
Education
No formal educational credential
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Erect scaffolding or swing gates, or set up ladders, to work above ground level.
2
Remove fixtures such as pictures, door knobs, lamps, or electric switch covers prior to painting.
3
Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting.
4
Wash and treat surfaces with oil, turpentine, mildew remover, or other preparations, and sand rough spots to ensure that finishes will adhere properly.
5
Use special finishing techniques such as sponging, ragging, layering, or faux finishing.
6
Waterproof buildings, using waterproofers or caulking.
7
Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare wood or metal, for finish coats.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
