As of August 2026, Painters, Construction and Maintenance has an AI-exposure score of 37/100 (Low exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Score inputs for this role: This role starts from O*NET 29.1 occupational descriptors and is empirically grounded by Penn/OpenAI GPTs are GPTs study, Anthropic Economic Index (June 26, 2026), Felten, Raj and Seamans AIOE index. BLS labor-market figures are separate context, not score inputs.

AI Exposure Score for

Painters, Construction and Maintenance

37/100
Low exposure
LowModerateElevatedHighVery High

More exposed than 5% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$49,400. About 28,100 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 - growth plus replacement).

Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) - your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.

Will AI replace Painters, Construction and Maintenance?

No exposure score can predict whether AI will replace this role. The 37/100 score means our current model estimates low task exposure from the sources listed on this page. It does not predict an employer decision, headcount, or an individual outcome. The task map below shows the work assessed and where human judgment remains important.

Early-career context (study ages 22-25)

This role is in our Low exposure band, not our highest-exposure bands. The study's 16% finding should not be applied directly to this role.

The November 2025 revision reports a 16% relative employment decline for workers ages 22-25 in the most AI-exposed U.S. occupations, after firm-level controls, relative to workers in less-exposed fields and more experienced workers in the same occupations.

Use the task map to identify durable work and the skills worth building early.

Stanford Digital Economy Lab, Canaries in the Coal Mine - November 2025 revision

This is group-level U.S. payroll evidence, not a personal forecast. The authors do not claim that AI alone caused the change, and this context does not alter the exposure score.

Data sources, not endorsements: O*NET and curated role data; empirical AI signals where matched; BLS employment, pay, and demand as separate context.Methodology Data sources
Role snapshot

What this role usually involves

O*NET 29.1 exact occupation

Paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns. May remove old paint to prepare surface prior to painting. May mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency.

Common titles
Building Trades PainterIndustrial PainterMaintenance PainterPainterCommercial PainterFacilities Painter
O*NET job-zone preparation
Job Zone 2 · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.

Broad guidance for this preparation level; exact requirements vary by role and employer.

Skills and knowledge
Critical ThinkingTime ManagementMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessCustomer and Personal ServiceBuilding and Construction
Work context
Decision latitudeFrequent contact with othersRepeating tasksIndoor controlled setting

Source: O*NET 29.1 exact occupation - Painters, Construction and Maintenance, SOC 47-2141.00. Context describes the role; the AI-exposure score remains a separate task-exposure estimate.

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Painters, Construction and Maintenance tasks, by AI exposure

Automatable

No automatable tasks identified for this role - its individually-assessed tasks split 59% durable / 41% augmentable.

Augmentable
  • Calculate amounts of required materials and estimate costs, based on surface measurements or work orders.
  • Select and purchase tools or finishes for surfaces to be covered, considering durability, ease of handling, methods of application, and customers' wishes.
5 more augmentable tasks locked in the report.
Durable
  • Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.
  • Use special finishing techniques such as sponging, ragging, layering, or faux finishing.
8 more durable tasks locked in the report.

We analyzed all 17 Painters, Construction and Maintenance tasks - 7 augmentable and 10 durable. The full task map - every task with exactly what to do about each - is in your Career Report.

Your report unlocks three concrete artifacts

Full task map

Every task scored with what to automate, augment, or protect.

Adjacent path comparison

Related roles with exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability. Lower-exposure options appear only when the data supports them.

30/60/90 plan + PDF

A keepable roadmap plus resume and LinkedIn repositioning.

Grounded in O*NET-linked or curated role data, with Penn, Anthropic Economic Index, and AIOE signals where matched. BLS labor-market context is separate - not generic advice.

Adjacent career paths

Relatedness shows how reachable a move may be. A path is labeled lower exposure only when its score is at least 6 points lower; every row shows the measured difference.

Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
72% skills overlap; 6 points lower - lower exposure; Low band; ~US$40,470
View path
31
7 more adjacent paths with exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability in your Career Report.
Agent Reality Check (on-site workflow preview)

Calculate amounts of required materials and estimate costs, based on surface measurements or work orders.

Check what deployed AI agents can attempt on tasks like this using dated capability evidence. You review the real task before any analysis runs.
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Your AI-Safe Career Report

Every task scored with what to do about it; adjacent paths with honest exposure deltas, salary, demand, and reachability; a skill-gap map; a 30/60/90-day roadmap; Agent Reality Check; plus a résumé and LinkedIn rewrite and professional PDF.
Grounded in O*NET-linked or curated role data, with Penn, Anthropic Economic Index, and AIOE signals where matched. BLS labor-market context is separate.

Workers with AI skills earn a roughly 62% wage premium - adapting pays. - PwC Global AI Jobs Barometer, 2026

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Important: This is an estimate of AI exposure, not a prediction that your job will disappear. It is designed to help you understand how your role may change and improve your career resilience.

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Painters, Construction and Maintenance - median pay by US state (BLS OEWS, USD)

New York: US$59,570California: US$59,020Florida: US$47,530Texas: US$45,460

Median annual wage, in USD. US national: US$49,400. More states are being added.

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