Do painters need to be registered in WA?

Yes, painting work valued over $1,000 in WA must be carried out by a registered painter under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011. Registration is issued by the Building Services Board and administered by Building and Energy. Only a registered painting contractor can contract with the public for jobs over $1,000, and registered painters must show their registration number in advertising. Some country areas sit outside the Board's jurisdiction.

How much do painters earn in Perth?

Qualified painters in Perth are commonly advertised at $38 to $50 an hour, with commercial and maintenance roles at the upper end. Casual and labour-hire roles have been advertised from about $42 up to $65 an hour including casual loading. Apprentices earn award minimums of roughly $16.75 to $28.53 an hour from first to fourth year. Self-employed registered contractors set their own income by quoting jobs.

How do I become a painter in Perth?

Most people become painters in Perth through a four-year apprenticeship that leads to a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating, combining paid work with a painting contractor and off-the-job training. After qualifying and building experience, you can apply to the Building Services Board for painting practitioner registration. To run your own business and quote jobs over $1,000, you also need painting contractor registration.

What is the difference between a painting practitioner and a painting contractor in WA?

A painting practitioner is registered as an individual tradesperson who can act as the nominated supervisor for a contractor, or work for or subcontract to one. A painting contractor is the registration a business or sole trader needs to contract directly with the public for painting work over $1,000. Every contractor must have a registered practitioner as nominated supervisor, and practitioner registration alone does not let you contract.

How much does an apprentice painter earn in WA?

An apprentice painter in WA earns award minimums of about $16.75 an hour in first year, rising to $28.53 in fourth year, on general building sites from July 2026 under the Building and Construction General On-site Award. These figures apply to junior apprentices who did not finish Year 12. Apprentices who completed Year 12 start slightly higher, at about $18.23. Rates include the tool and industry allowances.

Painting Jobs Perth

Painting and decorating roles across residential, commercial and industrial work in Perth, Western Australia.

Painting Jobs in Perth direct from employers

Advertised by the employer itself: State Government agencies, major WA employers and local businesses. Apply on the employer's own ad.

Research Officer (Painting Stories Project) — UWA — Crawley, Perth · Fixed term / contract · $86,540 – $95,920 p.a. · closes 18 Nov

Latest Painting Jobs in Perth

Industrial Blaster & Painters - Local & FIFO — MMFS — Perth, Perth Region — Jobs by
Painter Blaster — UGL Group — Perth CBD, Perth — Jobs by
Blaster Painter — Duratec — Perth, Perth Region — Jobs by
FIFO Painters - Expressions of Interest — Compass Group — Perth, Perth Region — Jobs by
Industrial Painter — George Edward Mann — Perth, Perth Region — Jobs by
FIFO Painter / Blaster – Shutdown Project — Tekk Group WA Pty Ltd — Perth, Perth Region — Jobs by
Painter Blaster — Engineering Trades Australia — Perth, Perth Region — Jobs by
Spray Painter and Powder Coater — MineARC Systems — Perth, Perth Region — Jobs by
Painter Blaster — CGC Recruitment — Perth, Perth Region — Jobs by

Painting Jobs in Perth Right Now: What the Ads Show

10 painting job ads are live for Perth on Jobs In Perth as of 9 November 2026: 1 posted by the employer directly and 9 via Adzuna. The newest went up 2 days ago and the oldest still open is 24 days old.

Only two ads state an annual salary ($104k and $115k), so most employers here leave pay to the interview. Ask for the award level or hourly rate before you apply.

By work type: 5 full time, 3 part time, 2 contract or fixed term.

Each of the 5 advertisers listed below has one ad open, so no single employer dominates right now.

Advertising now:

CGC Recruitment (1 ad)
Compass Group (1 ad)
Duratec (1 ad)
Engineering Trades Australia (1 ad)
George Edward Mann (1 ad)

Where the ads are:

Perth (8)
Crawley (1)
Perth CBD (1)

Hiring painters in Perth?

Reach Perth and WA job seekers directly. Post a job from $29 for a 30-day listing, or compare job ad pricing.

Not sure where these candidates look? See how to find painter staff in Perth.

About Painting Jobs in Perth

Painting jobs in Perth cover residential repaints, new-home painting for builders, commercial fit-outs, strata and property maintenance, and industrial coatings. Most painter jobs in Perth are with small and medium painting contractors, many of them family-owned, along with facility and property maintenance companies such as Programmed, which runs a commercial painting branch in Belmont and services sites as far as Rottnest Island.

Western Australia requires painters to be registered. Under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011, painting work valued over $1,000 must be carried out by a registered painter, and the Building Services Board issues two classes of registration: painting practitioner and painting contractor. Only a registered painting contractor can contract with the public for jobs over $1,000, and every contractor needs a nominated supervisor who is a registered painting practitioner. Registration is administered by Building and Energy, now part of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety, and registered painters must show their registration number in advertising. The rules apply across most of the state, with some country areas exempted.

Practitioner registration is assessed on qualifications and experience, typically a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating or a completed apprenticeship plus units from the painters' registration course, along with fitness and propriety. Apprentices are paid under the Building and Construction General On-site Award, which from July 2026 sets junior apprentice minimums of about $16.75 an hour in first year, rising to $28.53 in fourth year on general building sites. Advertised rates for qualified painters in Perth commonly sit between $38 and $50 an hour, with casual roles paying more once loading is included. Commercial experience, spray application skills and the ability to run a job without supervision all lift pay.

Residential work follows Perth's housing pipeline through the northern and south-eastern suburbs and the Peel region, while commercial and maintenance painting is concentrated in the CBD, West Perth and the inner suburbs. Industrial and protective coatings roles on resources and infrastructure sites usually ask for extra tickets such as working at heights, an EWP licence or confined space entry.

Painter Salary in Perth

Average salary ranges for painter positions in Perth:

Position Level	Salary Range
Apprentice Painter (junior, years 1-4, award minimum)	$16.75 - $28.53 per hour
Qualified Painter (residential)	$38 - $45 per hour
Commercial / Maintenance Painter	$40 - $50 per hour
Casual / Labour Hire Painter (incl. loading)	$42 - $65 per hour
Registered Painting Contractor (self-employed)	Quoted per job

Market Outlook: Demand tracks new housing, strata and commercial maintenance work across Perth. Painters who hold WA registration and commercial or spray experience have the widest choice of employers and can move into contracting.

How to Get Painter Jobs in Perth: Qualifications & Licences

Common qualifications and certifications required for painter positions:

Certificate III in Painting and Decorating or a completed painting apprenticeship
WA painting practitioner registration (Building Services Board) to act as a nominated supervisor
WA painting contractor registration to contract directly on jobs over $1,000
Construction Induction (White Card)
Working at heights training or EWP licence for commercial and industrial work
Driver's licence (most residential and maintenance roles)

Work Environment: Mostly on-site work in homes, new builds, offices and industrial sites, indoors and out. Expect ladders, scaffolds or EWPs, dust and fumes, and early starts in summer.

Who Is Hiring Painters in Perth

Major companies hiring for painter positions:

Programmed
West to West Group
Elite Painters
MTS Paint and Co.
BBC Painting
WA Painters

Painter Career Pathway in WA

Apprentice (0-4 years): Apprentice Painter and Decorator, Painter's Labourer
Qualified (4-8 years): Painter and Decorator, Commercial Painter, Maintenance Painter
Senior (8+ years): Painter Foreperson, Painting Estimator, Registered Painting Contractor