Lead Painter

Shift Ladder; United States; On-site; USD 45,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Shift Ladder is seeking a skilled lead painter in the United States to oversee a 2-3 person crew and drive top-quality finishes. You’ll estimate options for clients, set up airless sprayers for large jobs, and personally handle the most demanding cut-in work on 20-foot ceilings, trim, and cabinets.

Your eye for color and spray proficiency will keep rooms looking flawless and on schedule. You’ll also ensure quality control in every room, coordinating tasks based on skill and weather or client

Qualifications

• Experience in painting leadership and crew coordination.
• Ability to supervise a small team and ensure quality finishes.
• Proficiency with spray equipment and high-precision cut-ins.

Responsibilities

• Estimate jobs and walk clients through product options.
• Manage a crew of 2-3 painters and assign tasks based on skill.
• Handle precision work—cut-ins, cabinets, trim, and detail pieces.
• Set up and operate airless sprayers for large projects.
• Quality-check each room before client handoff and spot any flaws.
• Keep projects on schedule despite weather or color changes.

Skills

Quality control

Education

3+ years painting experience + spray equipment proficiency

Tools

Precision cut-in

Detail work

Job description

You run the crew and the job. You estimate the project, pick the right products, manage 2-3 painters, and make sure the finished product looks flawless. You're the one doing the cut-in work on the hard stuff - 20-foot ceilings, detailed trim, cabinets - while your crew handles the roller work. You've developed spray skills that turn a room in minutes and an eye for color that would impress a Pantone engineer.

Salary Range

Low

$45k

Median

$52k

High

$58k

10-Year Growth

3%

US Workers

280K

Education

3+ years painting experience + spray equipment proficiency

Tools & Technical Skills

• Precision cut-in & detail work

People & Mindset Skills

• Quality control

What you'll actually do

• 01 Estimate jobs and walk clients through product options (no, the cheapest paint is not 'just as good')
• 02 Manage a crew of 2-3 painters and assign tasks based on skill level
• 03 Handle the precision work - cut-ins, cabinets, trim, and anything requiring a steady hand
• 04 Set up and operate airless sprayers for large commercial and residential jobs
• 05 Quality-check every room before the client sees it and find the one drip they'd notice
• 06 Keep the job on schedule despite weather delays and clients who change colors mid-project

Where this role sits in the bigger picture - and where it can take you.

Mid-Career 3-7 yrs Job estimation + crew coordination + spray systems

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