PAINTER

City of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Chicago is seeking a professional painter to perform journey level work on interior and exterior walls, floors, ceilings, and municipal facilities. You will read blueprints, prepare surfaces, apply primers and finishes, and maintain equipment.

The role requires completing a DOL-registered painting apprenticeship or approved equivalent, with journeyman status, and a valid Illinois driver's license. Work includes scaffolding, pavement markings, and reports; hiring follows seniority and

Qualifications

• Successful completion of a U.S. Department of Labor registered painting apprenticeship training program and journeyman status.
• Successful completion of a company- or industry-sponsored apprenticeship training program as a painter, PLUS two (2) years of journey-level work experience as a painter.
• Five (5) years of journey-level work experience as a painter.

Responsibilities

• Reads blueprints, specifications, and work orders to assess work required and to determine most appropriate preparation and application methods to use.
• Applies primer, paint, stain, varnish and other finishes to multi-surfaces such as concrete, metal, glass, wood, vinyl, sheetrock and plaster with sprayers, rollers and brushes.
• Cleans and prepares surfaces to ensure paint and other finishes will adhere properly.
• Fills and smooth's holes, cracks, and joints with spackle, caulk, and compounds.
• Removes old paint from wood, brick, metal and other surfaces by stripping, sanding, and wire brushing, air blasting and power washing.
• Erects scaffolding and ladders to perform painting work above ground level.
• Mixes latex and oil-based paints, tints primers and prepares epoxies.
• Paints viaducts, crosswalks, stripes parking lots, and apply street pavement markings such as stop bars, skip dashes, bike lanes and symbols, and other markings.
• Loads and unloads equipment and supplies from work vehicle.
• Spreads drop clothes to protect equipment and surrounding areas.
• Cleans paint applicators, equipment and work sites after paint jobs are completed.
• Preparing work activity reports.

Education

DOL-registered painting apprenticeship

Company/industry-sponsored painter apprenticeship

Five years journey-level painter experience

Job description

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CST on 9/09/2026

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF PAINTERS ALLIED TRADE COUNCIL, LOCAL 14 (BARGAINING UNIT #39). Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

Under supervision, performs journey level work in the preparation and painting of interior and exterior walls, floors, ceilings, structures and surfaces of municipal facilities; and performs related duties as required

• Reads blueprints, specifications, and work orders to assess work required and to determine most appropriate preparation and application methods to use
• Applies primer, paint, stain, varnish and other finishes to multi-surfaces such as, concrete, metal, glass, wood, vinyl, sheetrock and plaster with sprayers, rollers and brushes
• Cleans and prepares surfaces to ensure paint and other finishes will adhere properly
• Fills and smooth's holes, cracks, and joints with spackle, caulk, and compounds
• Removes old paint from wood, brick, metal and other surfaces by stripping, sanding, and wire brushing, air blasting and power washing
• Erects scaffolding and ladders to perform painting work above ground level
• Mixes latex and oil-based paints, tints primers and prepares epoxies
• Paints viaducts, crosswalks, stripes parking lots, and apply street pavement markings such as, stop bars, skip dashes, bike lanes and symbols, and other markings
• Loads and unloads equipment and supplies from work vehicle
• Spreads drop clothes to protect equipment and surrounding areas
• Cleans paint applicators, equipment and work sites after paint jobs are completed
• Preparing work activity reports
• Moves furnishings, equipment and other obstacles to complete painting jobs, as needed

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.

Location: 1869 W PERSHING RD

Days: Varies

Hours: Varies

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training, and Experience

Successful completion of a U.S. Department of Labor registered painting apprenticeship training program and journeyman status; OR, should the above criteria not be fulfilled, the following options are available:

• Successful completion of a company- or industry-sponsored apprenticeship training program as a painter, PLUS two (2) years of journey-level work experience as a painter
• Five (5) years of journey-level work experience as a painter

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

• A valid State of Illinois driver's license is required
• Some positions may require completion of a U.S. Department of Labor Outreach Training
• Program (OSHA card)
• Some positions may require an EPA Lead Abatement Certification
• Some positions may require previous work experience painting concrete viaducts and using paint to create pavement markings including curbs, gutters, stop bars, crosswalks, skipping dashes, bike lanes and symbols

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This is a non-interview title and does not require a test. Bidderswho APPLY CORRECTLY will be selected in seniority order in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. Non-Bidders who APPLY CORRECTLY will be hired in lottery/random order.

Application Evaluation:

The initial evaluation will be based on information provided in the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state, and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on an eligibility list in lottery order. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:

To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience, the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference for applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration.

These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair ChanceEmployer.

City of Chicago

Job Posting

Aug 26, 2026, 5:00:00 AM | Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External : Sep 10, 2026, 4:59:00 AM