Painter (Various)

Chicago Transit Authority; Skokie (IL); On-site; USD 47,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CTA Benefits

Job summary

Chicago Transit Authority is seeking a skilled painter to prepare interior and exterior surfaces of rail vehicles, equipment, and signs for painting. You will mix paints, match colors, and apply coatings using spray equipment and brushes.

This role requires attention to detail and the ability to work with various materials. The position emphasizes safety and quality, with union and benefits information available.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years verifiable experience as a painter.
• Experience painting rail vehicles, equipment, or signs is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of surface preparation, blending paints, and color matching.

Responsibilities

• Prepares interior and exterior surfaces of rail vehicles, cars, office furniture, or other equipment for painting.
• Mixes and blends paints to achieve desired color and texture.
• Spray paints various types of equipment and applies paint stripes.

Job description

Salary

$56.30

Position Summary

Prepares interior and exterior surfaces for painting such as rail vehicles, equipment, office furniture, and a variety of transportation signs.

Primary Responsibilities

• Prepares interior and exterior surfaces of rail vehicles, cars, office furniture, or other equipment, for painting.
• Mixes and blends paints and other surface products to achieve desired color and texture.
• Spray paints various types of equipment.
• Applies paint stripes on bodies of equipment.
• Performs all phases of sign work, including lettering.
• Utilizes silk screen or other screening processes to manufacture or fabricate signs, decals, etc.
• Prepares interior and exterior surfaces of various equipment for painting.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Reporting to this position are the following jobs:

Job Title

Challenges

Education/Experience Requirements

• Have a minimum of five years verifiable experience as a painter working for a painting contractor or recognized paint shop.

Physical Requirements

• Standing while painting, sanding, mixing paints, and cleaning supplies.
• Walking within work area.
• Sitting while painting signs, etc.
• Required to be able to lift material weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Carrying buckets, brushes, and supplies to and from work area.
• Pushing and pulling work supply cart, parts or items to be painted, hand truck or dolly, and scaffolding.
• Climbing up and down ladders, and atop scaffolding.
• Balancing while climbing ladder and walking atop rail cars.
• Stooping to prepare various surfaces for painting.
• Kneeling and crouching while painting under carriage of rail cars.
• Reaching for fresh air hood, paint brush, and other work supplies.
• Handling putty knife, nozzles for spray guns, sand paper, scraper, and wire brush.
• Fingering of trigger on paint gun, of masking tape and putty, and while taping surfaces and turning parts.
• Feeling to inspect paint surface conditions.
• Talking to discuss work procedures.
• Hearing instructions for a paint job and moving of rail cars.
• Seeing to observe paint surface, approaching rail cars, forklifts, etc.
• Seeing in color to inspect or observe color match and gloss, and to distinguish colors.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Required to have a working knowledge of preparing various surfaces for painting.
• Must have knowledge of the proportionate amounts of ingredients to use in mixing and blending paints.
• Must possess knowledge of the various methods used in applying paints.
• Must be able to distinguish colors and mix paint.
• Must have knowledge of various types of paint (acrylic, polyurethane, enamel, lacquer) and recommended thinners or reducers.

Working Conditions

• Subject to usual shop working conditions.
• May be required to paint sign located on outside of building, as well as rail cars positioned in the yards.
• May be required to remove graffiti.
• Extreme cold while working outside during winter months.
• Extreme heat in certain areas of the shop during summer months.
• Wetness and/or humidity while washing rail cars or other surfaces to be painted.
• Noise of rail car engines and various shop machinery.
• Vibration of spray booth fan and air hose.
• Mechanical hazards from sanders, grinders, and paint mixer.
• Electrical hazards from paint mixer and 600 volt third rail.
• Burn hazards from steam cleaning.
• Explosion hazards from certain paints.
• Chemical hazards from paint stripper, thinners, cleaners, solvents, caustics, and acids.
• Height hazards from walking on the roof of rail cars and working on scaffolding.
• Toxic fumes from paint, primer, cleaners, solvents, diesel fuel, caustics, and acids.
• Odors from turpentine, lacquer cleaner, caustics, and acids.
• Dust from sanding operation.
• Mist from water hose and steam cleaner.

Equipment, Tools, and Materials Utilized

• Various hand and power tools for surface preparation, various hand and power paint applicators.

Additional Details

Employees and/or union members will be given priority consideration in the hiring process, per the applicable labor contracts.

Rate to be determined by applicant's entered service date and service date in union jurisdiction of this classification.

CTA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

No employee or applicant for employment will be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, unfavorable military discharge, disability or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws; except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for our workforce and supporting the communities we serve. CTA will make reasonable accommodations for the known disabilities of otherwise qualified applicants for employment as well as its employees, unless undue hardship would result. If you require an accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact [e-mail] prior to the submission of your application or upon notification of your actual test date. CTA will work with you to determine if an accommodation can be provided.

TO BE CONSIDERED APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED IN THEIR ENTIRETY INCLUDING:

• UPLOADED RESUME / WORK HISTORY
• QUALIFICATIONS
• JOB ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

INFORMATION PROVIDED MUST BE ACCURATE AND TRUTHFUL.

Failure to respond to correspondences during the hiring process in a timely fashion may result in your application being closed out for non-responsiveness.

CTA Benefits https://www.transitchicago.com/hrbenefits/

Primary Location

USA-Illinois-Skokie

Job

Crafts and Trades

Job Posting

Sep 18, 2026, 1:42:22 PM

Position Type

Full-time Temporary (FTT)

Department

Rail Maintenance