17/04/2025
Please take a little time to read this
Why Painters and Decorators Deserve to Be the Highest Paid Trade
In the world of construction and renovation, there’s one group of professionals that often gets overlooked, undervalued, and underpaid—painters and decorators. Yet, these are the very individuals who carry the weight of the final impression. When all is said and done, and the dust settles from every other trade, it's the painters and decorators who bring the project to life, giving it that polished, finished look that clients see, admire, and live with. Despite this, the value of their work is too often taken for granted.
It’s time to change the narrative. Painters and decorators should be the highest paid trade. Here’s why.
We’re the Finishers—and That’s Not Just a Title
Painters and decorators are the last on site, the ones who have to make sense of and work around every other trade's leftovers. We’re the ones smoothing out the rough patches, patching holes, sanding bad fills, correcting uneven plastering, disguising poor cable runs, and cleaning up after sloppy workmanship.
Electricians can leave chased walls in a mess, thinking "the decorator will fix it." Plumbers might tear through drywall or ceilings, and guess what? "The decorator will sort it." Even plasterers sometimes leave walls with rough textures, expecting the painter to sand and make good. Somehow, it’s always us—the final trade—who are expected to pick up the slack and deliver a flawless end result.
If we don’t correct those mistakes, we’re the ones blamed for the imperfections. If a wall doesn’t look right, no one says “the plasterer must have done a poor job.” They blame the painter.
The Responsibility of the First Impression
Let’s be honest—no matter how perfect the plumbing, electrics, or structure is, if the final paint job isn’t flawless, the whole project looks like a disaster. The work of every other trade is hidden behind our finish. Clients don’t compliment the internal wiring or how level the stud walls are—they look at the paint, the wallpaper, the trim. That’s where their judgment lands, and that’s where their satisfaction or disappointment comes from.
We make the first impression. We shape the client’s final thoughts on the whole job. That’s a massive responsibility, and it should be reflected in our pay.
The Pressure Is Always On Us
As the final trade, we’re constantly working under pressure. Deadlines are tight, and the other trades have usually run over. We’re given limited time to fix up what’s been left behind and still produce a high-quality finish. And if the project is late? You guessed it—the decorator has to work weekends or late nights to get things done on time.
We deal with every imperfection, every rushed job, every oversight—because if we don’t, it’s our reputation on the line. We’re artists with a trade background, perfectionists with a painter’s eye, and miracle workers with a filler and a sander.
We Bring Skill, Technique, and Vision
There’s a misconception that painting is easy—slap on some paint and you’re done. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Achieving a crisp finish takes skill, patience, and experience. Cutting in straight lines, achieving perfect coverage, understanding color theory, dealing with different surfaces and materials—all while making it look effortless—isn’t something just anyone can do.
Decorators also often advise clients on design choices, color schemes, and finishes. We're part interior designer, part craftsman, and part fixer-upper. That’s a broad skill set, and it deserves proper recognition.
Time to Flip the Hierarchy
So why is it that decorators are often paid the least in the trade hierarchy? Why do we receive the lowest rates despite carrying one of the heaviest loads in terms of expectations and accountability?
The simple answer is: the industry has always been this way. But just because it has been doesn’t mean it should be.
Painters and decorators should command the highest rates because we deal with the fallout from every other trade. We work to the tightest deadlines, bear the weight of the final impression, and are expected to deliver perfection every time. We don’t just paint—we rescue, repair, enhance, and complete.
In Conclusion
If you want your job to look like it belongs in a magazine, you call a decorator. If you want to impress a client, you need a skilled painter to put the final touch. If you want someone to fix the mess others leave behind—well, you already know who gets the call.
So the next time someone questions a decorator’s quote, remind them of this: we’re not just painters—we’re the finishers, the problem-solvers, the polishers of poor craftsmanship. And for that, we should be paid accordingly.
