The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) covers the finishing trades: the work that happens after a building's structure is up and before people move in, plus the coatings that keep bridges and steel from rusting away. An IUPAT apprenticeship can make you a commercial painter, an industrial painter, a drywall finisher, a glazier, a floor coverer, or a sign, display or trade show worker. These are very different jobs that share a union. This guide compares them, lays out what the pay data says, and explains how the IUPAT apprenticeship is set up.
The IUPAT trades at a glance
IUPAT's training arm, the Finishing Trades Institute, lists apprenticeships in seven crafts: commercial painter, drywall finisher, floor coverer, glazier, industrial painter, sign and display worker, and trade show worker. Not every district council runs every program, so the first question to ask your local is which ones it offers.
| Trade | What the work is | Best fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial painter | Prep and coating of offices, schools, hospitals and other nonresidential interiors and exteriors, often over large areas | People who like visible results and steady building work |
| Industrial painter | Corrosion-resistant coatings on bridges, water towers, ships and machinery; containment of hazardous material; quality control | People comfortable with heights, travel and protective suits |
| Drywall finisher | Taping, mudding and sanding wallboard to a paint-ready finish | Detail-oriented people who take pride in a flawless surface |
| Glazier | Installing glass, storefronts and architectural glass systems; cutting, setting and sealing | People who like precision, teamwork and working on building exteriors |
| Floor coverer | Installing commercial flooring materials | People comfortable with layout and kneeling work |
| Sign, display and trade show | Building and installing exhibits, displays and signage | People who like varied, event-driven work |
IUPAT trades pay: painters vs. glaziers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes separate data on painters and glaziers, the two largest IUPAT crafts (BLS, May 2025):
| Measure | Painters, construction and maintenance | Glaziers |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $49,400 ($23.75/hr) | $57,080 ($27.44/hr) |
| Lowest 10% | Under $37,440 | Under $37,300 |
| Highest 10% | Over $78,810 | Over $89,790 |
| Jobs (2025) | 326,900 | 59,200 |
| Projected growth, 2025–35 | 3% | 2% |
| Openings per year | About 24,900 | About 3,900 |
Two details in the painter data are worth noticing. First, 31 percent of painters are self-employed, and much of the field is residential repaint work, which pulls the median down. Union painting is mostly commercial and industrial. Second, BLS reports a median of $69,660 for painters working for government (excluding schools and hospitals), well above the overall figure, which suggests maintenance painting on public infrastructure pays better than average.
For glaziers, BLS notes that those working at heights may be eligible for hazard pay, and that 67 percent work for foundation, structure and building exterior contractors, the commercial exterior work where union glaziers are concentrated.
Drywall finishers are reported separately by BLS and are not covered in the figures above, so check your local's wage sheet for that craft. In every case, compare total packages, not just hourly rates. Our union money guide explains how health and pension contributions change the picture.
How the IUPAT apprenticeship works
According to IUPAT, a typical apprenticeship lasts three years, and prior experience in a craft can shorten it considerably. Apprentices complete at least 144 hours of classroom instruction, alongside a minimum number of on-the-job hours each year set by the Department of Labor's apprenticeship standards. Training covers an introduction to the union and the finishing trades, health and safety, and leadership and professional development, and apprentices are assessed with hands-on tests, written tests and on-the-job performance. Apprentices also get access to the institute's online learning system for tracking coursework.
BLS figures line up with that. It describes painter apprenticeships as lasting 3 to 4 years, requiring a high school diploma or equivalent and a minimum age of 18. For glaziers, BLS describes a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship or on-the-job training, with the same diploma and age requirements, and notes that apprenticeships are often run by local union-management finishing trades committees. Glazier technical training covers installation techniques, blueprint reading and sketching, general construction, safety and first aid.
Pay works the same way as other union apprenticeships. Apprentices start at a share of the journey rate and move up as they progress. Ask your district council for its exact step schedule.
Licenses and certifications that matter
The finishing trades have a few credential wrinkles that other building trades do not:
- Lead paint. BLS notes that the EPA certifies individuals for lead paint abatement and that some states also license lead removal. If you will work on older buildings or steel structures, expect lead training.
- Glazier licensing. BLS says some states require glaziers to be licensed, usually through a test plus education and work experience. Check your state's rules early.
- Height and access training. BLS points out that painters who use scaffolding or harnesses may need extra safety training. Industrial painters and glaziers spend a lot of time on lifts, swing stages and scaffolds.
- Confined spaces and blasting. Industrial painters working inside tanks wear self-contained suits, and abrasive blasting requires additional protective gear. These are trained skills, not on-the-fly tasks.
Where IUPAT ends and the carpenters begin
Interior finishing is one place where unions' work can overlap, and newcomers often apply to the wrong one. The split usually runs like this:
- Hanging versus finishing drywall. Carpenters' councils train interior systems carpenters to frame metal studs and build wall partitions, and residential carpenters can hang board too. Taping, mudding and sanding those walls to a paint-ready surface is the drywall finisher's job, and that craft sits with IUPAT.
- Floor covering. Both IUPAT and some carpenters' regional councils list floor coverer as a craft. Which union covers flooring in your area depends on local agreements and history. Ask both before you apply.
- Glass versus frames. Glaziers handle cutting, setting and sealing glass and installing storefront and architectural glass systems. Where one craft's work ends and another's begins can depend on the job and local practice.
The practical takeaway: if you know you want finish work such as smooth walls, coatings or glass, IUPAT is your union. If you want to build the framing behind the finish, look at the carpenters. Our which union represents your trade reference covers the rest of the building trades.
Industrial painting deserves its own mention here because it is the craft people overlook most. BLS describes industrial painters as coating machinery, ships, bridges and water towers with corrosion-resistant systems, containing work areas so hazardous material does not reach the public, and doing quality control on the finished coating. That last part matters. Coatings on steel infrastructure are inspected and specified, and a painter who understands surface prep and film build is doing technical work, not just rolling paint.
Painter, glazier or drywall finisher: how to choose
Here is a practical way to sort it out:
- Want the highest median among these? Glazier, according to BLS. The trade-off is heavy glass, heights and a smaller job count.
- Want the most openings? Painting, with about 24,900 openings a year across the occupation.
- Comfortable with heights and travel? Industrial painting. BLS notes that industrial painters may travel and that bridge and building painters can work at extreme heights, sometimes suspended by ropes or cables.
- Prefer indoor work? Drywall finishing or commercial interior painting, with fewer weather days lost.
- Like events and variety? Sign, display and trade show work, if your district council offers it.
The physical side of the finishing trades
BLS describes painting as physically demanding, with bending, kneeling, reaching and climbing, and lists the ability to lift at least 50 pounds as an important quality. Common injuries include falls from ladders, muscle strains and exposure to drywall dust and other irritants. For glaziers, BLS lists cuts from glass and tools, falls from ladders and scaffolding, and solvent exposure, along with long periods of standing, bending and lifting heavy glass. Outdoor painting can be seasonal in colder climates.
None of that is unusual for construction, but it shapes the career. Respirators, fall protection and dust control are daily habits, not occasional ones. BLS also notes that union painters may move into roles such as union official, training instructor or business manager, which gives you options beyond the field later on.
How to get into an IUPAT apprenticeship
- Find your district council. IUPAT organizes through district councils, and the local joint apprenticeship committee handles applications.
- Pick a craft before you apply. Use the table above, then ask which programs are taking applicants.
- Gather documents. Plan on a diploma or equivalent and proof you are 18 or older; a driver's license is often required to reach job sites.
- Ask about prior-experience credit. IUPAT says experience can shorten the apprenticeship, so document any painting, drywall or glass work you have done. Our guide on proving trades experience can help.
- Check state glazier licensing if you are leaning toward glass.
Bottom line
Verdict: IUPAT is really several careers under one union. Choose glazing for the highest median pay and a technical exterior trade, industrial painting if you want heights, travel and infrastructure work, and commercial painting or drywall finishing if you want indoor work with more openings. The typical three-year apprenticeship is shorter than many building trades, and prior experience can shorten it further.