UK AI Job-Risk Index · SOC 2010 5323

Ranks #287 of 293 for AI exposure (1 = most exposed)

How exposed to AI are painters and decorators?

4/100

AI exposure score (percentile of 365 UK occupations)

Very low

#287

of 293 UK occupations (1 = most exposed)

£25,617

median full-time pay (ONS ASHE 2020) · 21,000 employee jobs

Painters and decorators sits in the very low exposure band: its abilities overlap with current AI applications more than about 4% of the 365 UK occupations the Department for Education scored. Lower exposure usually means more of the work depends on physical, practical or in-person abilities that current AI applications do not cover well. It does not mean the job will be untouched by technology.

Underlying scores: AIOE (all AI) -1.64, LLM exposure -1.41 (standardised; 0 is the average occupation). Skill level: Level 3. Pay and job counts are 2020 figures, so use them to compare occupations rather than as current salaries.

Job titles in this occupation

Titles the ONS SOC 2010 coding index places in unit group 5323 (30 of 33 shown). If your job title is here, this page uses the right figures for you.

artexer · painter · decorator · brush hand · red leader · paperhanger · artex worker · paper hanger · prime coater · ship painter · ship sprayer · wood stainer · house painter · wood polisher · bridge painter · bridge sprayer · piano polisher · scenic painter · french polisher · house decorator · ceiling texturer · buildings painter · buildings sprayer · painter-decorator · ceiling specialist · furniture polisher · industrial painter · chipper and painter · grainer and marbler · painter and glazier

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Next steps

Lower-risk related jobs

Occupations in the same SOC 2010 sub-major group with a lower AI exposure score, highest-paid first. Pay difference is against £25,617 (ONS ASHE 2020 median, full-time). Switching usually needs retraining; this is a starting point, not advice.

OccupationExposureMedian payDifference
Floorers and wall tilers2/100£27,376+£1,759
Roofers, roof tilers and slaters1/100£26,989+£1,372

Compare these side by side →

Occupations with similar exposure

← #286 Fork-lift truck drivers · #288 Launderers, dry cleaners and pressers →

Source: Department for Education (2023), The impact of AI on UK jobs and training (AIOE scores); ONS ASHE 2020 Table 14; job titles from the ONS SOC 2010 coding index (v7). Exposure is not a prediction of job loss. Methodology · Embed this data

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