Painter salary: what painters actually make
BLS employer-survey wages for 225,190 painters, construction and maintenance nationwide, plus the union scale contractors must pay on federal jobs.
What painters, construction and maintenance earn: the full range
The middle half of painters, construction and maintenance earn between $21.46 and $29.65 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $37.89 ($78,810 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $18.00.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.00 – $21.46 | $37,440 – $44,640 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.46 – $29.65 | $44,640 – $61,660 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $29.65 – $37.89 | $61,660 – $78,810 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification. Union journeyman scale by county is in the prevailing-wage section below.
Painter pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $32.80 | 38% above |
| Illinois | $29.45 | 24% above |
| Alaska | $29.32 | 23% above |
| Washington | $28.68 | 21% above |
| New York | $28.64 | 21% above |
| District of Columbia | $28.61 | 20% above |
| Maine | $28.50 | 20% above |
| New Jersey | $28.49 | 20% above |
| California | $28.38 | 19% above |
| Delaware | $28.14 | 18% above |
| Connecticut | $28.12 | 18% above |
| Montana | $28.03 | 18% above |
| Massachusetts | $27.65 | 16% above |
| Missouri | $27.65 | 16% above |
| Minnesota | $27.54 | 16% above |
| Nevada | $27.11 | 14% above |
| North Dakota | $26.38 | 11% above |
| Vermont | $25.54 | 8% above |
| Colorado | $25.47 | 7% above |
| Pennsylvania | $25.06 | 6% above |
| Michigan | $24.35 | 3% above |
| Indiana | $24.16 | 2% above |
| Wisconsin | $24.08 | 1% above |
| Iowa | $23.90 | 1% above |
| New Hampshire | $23.88 | 1% above |
| Ohio | $23.77 | about the same as |
| Maryland | $23.62 | 1% below |
| Oregon | $23.51 | 1% below |
| Georgia | $23.24 | 2% below |
| Arizona | $23.20 | 2% below |
| South Dakota | $23.15 | 3% below |
| Kentucky | $23.13 | 3% below |
| Florida | $22.85 | 4% below |
| Virginia | $22.82 | 4% below |
| Nebraska | $22.73 | 4% below |
| Wyoming | $22.70 | 4% below |
| Louisiana | $22.31 | 6% below |
| New Mexico | $22.23 | 6% below |
| Utah | $22.14 | 7% below |
| Kansas | $21.88 | 8% below |
| Texas | $21.86 | 8% below |
| Oklahoma | $21.59 | 9% below |
| Idaho | $21.58 | 9% below |
| Mississippi | $21.54 | 9% below |
| West Virginia | $21.26 | 10% below |
| North Carolina | $21.21 | 11% below |
| Alabama | $21.12 | 11% below |
| Tennessee | $20.78 | 13% below |
| Rhode Island | $20.00 | 16% below |
| South Carolina | $19.64 | 17% below |
| Arkansas | $19.28 | 19% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $32.80 | $29.82 | #2 | 1,900 |
| Illinois | $29.45 | $29.45 | #5 | 6,820 |
| Alaska | $29.32 | $28.63 | #7 | 440 |
| Washington | $28.68 | $26.80 | #13 | 9,510 |
| New York | $28.64 | $26.54 | #14 | 13,040 |
| District of Columbia | $28.61 | $26.03 | #19 | 500 |
| Maine | $28.50 | $29.38 | #6 | 2,120 |
| New Jersey | $28.49 | $26.19 | #15 | 4,110 |
| California | $28.38 | $25.64 | #23 | 38,430 |
| Delaware | $28.14 | $28.20 | #8 | 480 |
| Connecticut | $28.12 | $27.14 | #11 | 2,230 |
| Montana | $28.03 | $29.63 | #4 | 920 |
| Massachusetts | $27.65 | $26.13 | #16 | 4,430 |
| Missouri | $27.65 | $30.45 | #1 | 3,980 |
| Minnesota | $27.54 | $27.93 | #9 | 3,810 |
| Nevada | $27.11 | $27.11 | #12 | 4,120 |
| North Dakota | $26.38 | $29.64 | #3 | 420 |
| Vermont | $25.54 | $26.06 | #18 | 550 |
| Colorado | $25.47 | $24.70 | #30 | 3,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $25.06 | $25.68 | #21 | 5,980 |
| Michigan | $24.35 | $25.31 | #26 | 4,920 |
| Indiana | $24.16 | $25.89 | #20 | 3,510 |
| Wisconsin | $24.08 | $25.59 | #25 | 3,350 |
| Iowa | $23.90 | $27.22 | #10 | 1,770 |
| New Hampshire | $23.88 | $22.92 | #39 | 910 |
| Ohio | $23.77 | $25.61 | #24 | 5,600 |
| Maryland | $23.62 | $22.50 | #45 | 3,750 |
| Oregon | $23.51 | $22.74 | #40 | 5,410 |
| Georgia | $23.24 | $24.13 | #34 | 2,760 |
| Arizona | $23.20 | $23.04 | #38 | 5,210 |
| South Dakota | $23.15 | $26.13 | #17 | 670 |
| Kentucky | $23.13 | $25.64 | #22 | 1,390 |
| Florida | $22.85 | $22.10 | #49 | 22,450 |
| Virginia | $22.82 | $22.57 | #43 | 5,930 |
| Nebraska | $22.73 | $25.23 | #28 | 1,590 |
| Wyoming | $22.70 | $24.49 | #32 | 480 |
| Louisiana | $22.31 | $25.29 | #27 | 4,090 |
| New Mexico | $22.23 | $24.11 | #35 | 1,010 |
| Utah | $22.14 | $22.39 | #47 | 3,510 |
| Kansas | $21.88 | $24.28 | #33 | 1,570 |
| Texas | $21.86 | $22.51 | #44 | 18,330 |
| Oklahoma | $21.59 | $24.59 | #31 | 1,880 |
| Idaho | $21.58 | $22.60 | #42 | 2,040 |
| Mississippi | $21.54 | $24.76 | #29 | 1,060 |
| West Virginia | $21.26 | $23.75 | #37 | 720 |
| North Carolina | $21.21 | $22.49 | #46 | 5,220 |
| Alabama | $21.12 | $23.78 | #36 | 1,570 |
| Tennessee | $20.78 | $22.61 | #41 | 3,040 |
| Rhode Island | $20.00 | $19.55 | #51 | 1,160 |
| South Carolina | $19.64 | $20.96 | #50 | 2,080 |
| Arkansas | $19.28 | $22.19 | #48 | 890 |
Painter wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.86 | $24.85 | 260,880 |
| 2000 | $13.10 | $24.49 | 261,040 |
| 2001 | $13.66 | $24.83 | 256,220 |
| 2002 | $13.98 | $25.02 | 257,140 |
| 2003 | $14.12 | $24.71 | 247,880 |
| 2004 | $14.55 | $24.80 | 249,560 |
| 2005 | $14.81 | $24.41 | 249,850 |
| 2006 | $15.00 | $23.95 | 263,390 |
| 2007 | $15.42 | $23.94 | 260,260 |
| 2008 | $15.85 | $23.70 | 250,310 |
| 2009 | $16.21 | $24.33 | 214,240 |
| 2010 | $16.48 | $24.33 | 189,840 |
| 2011 | $17.04 | $24.39 | 184,820 |
| 2012 | $16.92 | $23.73 | 184,330 |
| 2013 | $17.01 | $23.51 | 192,890 |
| 2014 | $17.29 | $23.51 | 204,600 |
| 2015 | $17.59 | $23.89 | 213,330 |
| 2016 | $18.06 | $24.23 | 217,280 |
| 2017 | $18.25 | $23.97 | 221,340 |
| 2018 | $18.72 | $24.00 | 228,420 |
| 2019 | $19.37 | $24.39 | 232,760 |
| 2020 | $20.25 | $25.19 | 217,880 |
| 2021 | $21.92 | $26.04 | 214,220 |
| 2022 | $22.16 | $24.38 | 215,680 |
| 2023 | $22.94 | $24.24 | 215,910 |
| 2024 | $23.40 | $24.02 | 224,180 |
| 2025 | $23.75 | $23.75 | 225,190 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median painter wage changed by -0.6% over the last ten years.
Highest-paying metros for painters
| Metro | Median $/hr | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $31.81 | $43.40 | 1,390 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $31.29 | $44.39 | 810 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $30.58 | $48.34 | 5,310 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $30.35 | $36.31 | 1,550 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $30.19 | $45.66 | 730 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $29.79 | $46.49 | 2,410 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $29.68 | $52.80 | 5,480 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $29.53 | $53.63 | 11,930 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $29.26 | $44.71 | 2,710 |
| Salinas, CA | $29.26 | $37.74 | 520 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $29.06 | $38.12 | 5,140 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $28.75 | $40.09 | 2,350 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $28.61 | $44.98 | 2,410 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $28.41 | $40.93 | 12,100 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $28.36 | $44.91 | 520 |
Union scale and prevailing wage for painters
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for painters in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 100% | $80.68 | — | 102/102 |
| Massachusetts | 100% | $80.32 | — | 14/14 |
| New Jersey | 100% | $75.41 | — | 20/21 |
| Hawaii | 100% | $74.10 | — | 5/5 |
| Alaska | 100% | $67.49 | — | 30/30 |
| Connecticut | 100% | $66.32 | — | 8/17 |
| California | 90% | $66.25 | $25.46 | 58/58 |
| Rhode Island | 100% | $64.37 | — | 5/5 |
| Wisconsin | 28% | $58.82 | $15.97 | 72/72 |
| Kentucky | 67% | $58.24 | $32.42 | 120/120 |
| Oregon | 100% | $57.53 | — | 13/36 |
| Kansas | 100% | $56.15 | — | 105/105 |
| Missouri | 55% | $56.07 | $26.91 | 115/115 |
| Washington | 100% | $55.94 | — | 39/39 |
| New York | 100% | $53.83 | — | 61/62 |
| Indiana | 98% | $52.86 | $7.25 | 92/92 |
| Pennsylvania | 100% | $52.01 | — | 63/67 |
| Ohio | 61% | $51.80 | $31.40 | 87/88 |
| Iowa | 72% | $48.71 | $24.27 | 99/99 |
| West Virginia | 31% | $48.19 | $31.98 | 45/55 |
| Montana | 7% | $45.78 | $19.18 | 56/56 |
| Michigan | 88% | $44.65 | $18.42 | 81/83 |
| Florida | 9% | $41.78 | $16.55 | 67/67 |
| District of Columbia | 100% | $41.02 | — | 1/1 |
| Virginia | 55% | $41.02 | $18.30 | 58/133 |
| Georgia | 11% | $40.90 | $16.29 | 159/159 |
| Colorado | 27% | $38.97 | $15.19 | 64/64 |
| Utah | 50% | $34.78 | $15.33 | 10/29 |
| New Mexico | 33% | $31.00 | $18.33 | 33/33 |
| Louisiana | 100% | $28.31 | — | 35/64 |
| Arkansas | 100% | $26.67 | — | 75/75 |
| Texas | 2% | $21.85 | $13.14 | 254/254 |
| Idaho | 2% | $17.42 | $16.12 | 43/44 |
| Alabama | 0% | — | $15.10 | 67/67 |
| Arizona | 0% | — | $16.13 | 15/15 |
| Delaware | 0% | — | $41.51 | 3/3 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $41.17 | 21/24 |
| Maine | 0% | — | $18.52 | 11/16 |
| Minnesota | 0% | — | $61.87 | 87/87 |
| Mississippi | 0% | — | $15.17 | 82/82 |
| North Carolina | 0% | — | $16.60 | 100/100 |
| North Dakota | 0% | — | $20.46 | 53/53 |
| Nebraska | 0% | — | $14.26 | 9/93 |
| New Hampshire | 0% | — | $20.62 | 10/10 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $58.64 | 17/17 |
| Oklahoma | 0% | — | $12.22 | 77/77 |
| South Carolina | 0% | — | $13.50 | 46/46 |
| South Dakota | 0% | — | $19.22 | 66/66 |
| Tennessee | 0% | — | $14.07 | 95/95 |
| Vermont | 0% | — | $20.25 | 14/14 |
| Wyoming | 0% | — | $24.03 | 23/23 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects painters, construction and maintenance employment to change by +3.0% over 2025-35, with about 24,900 openings a year from growth and people leaving the occupation. Typical entry education: No formal educational credential.
Compare painter pay with other trades
See how painter pay compares with other trades on the ranking of all trades and the comparison pages.
Questions this page answers
How much do painters make?
The median painter earned $23.75 an hour, or $49,400 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 225,190 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $21.46 and $29.65 an hour.
How much do painters make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $18.00 at the 10th percentile to $37.89 at the 90th, with a median of $23.75. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice painter make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $18.00 to $21.46 an hour ($37,440 to $44,640 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays painters the most?
Hawaii had the highest median at $32.80 an hour in May 2025, followed by Illinois ($29.45) and Alaska ($29.32). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are painter wages going up?
In today's dollars the median painter wage changed by -0.6% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $17.59 to $23.75.
Is painter a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $49,400 a year, a 90th percentile of $78,810, projected growth of +3.0% and about 24,900 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2141 (Painters, construction and maintenance). Wages exclude overtime and benefits.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, latest year.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national. Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.