Painter salary: what painters actually make
Painters earned a median $23.75 an hour ($49,400 a year) in May 2025, across 225,190 jobs in the BLS employer survey. Pay by state and metro, the 20-year trend, and the union scale contractors must pay on federal work.
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.
The middle half of painters 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. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.
Apprentice, journeyman and master painter pay
Pay tracks licence and experience: an apprentice or entry-level painter earns near the bottom of the range, a journeyman around the median, and a master painter, foreman or specialist in the top quarter. The union pay scale (journeyman base plus fringe) for every county is in the prevailing-wage section.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.00 – $21.46 | $37,440 – $44,640 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.46 – $29.65 | $44,640 – $61,660 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $29.65 – $37.89 | $61,660 – $78,810 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification or licence requirement.
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 and by -2.6% since 2019.
Are there more painter jobs than there used to be?
The BLS employer survey counted 225,190 painters in May 2025, +5.6% compared with 213,330 ten years earlier and -3.3% since 2019.
Table
| Year | Jobs |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 260,880 |
| 2000 | 261,040 |
| 2001 | 256,220 |
| 2002 | 257,140 |
| 2003 | 247,880 |
| 2004 | 249,560 |
| 2005 | 249,850 |
| 2006 | 263,390 |
| 2007 | 260,260 |
| 2008 | 250,310 |
| 2009 | 214,240 |
| 2010 | 189,840 |
| 2011 | 184,820 |
| 2012 | 184,330 |
| 2013 | 192,890 |
| 2014 | 204,600 |
| 2015 | 213,330 |
| 2016 | 217,280 |
| 2017 | 221,340 |
| 2018 | 228,420 |
| 2019 | 232,760 |
| 2020 | 217,880 |
| 2021 | 214,220 |
| 2022 | 215,680 |
| 2023 | 215,910 |
| 2024 | 224,180 |
| 2025 | 225,190 |
Of the 23 states with a precise enough estimate to compare, 13 counted more painters in 2025 than ten years earlier. The fastest growth was in Oregon (+52.8%, 3,540 to 5,410); the weakest was Louisiana (-25.9%).
| State | Jobs in 2015 | Jobs in 2025 | Change over 10 years | Since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 3,540 | 5,410 | +52.8% | +13.9% |
| North Carolina | 3,700 | 5,220 | +41.1% | +45.4% |
| Florida | 16,960 | 22,450 | +32.4% | +18.5% |
| Nevada | 3,120 | 4,120 | +32.1% | +5.9% |
| Arizona | 4,260 | 5,210 | +22.3% | -7.1% |
| California | 32,450 | 38,430 | +18.4% | -0.2% |
| Michigan | 4,270 | 4,920 | +15.2% | +7.9% |
| Washington | 8,550 | 9,510 | +11.2% | -2.2% |
| Wisconsin | 3,070 | 3,350 | +9.1% | -9.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 5,570 | 5,980 | +7.4% | -3.1% |
| Massachusetts | 4,160 | 4,430 | +6.5% | -12.6% |
| Missouri | 3,750 | 3,980 | +6.1% | -6.4% |
| Minnesota | 3,600 | 3,810 | +5.8% | -4.7% |
| Virginia | 6,050 | 5,930 | -2.0% | +11.5% |
| Texas | 19,380 | 18,330 | -5.4% | -9.9% |
| New Jersey | 4,350 | 4,110 | -5.5% | -10.7% |
| Colorado | 3,700 | 3,480 | -5.9% | -12.1% |
| New York | 14,030 | 13,040 | -7.1% | -13.4% |
| Indiana | 3,790 | 3,510 | -7.4% | -6.6% |
| Ohio | 6,320 | 5,600 | -11.4% | -4.6% |
| Illinois | 8,250 | 6,820 | -17.3% | -22.4% |
| Maryland | 4,820 | 3,750 | -22.2% | -26.0% |
| Louisiana | 5,520 | 4,090 | -25.9% | -29.7% |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Where the painter jobs are
Maine has the highest concentration of painters, 2.3× the national share, followed by Hawaii (2.1×) and Oregon (1.9×). The lowest is Georgia at 0.4×. Concentration says where the trade is a large part of the local economy; the job count says where the most positions are.
| State | Jobs | Jobs per 1,000 | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 2,120 | 3.3 | 2.3× |
| Hawaii | 1,900 | 3.0 | 2.1× |
| Oregon | 5,410 | 2.8 | 1.9× |
| Washington | 9,510 | 2.7 | 1.9× |
| Nevada | 4,120 | 2.7 | 1.8× |
| Idaho | 2,040 | 2.4 | 1.6× |
| Rhode Island | 1,160 | 2.3 | 1.6× |
| Florida | 22,450 | 2.3 | 1.6× |
| California | 38,430 | 2.1 | 1.5× |
| Louisiana | 4,090 | 2.1 | 1.5× |
| Utah | 3,510 | 2.0 | 1.4× |
| Vermont | 550 | 1.8 | 1.3× |
| Montana | 920 | 1.8 | 1.2× |
| Wyoming | 480 | 1.7 | 1.2× |
| Arizona | 5,210 | 1.6 | 1.1× |
| Nebraska | 1,590 | 1.6 | 1.1× |
| South Dakota | 670 | 1.5 | 1.0× |
| Virginia | 5,930 | 1.4 | 1.0× |
| Alaska | 440 | 1.4 | 0.9× |
| Maryland | 3,750 | 1.4 | 0.9× |
| Missouri | 3,980 | 1.4 | 0.9× |
| New York | 13,040 | 1.4 | 0.9× |
| New Hampshire | 910 | 1.3 | 0.9× |
| Connecticut | 2,230 | 1.3 | 0.9× |
| Texas | 18,330 | 1.3 | 0.9× |
| Minnesota | 3,810 | 1.3 | 0.9× |
| Colorado | 3,480 | 1.2 | 0.8× |
| Massachusetts | 4,430 | 1.2 | 0.8× |
| New Mexico | 1,010 | 1.2 | 0.8× |
| Wisconsin | 3,350 | 1.1 | 0.8× |
| Iowa | 1,770 | 1.1 | 0.8× |
| Illinois | 6,820 | 1.1 | 0.8× |
| Michigan | 4,920 | 1.1 | 0.8× |
| Indiana | 3,510 | 1.1 | 0.8× |
| Oklahoma | 1,880 | 1.1 | 0.8× |
| Kansas | 1,570 | 1.1 | 0.8× |
| North Carolina | 5,220 | 1.1 | 0.7× |
| Ohio | 5,600 | 1.0 | 0.7× |
| West Virginia | 720 | 1.0 | 0.7× |
| Delaware | 480 | 1.0 | 0.7× |
| North Dakota | 420 | 1.0 | 0.7× |
| Pennsylvania | 5,980 | 1.0 | 0.7× |
| New Jersey | 4,110 | 1.0 | 0.7× |
| Tennessee | 3,040 | 0.9 | 0.6× |
| Mississippi | 1,060 | 0.9 | 0.6× |
| South Carolina | 2,080 | 0.9 | 0.6× |
| Alabama | 1,570 | 0.7 | 0.5× |
| District of Columbia | 500 | 0.7 | 0.5× |
| Kentucky | 1,390 | 0.7 | 0.5× |
| Arkansas | 890 | 0.7 | 0.5× |
| Georgia | 2,760 | 0.6 | 0.4× |
Metros with the most painter jobs
| Metro | Jobs | Median $/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 12,100 | $28.41 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 11,930 | $29.53 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 6,210 | $23.31 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 5,480 | $29.68 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,310 | $30.58 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 5,140 | $29.06 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,970 | $22.18 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 4,570 | $21.90 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,380 | $24.31 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 4,040 | $26.91 |
Highest-paying metros for painters
| Metro | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $31.81 | $28.66 | #5 | $43.40 | 1,390 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $31.29 | $29.63 | #4 | $44.39 | 810 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $30.58 | $26.45 | #21 | $48.34 | 5,310 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $30.35 | $29.78 | #3 | $36.31 | 1,550 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $30.19 | $28.01 | #8 | $45.66 | 730 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $29.79 | $26.98 | #16 | $46.49 | 2,410 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $29.68 | $28.65 | #6 | $52.80 | 5,480 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $29.53 | $26.23 | #23 | $53.63 | 11,930 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $29.26 | $27.92 | #9 | $44.71 | 2,710 |
| Salinas, CA | $29.26 | $26.84 | #18 | $37.74 | 520 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $29.06 | $26.16 | #25 | $38.12 | 5,140 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $28.75 | $30.23 | #1 | $40.09 | 2,350 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $28.61 | $26.81 | #19 | $44.98 | 2,410 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $28.41 | $25.01 | #37 | $40.93 | 12,100 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $28.36 | $28.33 | #7 | $44.91 | 520 |
Metros with at least 500 painters. Cost-of-living adjustment divides the median by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100); the adjusted rank is among the 83 metros with a parity.
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 | — | 8/8 |
| 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 | 60% | $41.02 | $16.58 | 80/133 |
| 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% | — | $61.14 | 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 the number of painters to change by +3.0% over 2025-35, from 326,900 to 336,700, with about 24,900 openings a year.
Of those openings, 1,000 a year come from growth in the number of jobs and 23,900 from replacement: 11,300 for people who retire or leave the workforce and 12,600 for people who move to another occupation.
BLS worker characteristics, 2025-35: typical education for entry: no formal educational credential; related work experience: none; on-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training. The Occupational Outlook Handbook entry describes the work.
What each state projects
State labor market agencies publish their own projections on a 2024–2034 cycle. Idaho projects the fastest growth for painters at +22.2%; by openings, California (4,890 a year), Florida (2,920 a year), Texas (2,370 a year) lead. 51 states publish a figure for this occupation.
| State | Jobs, 2024 | Projected, 2034 | Change | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 5,420 | 6,620 | +22.2% | 580 |
| Colorado | 5,680 | 6,920 | +21.8% | 590 |
| Wyoming | 820 | 960 | +17.4% | 80 |
| Arizona | 9,690 | 11,240 | +16.0% | 960 |
| Montana | 1,140 | 1,300 | +14.5% | 110 |
| Connecticut | 3,490 | 3,940 | +12.9% | 330 |
| West Virginia | 1,040 | 1,170 | +12.5% | 100 |
| Rhode Island | 1,420 | 1,600 | +12.3% | 130 |
| Florida | 31,280 | 35,040 | +12.0% | 2,920 |
| Oregon | 7,040 | 7,790 | +10.7% | 640 |
| Delaware | 720 | 800 | +10.5% | 70 |
| Tennessee | 5,090 | 5,620 | +10.4% | 460 |
| Nevada | 4,850 | 5,330 | +9.9% | 440 |
| Mississippi | 1,240 | 1,360 | +9.5% | 110 |
| Nebraska | 2,390 | 2,600 | +8.7% | 210 |
| South Dakota | 1,040 | 1,120 | +8.0% | 90 |
| Arkansas | 1,370 | 1,470 | +7.7% | 120 |
| Texas | 27,290 | 29,280 | +7.3% | 2,370 |
| Alabama | 2,730 | 2,920 | +7.1% | 240 |
| Vermont | 1,670 | 1,790 | +6.9% | 140 |
| Georgia | 4,740 | 5,060 | +6.8% | 410 |
| District of Columbia | 480 | 510 | +6.1% | 40 |
| New Mexico | 1,940 | 2,050 | +6.1% | 160 |
| Utah | 4,980 | 5,280 | +6.1% | 420 |
| Kentucky | 2,170 | 2,300 | +6.0% | 180 |
| New Jersey | 6,480 | 6,860 | +6.0% | 550 |
| Massachusetts | 7,160 | 7,550 | +5.5% | 600 |
| California | 58,100 | 61,200 | +5.3% | 4,890 |
| Maryland | 5,710 | 6,010 | +5.3% | 480 |
| New Hampshire | 1,440 | 1,510 | +5.2% | 120 |
| Wisconsin | 4,920 | 5,170 | +5.2% | 410 |
| North Carolina | 6,610 | 6,940 | +5.0% | 550 |
| South Carolina | 3,460 | 3,630 | +4.9% | 290 |
| Iowa | 2,640 | 2,770 | +4.8% | 220 |
| Virginia | 9,100 | 9,540 | +4.8% | 760 |
| Indiana | 5,470 | 5,720 | +4.6% | 460 |
| North Dakota | 610 | 640 | +4.6% | 50 |
| Illinois | 9,170 | 9,580 | +4.4% | 760 |
| Louisiana | 6,200 | 6,460 | +4.2% | 510 |
| Missouri | 6,090 | 6,340 | +4.1% | 500 |
| Pennsylvania | 8,960 | 9,330 | +4.1% | 740 |
| Hawaii | 2,550 | 2,650 | +3.9% | 210 |
| Minnesota | 6,430 | 6,680 | +3.9% | 530 |
| Kansas | 2,580 | 2,670 | +3.6% | 210 |
| Oklahoma | 2,830 | 2,910 | +2.9% | 230 |
| Michigan | 8,280 | 8,480 | +2.4% | 660 |
| Maine | 3,250 | 3,300 | +1.4% | 260 |
| Ohio | 9,060 | 9,160 | +1.1% | 710 |
| New York | 21,340 | 21,270 | -0.3% | 1,630 |
| Alaska | 540 | 530 | -2.2% | 40 |
| Washington | 18,620 | 18,110 | -2.7% | 1,290 |
Source: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central, 2024–2034 projections. State base counts include the self-employed, so they run higher than the BLS survey count above.
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 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.
Are painter jobs growing?
The BLS employer survey counted 225,190 painters in May 2025, +5.6% compared with ten years earlier and -3.3% since 2019. Looking ahead, BLS projects +3.0% growth over 2025-35 with about 24,900 openings a year, most of them replacing people who leave the occupation.
Which states will need the most painters?
By projected annual openings, the state agencies' figures put California (4,890 a year, +5.3% growth), Florida (2,920 a year, +12.0% growth), Texas (2,370 a year, +7.3% growth) at the top. Every state's projection is in the outlook table above.
Where are painters most concentrated?
Relative to the size of each state's workforce, Maine has the highest concentration at 2.3× the national share, then Hawaii (2.1×) and Oregon (1.9×). The largest absolute job counts are usually in the most populous states; see the map above.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2141 (Painters, construction and maintenance). Wages exclude overtime and benefits; job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, 2024.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35 (Tables 1.2, 1.10 and 1.12). Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.
- State projections: state labor market information agencies via Projections Central (Projections Managing Partnership), 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05. State figures include the self-employed.