Painter salary in Arizona
Median $23.20 an hour for 5,210 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Painter pay in Arizona: the full range
Arizona ranks 30th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 38th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $23.04). 5,210 painters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.6× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $19.32 – $21.81 | $40,180 – $45,370 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.81 – $28.16 | $45,370 – $58,560 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $28.16 – $30.59 | $58,560 – $63,640 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Painter pay by metro in Arizona
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $19.61 | $23.49 | $22.74 | $31.06 | 3,920 | 1% above |
| Flagstaff | $19.63 | $22.56 | $22.49 | $28.09 | 160 | 3% below |
| Tucson | $18.29 | $21.63 | $22.32 | $30.46 | 620 | 7% below |
| Lake Havasu City | $18.52 | $21.36 | $22.70 | $27.19 | 90 | 8% below |
| Prescott Valley | $18.34 | $21.21 | $21.58 | $26.94 | 190 | 9% below |
| Sierra Vista | $15.28 | $19.45 | $21.80 | $24.62 | 40 | 16% below |
| Yuma | $16.50 | $19.03 | $20.53 | $24.88 | 60 | 18% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Painter wages in Arizona over time
Table
| Year | Arizona $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.84 | $22.88 | $12.86 | 5,700 |
| 2000 | $11.69 | $21.86 | $13.10 | 5,230 |
| 2001 | $11.96 | $21.74 | $13.66 | 5,620 |
| 2002 | $12.07 | $21.60 | $13.98 | 5,440 |
| 2003 | $12.20 | $21.35 | $14.12 | 5,460 |
| 2004 | $12.77 | $21.76 | $14.55 | 6,030 |
| 2005 | $13.43 | $22.14 | $14.81 | 7,720 |
| 2006 | $13.66 | $21.81 | $15.00 | 8,800 |
| 2007 | $14.15 | $21.97 | $15.42 | 9,110 |
| 2008 | $14.37 | $21.49 | $15.85 | 7,090 |
| 2009 | $15.02 | $22.54 | $16.21 | 5,870 |
| 2010 | $14.96 | $22.09 | $16.48 | 4,380 |
| 2011 | $15.81 | $22.63 | $17.04 | 4,300 |
| 2012 | $15.45 | $21.66 | $16.92 | 4,130 |
| 2013 | $16.40 | $22.66 | $17.01 | 4,890 |
| 2014 | $16.84 | $22.90 | $17.29 | 4,880 |
| 2015 | $16.69 | $22.67 | $17.59 | 4,260 |
| 2016 | $16.82 | $22.56 | $18.06 | 4,730 |
| 2017 | $17.24 | $22.64 | $18.25 | 4,740 |
| 2018 | $17.18 | $22.03 | $18.72 | 5,450 |
| 2019 | $17.75 | $22.35 | $19.37 | 5,610 |
| 2020 | $18.53 | $23.05 | $20.25 | 5,710 |
| 2021 | $18.52 | $22.00 | $21.92 | 6,210 |
| 2022 | $21.38 | $23.52 | $22.16 | 5,470 |
| 2023 | $22.58 | $23.86 | $22.94 | 6,130 |
| 2024 | $22.74 | $23.34 | $23.40 | 6,780 |
| 2025 | $23.20 | $23.20 | $23.75 | 5,210 |
In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Arizona changed by +2.3% over the last ten years of data and by +3.8% since 2019.
Are there more painter jobs in Arizona?
Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Arizona has changed by -8.6%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -7.1%.
Table
| Year | Arizona jobs | Arizona index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5,700 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 5,230 | 92 | 100 |
| 2001 | 5,620 | 99 | 98 |
| 2002 | 5,440 | 95 | 99 |
| 2003 | 5,460 | 96 | 95 |
| 2004 | 6,030 | 106 | 96 |
| 2005 | 7,720 | 135 | 96 |
| 2006 | 8,800 | 154 | 101 |
| 2007 | 9,110 | 160 | 100 |
| 2008 | 7,090 | 124 | 96 |
| 2009 | 5,870 | 103 | 82 |
| 2010 | 4,380 | 77 | 73 |
| 2011 | 4,300 | 75 | 71 |
| 2012 | 4,130 | 72 | 71 |
| 2013 | 4,890 | 86 | 74 |
| 2014 | 4,880 | 86 | 78 |
| 2015 | 4,260 | 75 | 82 |
| 2016 | 4,730 | 83 | 83 |
| 2017 | 4,740 | 83 | 85 |
| 2018 | 5,450 | 96 | 88 |
| 2019 | 5,610 | 98 | 89 |
| 2020 | 5,710 | 100 | 84 |
| 2021 | 6,210 | 109 | 82 |
| 2022 | 5,470 | 96 | 83 |
| 2023 | 6,130 | 108 | 83 |
| 2024 | 6,780 | 119 | 86 |
| 2025 | 5,210 | 91 | 86 |
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.
Outlook for painters in Arizona
Arizona's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +16.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 9,690 to 11,240, with about 960 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,210 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Arizona labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Arizona
On federally funded construction in Arizona, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 15 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $16.13). 7 of the 15 counties still use a survey rate dated 2012 or earlier (for example Apache County at $16.13). The market median for the state is $23.20.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinal | Survey SUAZ2019-004 2023-06-12 | $23.00 | $3.64 | $26.64 | AZ20260041 |
| Maricopa | Survey SUAZ2019-002 2023-06-12 | $19.85 | $3.54 | $23.39 | AZ20260039 |
| Coconino | Survey SUAZ2019-006 2023-06-12 | $16.48 | $0.00 | $16.48 | AZ20260043 |
| Mohave | Survey SUAZ2019-006 2023-06-12 | $16.48 | $0.00 | $16.48 | AZ20260043 |
| Yavapai | Survey SUAZ2019-006 2023-06-12 | $16.48 | $0.00 | $16.48 | AZ20260043 |
| Apache | Survey SUAZ2012-011 2012-05-30 | $16.13 | $0.00 | $16.13 | AZ20260022 |
| Gila | Survey SUAZ2012-013 2012-05-30 | $16.13 | $0.00 | $16.13 | AZ20260024 |
| Graham | Survey SUAZ2012-014 2012-05-30 | $16.13 | $0.00 | $16.13 | AZ20260025 |
| Greenlee | Survey SUAZ2012-018 2012-05-30 | $16.13 | $0.00 | $16.13 | AZ20260029 |
| La Paz | Survey SUAZ2012-018 2012-05-30 | $16.13 | $0.00 | $16.13 | AZ20260029 |
| Navajo | Survey SUAZ2012-016 2012-05-30 | $16.13 | $0.00 | $16.13 | AZ20260027 |
| Santa Cruz | Survey SUAZ2012-017 2012-05-30 | $16.13 | $0.00 | $16.13 | AZ20260028 |
| Cochise | Survey SUAZ2019-001 2023-06-12 | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | AZ20260038 |
| Pima | Survey SUAZ2019-003 2023-06-12 | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | AZ20260040 |
| Yuma | Survey SUAZ2019-005 2023-06-12 | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | AZ20260042 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Arizona prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Arizona?
Keep comparing
Painter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Arizona
More on Arizona
Questions this page answers
How much do painters make in Arizona?
The median painter in Arizona earned $23.20 an hour ($48,250 a year) in May 2025, 2% below the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $21.81–$28.16; the top 10% earn more than $30.59.
Where does Arizona rank for painter pay?
Arizona ranks 30th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $23.20 an hour, and 38th after adjusting for Arizona's cost of living (BEA price parity 100.7, US = 100).
What is the union painter rate in Arizona?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a painter classification for most Arizona counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many painters work in Arizona?
BLS counted 5,210 painters in Arizona in May 2025, 1.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.11; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is painter work growing in Arizona?
The BLS employer survey count of painters in Arizona went from 4,260 in 2015 to 5,210 in 2025, +22.3%, and -7.1% since 2019. Arizona's labor market agency projects +16.0% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 9,690 to 11,240 jobs.
How many painter openings a year are there in Arizona?
Arizona projects about 960 openings a year for painters over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 24,900 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Arizona and metro areas, SOC 47-2141. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Arizona labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.