Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Colorado

Median $25.47 an hour for 3,480 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$25.47/hrMedian hourly wageColorado, May data
$52,970/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$19.51 – $37.3610th to 90th percentilehourly range
3,480Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Painter pay in Colorado: the full range

Wage percentiles, ColoradoMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrColorado: 10th $19.51 · 25th $22.70 · median $25.47 · 75th $28.68 · 90th $37.36Colorado$25.47$19.51$37.36United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters: Colorado vs United States, May 2025.

Colorado ranks 19th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 30th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.70). 3,480 painters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$19.51 – $22.70$40,570 – $47,210roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.70 – $28.68$47,210 – $59,650the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$28.68 – $37.36$59,650 – $77,710the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in Colorado

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrDenver: $27.92Denver$27.92Boulder: $25.37Boulder$25.37Grand Junction: $24.36Grand Junction$24.36Greeley: $23.59Greeley$23.59Fort Collins: $23.51Fort Collins$23.51Colorado Springs: $23.31Colorado Springs$23.31Pueblo: $22.61Pueblo$22.61
Median hourly wage for painters by metro area in Colorado, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Denver$22.32$27.92$26.39$38.931,67010% above
Boulder$22.59$25.37$24.12$36.65140about the same as
Grand Junction$17.27$24.36$25.51$34.59804% below
Greeley$19.28$23.59$23.54$36.121807% below
Fort Collins$19.33$23.51$23.25$34.162708% below
Colorado Springs$18.29$23.31$23.15$36.203608% below
Pueblo$20.94$22.61$24.63$36.855011% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Painter wages in Colorado over time

Colorado, 1999-2025ColoradoUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$25.47Colorado$23.75United States
Median hourly wage for painters, Colorado vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearColorado $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.09$23.36$12.864,970
2000$13.33$24.92$13.105,050
2001$14.11$25.65$13.665,860
2002$14.22$25.45$13.984,910
2003$14.72$25.76$14.124,640
2004$15.00$25.56$14.555,000
2005$15.70$25.88$14.815,040
2006$15.84$25.30$15.005,220
2007$15.90$24.69$15.424,720
2008$15.68$23.45$15.854,160
2009$17.25$25.89$16.213,370
2010$17.89$26.41$16.482,980
2011$18.48$26.45$17.043,050
2012$16.99$23.82$16.923,000
2013$16.33$22.57$17.012,930
2014$16.58$22.55$17.293,350
2015$17.46$23.72$17.593,700
2016$17.81$23.89$18.064,010
2017$19.08$25.06$18.254,090
2018$19.33$24.78$18.724,410
2019$20.05$25.25$19.373,960
2020$19.71$24.52$20.254,030
2021$22.55$26.79$21.924,000
2022$22.43$24.67$22.163,480
2023$22.96$24.26$22.943,440
2024$24.35$24.99$23.403,700
2025$25.47$25.47$23.753,480

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Colorado changed by +7.4% over the last ten years of data and by +0.9% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in Colorado?

-12.1%Jobs since 20193,960 then, 3,480 in 2025
-5.9%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.2Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 27th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Colorado has changed by -30.0%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -12.1%.

Painters, construction and maintenance in Colorado vs United States, 1999 = 100ColoradoUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages40608010012014020002005201020152020202586United States70Colorado
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Colorado vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearColorado jobsColorado indexUS index
19994,970100100
20005,050102100
20015,86011898
20024,9109999
20034,6409395
20045,00010196
20055,04010196
20065,220105101
20074,72095100
20084,1608496
20093,3706882
20102,9806073
20113,0506171
20123,0006071
20132,9305974
20143,3506778
20153,7007482
20164,0108183
20174,0908285
20184,4108988
20193,9608089
20204,0308184
20214,0008082
20223,4807083
20233,4406983
20243,7007486
20253,4807086

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 Colorado

+21.8%Projected growth in Colorado2024–2034, state agency
590Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
5,680Jobs in 20246,920 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Colorado's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +21.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,680 to 6,920, with about 590 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,480 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Colorado labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Colorado

On federally funded construction in Colorado, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 17 of the 64 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $38.97 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $15.19). 47 of the 64 counties still use a survey rate dated 2001 or earlier (for example Alamosa County at $15.19). The market median for the state is $25.47.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, COAdams: $38.97 (union)Alamosa: $15.19 (survey)Arapahoe: $38.97 (union)Archuleta: $15.19 (survey)Baca: $15.19 (survey)Bent: $15.19 (survey)Boulder: $38.97 (union)Broomfield: $38.97 (union)Chaffee: $15.19 (survey)Cheyenne: $15.19 (survey)Clear Creek: $38.97 (union)Conejos: $15.19 (survey)Costilla: $15.19 (survey)Crowley: $15.19 (survey)Custer: $15.19 (survey)Delta: $15.19 (survey)Denver: $38.97 (union)Dolores: $15.19 (survey)Douglas: $38.97 (union)Eagle: $15.19 (survey)Elbert: $38.97 (union)El Paso: $38.97 (union)Fremont: $15.19 (survey)Garfield: $15.19 (survey)Gilpin: $38.97 (union)Grand: $15.19 (survey)Gunnison: $15.19 (survey)Hinsdale: $15.19 (survey)Huerfano: $15.19 (survey)Jackson: $15.19 (survey)Jefferson: $38.97 (union)Kiowa: $15.19 (survey)Kit Carson: $15.19 (survey)Lake: $15.19 (survey)La Plata: $15.19 (survey)Larimer: $38.97 (union)Las Animas: $15.19 (survey)Lincoln: $15.19 (survey)Logan: $15.19 (survey)Mesa: $38.97 (union)Mineral: $15.19 (survey)Moffat: $15.19 (survey)Montezuma: $15.19 (survey)Montrose: $15.19 (survey)Morgan: $15.19 (survey)Otero: $15.19 (survey)Ouray: $15.19 (survey)Park: $38.97 (union)Phillips: $15.19 (survey)Pitkin: $15.19 (survey)Prowers: $15.19 (survey)Pueblo: $38.97 (union)Rio Blanco: $15.19 (survey)Rio Grande: $15.19 (survey)Routt: $15.19 (survey)Saguache: $15.19 (survey)San Juan: $15.19 (survey)San Miguel: $15.19 (survey)Sedgwick: $15.19 (survey)Summit: $15.19 (survey)Teller: $38.97 (union)Washington: $15.19 (survey)Weld: $38.97 (union)Yuma: $15.19 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hrsurvey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for painters by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)$20$25$30$35$40$45/hrPueblo (Pueblo): market median $22.61, prevailing (union) $38.97, gap +$16.36Pueblo (Pueblo)+$16.36El Paso (Colorado Springs): market median $23.31, prevailing (union) $38.97, gap +$15.66El Paso (Colorado Springs)+$15.66Larimer (Fort Collins): market median $23.51, prevailing (union) $38.97, gap +$15.46Larimer (Fort Collins)+$15.46Weld (Greeley): market median $23.59, prevailing (union) $38.97, gap +$15.38Weld (Greeley)+$15.38Mesa (Grand Junction): market median $24.36, prevailing (union) $38.97, gap +$14.61Mesa (Grand Junction)+$14.61Boulder (Boulder): market median $25.37, prevailing (union) $38.97, gap +$13.60Boulder (Boulder)+$13.60Adams (Denver): market median $27.92, prevailing (union) $38.97, gap +$11.05Adams (Denver)+$11.05
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in Colorado.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AdamsUnion PAIN0079-006 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260015
ArapahoeUnion PAIN0079-006 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260016
BoulderUnion PAIN0079-006 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260017
BroomfieldUnion PAIN0079-006 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260018
Clear CreekUnion PAIN0079-006 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260019
DenverUnion PAIN0079-006 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260020
DouglasUnion PAIN0079-008 2025-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260021
ElbertUnion PAIN0079-006 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260030
El PasoUnion PAIN0079-009 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260022
GilpinUnion PAIN0079-006 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260030
JeffersonUnion PAIN0079-006 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260023
LarimerUnion PAIN0079-009 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260024
MesaUnion PAIN0079-009 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260025
ParkUnion PAIN0079-006 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260026
PuebloUnion PAIN0079-009 2024-08-01$27.41$11.56$38.97CO20260027

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Colorado prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Colorado?

193.6kConstruction jobsColorado, 2026-09
+3.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k50k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025194kSep 2026
Construction employment in Colorado (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Colorado

More on Colorado

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in Colorado?

The median painter in Colorado earned $25.47 an hour ($52,970 a year) in May 2025, 7% above the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $22.70–$28.68; the top 10% earn more than $37.36.

Where does Colorado rank for painter pay?

Colorado ranks 19th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $25.47 an hour, and 30th after adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.1, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in Colorado?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 17 counties, with a typical package of $38.97 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many painters work in Colorado?

BLS counted 3,480 painters in Colorado in May 2025, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.84; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in Colorado?

The BLS employer survey count of painters in Colorado went from 3,700 in 2015 to 3,480 in 2025, -5.9%, and -12.1% since 2019. Colorado's labor market agency projects +21.8% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 5,680 to 6,920 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in Colorado?

Colorado projects about 590 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, Colorado 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: Colorado labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.