Painter salary in Connecticut
Median $28.12 an hour for 2,230 painters, construction and maintenance, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Painter pay in Connecticut: the full range
Connecticut ranks 11th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 11th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.14). 2,230 painters, construction and maintenance work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $19.29 – $22.90 | $40,120 – $47,630 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.90 – $36.74 | $47,630 – $76,420 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $36.74 – $44.42 | $76,420 – $92,390 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Painter pay by metro in Connecticut
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $21.10 | $28.65 | $38.07 | 480 | 2% above |
| Norwich | $20.86 | $28.24 | $37.98 | 420 | about the same as |
| Hartford | $18.50 | $28.14 | $58.09 | 630 | about the same as |
| New Haven | $18.74 | $28.12 | $38.92 | 340 | about the same as |
| Waterbury | $18.98 | $26.77 | $40.43 | 210 | 5% below |
Painter wages in Connecticut over time
Table
| Year | Connecticut $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.12 | $23.42 | $12.86 | 2,920 |
| 2000 | $15.05 | $28.14 | $13.10 | 2,800 |
| 2001 | $15.75 | $28.63 | $13.66 | 2,820 |
| 2002 | $16.10 | $28.81 | $13.98 | 2,610 |
| 2003 | $16.68 | $29.18 | $14.12 | 2,350 |
| 2004 | $17.07 | $29.09 | $14.55 | 2,400 |
| 2005 | $16.66 | $27.46 | $14.81 | 2,600 |
| 2006 | $17.69 | $28.25 | $15.00 | 2,380 |
| 2007 | $17.50 | $27.17 | $15.42 | 2,460 |
| 2008 | $18.18 | $27.18 | $15.85 | 2,230 |
| 2009 | $17.56 | $26.35 | $16.21 | 1,690 |
| 2010 | $18.11 | $26.74 | $16.48 | 1,480 |
| 2011 | $18.12 | $25.93 | $17.04 | 1,660 |
| 2012 | $17.50 | $24.54 | $16.92 | 1,660 |
| 2013 | $17.93 | $24.78 | $17.01 | 1,580 |
| 2014 | $18.96 | $25.78 | $17.29 | 1,600 |
| 2015 | $19.53 | $26.53 | $17.59 | 1,770 |
| 2016 | $19.22 | $25.78 | $18.06 | 1,740 |
| 2017 | $20.57 | $27.02 | $18.25 | 1,910 |
| 2018 | $22.09 | $28.32 | $18.72 | 1,920 |
| 2019 | $22.37 | $28.17 | $19.37 | 1,860 |
| 2020 | $22.87 | $28.45 | $20.25 | 1,580 |
| 2021 | $22.99 | $27.31 | $21.92 | 1,720 |
| 2022 | $23.59 | $25.95 | $22.16 | 1,840 |
| 2023 | $24.47 | $25.85 | $22.94 | 1,810 |
| 2024 | $25.78 | $26.46 | $23.40 | 2,010 |
| 2025 | $28.12 | $28.12 | $23.75 | 2,230 |
In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Connecticut changed by +6.0% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Connecticut
On federally funded construction in Connecticut, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 8 of the 8 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $66.32 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $28.12.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield | Union PAIN0011-021 2025-06-01 | $39.57 | $26.75 | $66.32 | CT20260020 |
| Hartford | Union PAIN0011-021 2025-06-01 | $39.57 | $26.75 | $66.32 | CT20260021 |
| Litchfield | Union PAIN0011-021 2025-06-01 | $39.57 | $26.75 | $66.32 | CT20260019 |
| Middlesex | Union PAIN0011-021 2025-06-01 | $39.57 | $26.75 | $66.32 | CT20260022 |
| New Haven | Union PAIN0011-021 2025-06-01 | $39.57 | $26.75 | $66.32 | CT20260023 |
| New London | Union PAIN0011-021 2025-06-01 | $39.57 | $26.75 | $66.32 | CT20260024 |
| Tolland | Union PAIN0011-021 2025-06-01 | $39.57 | $26.75 | $66.32 | CT20260025 |
| Windham | Union PAIN0011-021 2025-06-01 | $39.57 | $26.75 | $66.32 | CT20260026 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Connecticut prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Connecticut?
Keep comparing
Painter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Connecticut
Questions this page answers
How much do painters make in Connecticut?
The median painter in Connecticut earned $28.12 an hour ($58,480 a year) in May 2025, 18% above the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $22.90–$36.74; the top 10% earn more than $44.42.
Where does Connecticut rank for painter pay?
Connecticut ranks 11th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $28.12 an hour, and 11th after adjusting for Connecticut's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.6, US = 100).
What is the union painter rate in Connecticut?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 8 counties, with a typical package of $66.32 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many painters work in Connecticut?
BLS counted 2,230 painters, construction and maintenance in Connecticut in May 2025, 1.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.91; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Connecticut and metro areas, SOC 47-2141.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.