Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Idaho

Median $21.58 an hour for 2,040 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$21.58/hrMedian hourly wageIdaho, May data
$44,880/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$16.54 – $29.2810th to 90th percentilehourly range
2,040Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Painter pay in Idaho: the full range

Wage percentiles, IdahoMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrIdaho: 10th $16.54 · 25th $17.73 · median $21.58 · 75th $23.03 · 90th $29.28Idaho$21.58$16.54$29.28United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters: Idaho vs United States, May 2025.

Idaho ranks 43rd of 51 states for median painter pay, and 42nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $22.60). 2,040 painters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$16.54 – $17.73$34,390 – $36,880roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$17.73 – $23.03$36,880 – $47,890the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$23.03 – $29.28$47,890 – $60,890the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in Idaho

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrCoeur d'Alene: $22.07Coeur d'Alene$22.07Boise: $21.88Boise$21.88Idaho Falls: $21.34Idaho Falls$21.34Logan: $20.19Logan$20.19Twin Falls: $19.92Twin Falls$19.92
Median hourly wage for painters by metro area in Idaho, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Coeur d'Alene$17.59$22.07$22.45$28.892202% above
Boise$16.90$21.88$22.24$29.741,0301% above
Idaho Falls$16.87$21.34$22.61$35.291101% below
Logan$17.23$20.19$21.05$26.291206% below
Twin Falls$15.39$19.92$21.63$28.27508% below

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

Painter wages in Idaho over time

Idaho, 1999-2025IdahoUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$23.75United States$21.58Idaho
Median hourly wage for painters, Idaho vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearIdaho $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$13.04$25.20$12.861,590
2000$13.28$24.83$13.101,340
2001$13.68$24.87$13.661,340
2002$13.46$24.09$13.981,240
2003$13.01$22.76$14.121,040
2004$12.27$20.91$14.551,190
2005$11.10$18.30$14.811,140
2006$11.76$18.78$15.001,600
2007$12.98$20.15$15.421,690
2008$13.92$20.81$15.851,490
2009$14.80$22.21$16.211,080
2010$14.71$21.72$16.48830
2011$15.05$21.54$17.04750
2012$14.03$19.67$16.92870
2013$14.12$19.51$17.01990
2014$13.59$18.48$17.291,270
2015$14.30$19.42$17.591,360
2016$14.96$20.07$18.061,620
2017$15.68$20.59$18.251,680
2018$16.37$20.99$18.721,860
2019$15.59$19.63$19.372,270
2020$15.23$18.95$20.252,600
2021$18.02$21.41$21.922,000
2022$18.43$20.27$22.162,290
2023$21.90$23.14$22.942,120
2024$22.35$22.94$23.402,000
2025$21.58$21.58$23.752,040

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Idaho changed by +11.1% over the last ten years of data and by +9.9% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in Idaho?

2.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.6× the US share, 6th of 51 states

BLS counted 2,040 painters in Idaho in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 13%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.

Outlook for painters in Idaho

+22.2%Projected growth in Idaho2024–2034, state agency
580Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
5,420Jobs in 20246,620 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Idaho's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +22.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,420 to 6,620, with about 580 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 2,040 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Idaho

On federally funded construction in Idaho, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 1 of the 43 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $17.42 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $16.12). 30 of the 43 counties still use a survey rate dated 2012 or earlier (for example Adams County at $16.12). The market median for the state is $21.58.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, IDAda: $18.36 (survey)Adams: $16.12 (survey)Bannock: $18.36 (survey)Bear Lake: $16.12 (survey)Benewah: n/aBingham: $16.12 (survey)Blaine: $16.12 (survey)Boise: $18.36 (survey)Bonner: $23.72 (survey)Bonneville: $18.36 (survey)Boundary: $23.72 (survey)Butte: $18.36 (survey)Camas: $16.12 (survey)Canyon: $18.36 (survey)Caribou: $16.12 (survey)Cassia: $16.12 (survey)Clark: $16.12 (survey)Clearwater: $23.72 (survey)Custer: $16.12 (survey)Elmore: $16.12 (survey)Franklin: $18.36 (survey)Fremont: $16.12 (survey)Gem: $18.36 (survey)Gooding: $16.12 (survey)Idaho: $23.72 (survey)Jefferson: $18.36 (survey)Jerome: $16.12 (survey)Kootenai: $18.36 (survey)Latah: $23.72 (survey)Lemhi: $16.12 (survey)Lewis: $23.72 (survey)Lincoln: $16.12 (survey)Madison: $16.12 (survey)Minidoka: $16.12 (survey)Nez Perce: $18.36 (survey)Oneida: $16.12 (survey)Owyhee: $18.36 (survey)Payette: $16.12 (survey)Power: $17.42 (union)Shoshone: $23.72 (survey)Teton: $16.12 (survey)Twin Falls: $16.12 (survey)Valley: $16.12 (survey)Washington: $16.12 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$18.36n/asurvey 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 (survey)$14$16$18$20$22$24/hrFranklin (Logan): market median $20.19, prevailing (survey) $18.36, gap −$1.83Franklin (Logan)−$1.83Bonneville (Idaho Falls): market median $21.34, prevailing (survey) $18.36, gap −$2.98Bonneville (Idaho Falls)−$2.98Bannock (Idaho): market median $21.58, prevailing (survey) $18.36, gap −$3.22Bannock (Idaho)−$3.22Ada (Boise): market median $21.88, prevailing (survey) $18.36, gap −$3.52Ada (Boise)−$3.52Kootenai (Coeur d'Alene): market median $22.07, prevailing (survey) $18.36, gap −$3.71Kootenai (Coeur d'Alene)−$3.71Jerome (Twin Falls): market median $19.92, prevailing (survey) $16.12, gap −$3.80Jerome (Twin Falls)−$3.80
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in Idaho.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BonnerSurvey SUID2010-003 2012-08-08$19.31$4.41$23.72ID20260010
BoundarySurvey SUID2010-004 2012-08-08$19.31$4.41$23.72ID20260011
ClearwaterSurvey SUID2010-007 2012-08-08$19.31$4.41$23.72ID20260014
IdahoSurvey SUID2010-017 2012-08-08$19.31$4.41$23.72ID20260024
LatahSurvey SUID2010-008 2012-08-08$19.31$4.41$23.72ID20260015
LewisSurvey SUID2010-017 2012-08-08$19.31$4.41$23.72ID20260024
ShoshoneSurvey SUID2010-011 2012-08-08$19.31$4.41$23.72ID20260018
AdaSurvey SUID2021-005 2023-04-27$17.11$1.25$18.36ID20260104
BannockSurvey SUID2021-006 2023-04-27$17.11$1.25$18.36ID20260105
BoiseSurvey SUID2021-005 2023-04-27$17.11$1.25$18.36ID20260104
BonnevilleSurvey SUID2021-001 2023-04-27$17.11$1.25$18.36ID20260100
ButteSurvey SUID2021-002 2023-04-27$17.11$1.25$18.36ID20260101
CanyonSurvey SUID2021-007 2023-04-27$17.11$1.25$18.36ID20260106
FranklinSurvey SUID2021-006 2023-04-27$17.11$1.25$18.36ID20260105
GemSurvey SUID2021-007 2023-04-27$17.11$1.25$18.36ID20260106

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

Is construction work growing in Idaho?

78.0kConstruction jobsIdaho, 2026-09
+1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k20k40k60k80k100k1990199520002005201020152020202578kSep 2026
Construction employment in Idaho (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Idaho

More on Idaho

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in Idaho?

The median painter in Idaho earned $21.58 an hour ($44,880 a year) in May 2025, 9% below the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $17.73–$23.03; the top 10% earn more than $29.28.

Where does Idaho rank for painter pay?

Idaho ranks 43rd of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $21.58 an hour, and 42nd after adjusting for Idaho's cost of living (BEA price parity 95.5, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in Idaho?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 1 counties, with a typical package of $17.42 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many painters work in Idaho?

BLS counted 2,040 painters in Idaho in May 2025, 2.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.64; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in Idaho?

Idaho's labor market agency projects +22.2% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 5,420 to 6,620 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in Idaho?

Idaho projects about 580 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, Idaho 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: Idaho labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.