Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Illinois

Median $29.45 an hour for 6,820 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$29.45/hrMedian hourly wageIllinois, May data
$61,260/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$19.63 – $50.6510th to 90th percentilehourly range
6,820Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Painter pay in Illinois: the full range

Wage percentiles, IllinoisMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrIllinois: 10th $19.63 · 25th $23.07 · median $29.45 · 75th $44.82 · 90th $50.65Illinois$29.45$19.63$50.65United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters: Illinois vs United States, May 2025.

Illinois ranks 2nd of 51 states for median painter pay, and 5th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.45). 6,820 painters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$19.63 – $23.07$40,820 – $47,990roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.07 – $44.82$47,990 – $93,220the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$44.82 – $50.65$93,220 – $105,350the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in Illinois

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrChampaign: $40.56Champaign$40.56Rockford: $34.95Rockford$34.95Peoria: $30.98Peoria$30.98Springfield: $30.74Springfield$30.74Chicago: $29.68Chicago$29.68St. Louis: $28.75St. Louis$28.75Cape Girardeau: $27.89Cape Girardeau$27.89Davenport: $27.82Davenport$27.82Decatur: $23.32Decatur$23.32Bloomington: $22.39Bloomington$22.39Paducah: $21.82Paducah$21.82
Median hourly wage for painters by metro area in Illinois, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Champaign$20.30$40.56$43.75$45.9616038% above
Rockford$20.30$34.95$37.91$47.4713019% above
Peoria$18.93$30.98$33.97$45.261105% above
Springfield$20.35$30.74$33.16$47.261104% above
Chicago$21.42$29.68$28.65$52.805,4801% above
St. Louis$19.44$28.75$30.23$40.092,3502% below
Cape Girardeau$18.24$27.89$32.39$34.30905% below
Davenport$17.81$27.82$31.22$37.822106% below
Decatur$21.73$23.32$26.38$29.025021% below
Bloomington$18.84$22.39$23.95$40.3912024% below
Paducah$15.00$21.82$25.34$28.945026% below

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

Painter wages in Illinois over time

Illinois, 1999-2025IllinoisUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$29.45Illinois$23.75United States
Median hourly wage for painters, Illinois vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearIllinois $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.39$27.81$12.8612,940
2000$14.14$26.44$13.1010,660
2001$16.12$29.30$13.6611,000
2002$17.34$31.03$13.989,920
2003$18.08$31.63$14.129,360
2004$22.89$39.01$14.5511,090
2005$21.45$35.36$14.8110,030
2006$19.02$30.37$15.0010,270
2007$19.01$29.52$15.4210,220
2008$20.90$31.25$15.859,890
2009$22.30$33.46$16.218,540
2010$22.92$33.84$16.488,190
2011$22.13$31.67$17.047,790
2012$21.98$30.82$16.927,480
2013$22.73$31.41$17.017,010
2014$26.57$36.13$17.297,380
2015$23.66$32.14$17.598,250
2016$23.13$31.03$18.068,380
2017$20.50$26.92$18.258,520
2018$23.73$30.42$18.728,850
2019$23.44$29.52$19.378,790
2020$27.83$34.62$20.257,920
2021$25.59$30.40$21.927,310
2022$29.31$32.24$22.166,630
2023$29.32$30.98$22.947,880
2024$29.99$30.78$23.406,700
2025$29.45$29.45$23.756,820

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Illinois changed by -8.4% over the last ten years of data and by -0.2% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in Illinois?

-22.4%Jobs since 20198,790 then, 6,820 in 2025
-17.3%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 32nd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Illinois has changed by -47.3%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -22.4%.

Painters, construction and maintenance in Illinois vs United States, 1999 = 100IllinoisUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages40608010012020002005201020152020202586United States53Illinois
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Illinois vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearIllinois jobsIllinois indexUS index
199912,940100100
200010,66082100
200111,0008598
20029,9207799
20039,3607295
200411,0908696
200510,0307896
200610,27079101
200710,22079100
20089,8907696
20098,5406682
20108,1906373
20117,7906071
20127,4805871
20137,0105474
20147,3805778
20158,2506482
20168,3806583
20178,5206685
20188,8506888
20198,7906889
20207,9206184
20217,3105682
20226,6305183
20237,8806183
20246,7005286
20256,8205386

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 Illinois

+4.4%Projected growth in Illinois2024–2034, state agency
760Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
9,170Jobs in 20249,580 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Illinois's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +4.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 9,170 to 9,580, with about 760 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 6,820 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Illinois

On federally funded construction in Illinois, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 102 of the 102 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $80.68 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $29.45.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, ILAdams: $80.68 (union)Alexander: $40.00 (union)Bond: $80.68 (union)Boone: $80.68 (union)Brown: $80.68 (union)Bureau: $80.68 (union)Calhoun: $80.68 (union)Carroll: $80.68 (union)Cass: $80.68 (union)Champaign: $40.00 (union)Christian: $40.00 (union)Clark: $40.00 (union)Clay: $40.00 (union)Clinton: $80.68 (union)Coles: $40.00 (union)Cook: $86.96 (union)Crawford: $40.00 (union)Cumberland: $40.00 (union)DeKalb: $80.68 (union)De Witt: $40.00 (union)Douglas: $40.00 (union)DuPage: $80.68 (union)Edgar: $40.00 (union)Edwards: $40.00 (union)Effingham: $40.00 (union)Fayette: $40.00 (union)Ford: $40.00 (union)Franklin: $40.00 (union)Fulton: $80.68 (union)Gallatin: $40.00 (union)Greene: $80.68 (union)Grundy: $80.68 (union)Hamilton: $40.00 (union)Hancock: $80.68 (union)Hardin: $40.00 (union)Henderson: $80.68 (union)Henry: $80.68 (union)Iroquois: $40.00 (union)Jackson: $40.00 (union)Jasper: $40.00 (union)Jefferson: $40.00 (union)Jersey: $80.68 (union)Jo Daviess: $80.68 (union)Johnson: $40.00 (union)Kane: $80.68 (union)Kankakee: $68.80 (union)Kendall: $80.68 (union)Knox: $80.68 (union)Lake: $80.68 (union)LaSalle: $80.68 (union)Lawrence: $40.00 (union)Lee: $80.68 (union)Livingston: $80.68 (union)Logan: $80.68 (union)McDonough: $80.68 (union)McHenry: $80.68 (union)McLean: $80.68 (union)Macon: $52.80 (union)Macoupin: $80.68 (union)Madison: $48.37 (union)Marion: $40.00 (union)Marshall: $80.68 (union)Mason: $80.68 (union)Massac: $40.00 (union)Menard: $80.68 (union)Mercer: $80.68 (union)Monroe: $80.68 (union)Montgomery: $80.68 (union)Morgan: $80.68 (union)Moultrie: $40.00 (union)Ogle: $80.68 (union)Peoria: $66.90 (union)Perry: $40.00 (union)Piatt: $40.00 (union)Pike: $80.68 (union)Pope: $40.00 (union)Pulaski: $40.00 (union)Putnam: $80.68 (union)Randolph: $80.68 (union)Richland: $40.00 (union)Rock Island: $80.68 (union)St. Clair: $48.37 (union)Saline: $40.00 (union)Sangamon: $52.81 (union)Schuyler: $80.68 (union)Scott: $80.68 (union)Shelby: $40.00 (union)Stark: $80.68 (union)Stephenson: $80.68 (union)Tazewell: $66.90 (union)Union: $40.00 (union)Vermilion: $40.00 (union)Wabash: $40.00 (union)Warren: $80.68 (union)Washington: $80.68 (union)Wayne: $40.00 (union)White: $40.00 (union)Whiteside: $80.68 (union)Will: $80.68 (union)Williamson: $40.00 (union)Winnebago: $80.68 (union)Woodford: $80.68 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$43.35$80.68
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)$0$20$40$60$80$100/hrMcLean (Bloomington): market median $22.39, prevailing (union) $80.68, gap +$58.29McLean (Bloomington)+$58.29Cook (Chicago): market median $29.68, prevailing (union) $86.96, gap +$57.28Cook (Chicago)+$57.28Henry (Davenport): market median $27.82, prevailing (union) $80.68, gap +$52.86Henry (Davenport)+$52.86Bond (St. Louis): market median $28.75, prevailing (union) $80.68, gap +$51.93Bond (St. Louis)+$51.93Menard (Springfield): market median $30.74, prevailing (union) $80.68, gap +$49.94Menard (Springfield)+$49.94Marshall (Peoria): market median $30.98, prevailing (union) $80.68, gap +$49.70Marshall (Peoria)+$49.70Boone (Rockford): market median $34.95, prevailing (union) $80.68, gap +$45.73Boone (Rockford)+$45.73Kankakee (Illinois): market median $29.45, prevailing (union) $68.80, gap +$39.35Kankakee (Illinois)+$39.35Macon (Decatur): market median $23.32, prevailing (union) $52.80, gap +$29.48Macon (Decatur)+$29.48Massac (Paducah): market median $21.82, prevailing (union) $40.00, gap +$18.18Massac (Paducah)+$18.18Alexander (Cape Girardeau): market median $27.89, prevailing (union) $40.00, gap +$12.11Alexander (Cape Girardeau)+$12.11Champaign (Champaign): market median $40.56, prevailing (union) $40.00, gap −$0.56Champaign (Champaign)−$0.56
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in Illinois.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
CookUnion PAIN0014-001 2024-06-01$53.05$33.91$86.96IL20260009
AdamsUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260001
BondUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260001
BooneUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260001
BrownUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260001
BureauUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260001
CalhounUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260001
CarrollUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260001
CassUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260001
ClintonUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260001
DeKalbUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260001
DuPageUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260008
FultonUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260001
GreeneUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260001
GrundyUnion PAIN0030-001 2024-06-01$53.05$27.63$80.68IL20260008

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

Is construction work growing in Illinois?

268.8kConstruction jobsIllinois, 2026-09
+6.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025269kSep 2026
Construction employment in Illinois (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Illinois

More on Illinois

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in Illinois?

The median painter in Illinois earned $29.45 an hour ($61,260 a year) in May 2025, 24% above the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $23.07–$44.82; the top 10% earn more than $50.65.

Where does Illinois rank for painter pay?

Illinois ranks 2nd of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $29.45 an hour, and 5th after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (BEA price parity 100.0, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in Illinois?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 102 counties, with a typical package of $80.68 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many painters work in Illinois?

BLS counted 6,820 painters in Illinois in May 2025, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.77; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in Illinois?

The BLS employer survey count of painters in Illinois went from 8,250 in 2015 to 6,820 in 2025, -17.3%, and -22.4% since 2019. Illinois's labor market agency projects +4.4% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 9,170 to 9,580 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in Illinois?

Illinois projects about 760 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, Illinois 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: Illinois labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.