Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Kentucky

Median $23.13 an hour for 1,390 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$23.13/hrMedian hourly wageKentucky, May data
$48,110/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.26 – $31.1110th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,390Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Painter pay in Kentucky: the full range

Wage percentiles, KentuckyMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrKentucky: 10th $17.26 · 25th $19.33 · median $23.13 · 75th $28.72 · 90th $31.11Kentucky$23.13$17.26$31.11United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters: Kentucky vs United States, May 2025.

Kentucky ranks 32nd of 51 states for median painter pay, and 22nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.64). 1,390 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$17.26 – $19.33$35,900 – $40,210roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$19.33 – $28.72$40,210 – $59,740the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$28.72 – $31.11$59,740 – $64,720the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in Kentucky

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrCincinnati: $24.12Cincinnati$24.12Louisville: $23.52Louisville$23.52Lexington: $22.95Lexington$22.95Huntington: $22.12Huntington$22.12Owensboro: $21.92Owensboro$21.92Paducah: $21.82Paducah$21.82Clarksville: $20.42Clarksville$20.42Bowling Green: $19.52Bowling Green$19.52
Median hourly wage for painters by metro area in Kentucky, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Cincinnati$18.30$24.12$25.28$34.308904% above
Louisville$18.26$23.52$25.26$31.195902% above
Lexington$16.60$22.95$24.70$32.032401% below
Huntington$15.46$22.12$25.02$30.651804% below
Owensboro$17.39$21.92$24.74$37.64505% below
Paducah$15.00$21.82$25.34$28.94506% below
Clarksville$14.04$20.42$22.46$28.628012% below
Bowling Green$16.06$19.52$21.64$28.865016% below

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

Painter wages in Kentucky over time

Kentucky, 1999-2025KentuckyUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$23.75United States$23.13Kentucky
Median hourly wage for painters, Kentucky vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearKentucky $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$10.76$20.79$12.863,190
2000$11.35$21.22$13.102,730
2001$11.88$21.60$13.662,650
2002$12.23$21.89$13.982,480
2003$12.51$21.89$14.122,370
2004$13.18$22.46$14.552,200
2005$12.86$21.20$14.812,220
2006$13.48$21.53$15.002,250
2007$14.02$21.77$15.422,220
2008$14.77$22.09$15.852,160
2009$14.55$21.83$16.211,930
2010$14.99$22.13$16.481,680
2011$15.05$21.54$17.041,590
2012$15.44$21.65$16.921,640
2013$15.48$21.39$17.011,740
2014$15.98$21.73$17.291,720
2015$16.68$22.66$17.591,850
2016$16.90$22.67$18.061,920
2017$16.80$22.07$18.251,950
2018$16.96$21.74$18.722,060
2019$17.44$21.96$19.371,840
2020$17.82$22.17$20.251,700
2021$17.78$21.12$21.921,480
2022$18.55$20.41$22.161,350
2023$20.52$21.68$22.941,400
2024$21.94$22.52$23.401,450
2025$23.13$23.13$23.751,390

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Kentucky changed by +2.1% over the last ten years of data and by +5.3% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in Kentucky?

0.7Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.5× the US share, 49th of 51 states

BLS counted 1,390 painters in Kentucky in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 4%. 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 Kentucky

+6.0%Projected growth in Kentucky2024–2034, state agency
180Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
2,170Jobs in 20242,300 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Kentucky's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +6.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 2,170 to 2,300, with about 180 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 1,390 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Kentucky

On federally funded construction in Kentucky, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 80 of the 120 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $58.24 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $32.42). 40 of the 120 counties still use a survey rate dated 2015 or earlier (for example Anderson County at $32.42). The market median for the state is $23.13.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, KYAdair: $58.24 (union)Allen: $50.92 (union)Anderson: $32.42 (survey)Ballard: $58.24 (union)Barren: $58.24 (union)Bath: $32.42 (survey)Bell: $58.24 (union)Boone: $42.30 (union)Bourbon: $34.68 (survey)Boyd: $55.91 (union)Boyle: $32.42 (survey)Bracken: $42.30 (union)Breathitt: $58.24 (union)Breckinridge: $58.24 (union)Bullitt: $34.68 (survey)Butler: $50.92 (union)Caldwell: $58.24 (union)Calloway: $58.24 (union)Campbell: $42.30 (union)Carlisle: $58.24 (union)Carroll: $32.42 (survey)Carter: $58.24 (union)Casey: $58.24 (union)Christian: $50.92 (union)Clark: $34.68 (survey)Clay: $58.24 (union)Clinton: $58.24 (union)Crittenden: $58.24 (union)Cumberland: $58.24 (union)Daviess: $50.92 (union)Edmonson: $50.92 (union)Elliott: $58.24 (union)Estill: $32.42 (survey)Fayette: $34.68 (survey)Fleming: $32.42 (survey)Floyd: $58.24 (union)Franklin: $32.42 (survey)Fulton: $58.24 (union)Gallatin: $42.30 (union)Garrard: $32.42 (survey)Grant: $42.30 (union)Graves: $58.24 (union)Grayson: $58.24 (union)Green: $58.24 (union)Greenup: $55.91 (union)Hancock: $50.92 (union)Hardin: $34.68 (survey)Harlan: $58.24 (union)Harrison: $32.42 (survey)Hart: $58.24 (union)Henderson: $50.92 (union)Henry: $34.68 (survey)Hickman: $58.24 (union)Hopkins: $58.24 (union)Jackson: $58.24 (union)Jefferson: $34.68 (survey)Jessamine: $34.68 (survey)Johnson: $58.24 (union)Kenton: $42.30 (union)Knott: $58.24 (union)Knox: $58.24 (union)Larue: $34.68 (survey)Laurel: $58.24 (union)Lawrence: $58.24 (union)Lee: $58.24 (union)Leslie: $58.24 (union)Letcher: $58.24 (union)Lewis: $32.42 (survey)Lincoln: $32.42 (survey)Livingston: $58.24 (union)Logan: $58.24 (union)Lyon: $58.24 (union)McCracken: $58.24 (union)McCreary: $58.24 (union)McLean: $50.92 (union)Madison: $32.42 (survey)Magoffin: $58.24 (union)Marion: $58.24 (union)Marshall: $58.24 (union)Martin: $58.24 (union)Mason: $32.42 (survey)Meade: $34.68 (survey)Menifee: $32.42 (survey)Mercer: $32.42 (survey)Metcalfe: $58.24 (union)Monroe: $58.24 (union)Montgomery: $32.42 (survey)Morgan: $58.24 (union)Muhlenberg: $58.24 (union)Nelson: $34.68 (survey)Nicholas: $32.42 (survey)Ohio: $58.24 (union)Oldham: $34.68 (survey)Owen: $32.42 (survey)Owsley: $58.24 (union)Pendleton: $42.30 (union)Perry: $58.24 (union)Pike: $58.24 (union)Powell: $32.42 (survey)Pulaski: $58.24 (union)Robertson: $32.42 (survey)Rockcastle: $32.42 (survey)Rowan: $35.43 (survey)Russell: $58.24 (union)Scott: $34.68 (survey)Shelby: $34.68 (survey)Simpson: $58.24 (union)Spencer: $34.68 (survey)Taylor: $58.24 (union)Todd: $58.24 (union)Trigg: $50.92 (union)Trimble: $34.68 (survey)Union: $58.24 (union)Warren: $50.92 (union)Washington: $32.42 (survey)Wayne: $58.24 (union)Webster: $50.92 (union)Whitley: $58.24 (union)Wolfe: $58.24 (union)Woodford: $34.68 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$34.68$50.92survey 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)Prevailing (survey)$0$20$40$60$80/hrBallard (Paducah): market median $21.82, prevailing (union) $58.24, gap +$36.42Ballard (Paducah)+$36.42Carter (Huntington): market median $22.12, prevailing (union) $58.24, gap +$36.12Carter (Huntington)+$36.12Allen (Bowling Green): market median $19.52, prevailing (union) $50.92, gap +$31.40Allen (Bowling Green)+$31.40Christian (Clarksville): market median $20.42, prevailing (union) $50.92, gap +$30.50Christian (Clarksville)+$30.50Daviess (Owensboro): market median $21.92, prevailing (union) $50.92, gap +$29.00Daviess (Owensboro)+$29.00Boone (Cincinnati): market median $24.12, prevailing (union) $42.30, gap +$18.18Boone (Cincinnati)+$18.18Bourbon (Lexington): market median $22.95, prevailing (survey) $34.68, gap +$11.73Bourbon (Lexington)+$11.73Hardin (Kentucky): market median $23.13, prevailing (survey) $34.68, gap +$11.55Hardin (Kentucky)+$11.55Bullitt (Louisville): market median $23.52, prevailing (survey) $34.68, gap +$11.16Bullitt (Louisville)+$11.16
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in Kentucky.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AdairUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260037
BallardUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260041
BarrenUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260042
BellUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260019
BreathittUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260043
BreckinridgeUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260041
CaldwellUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260041
CallowayUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260020
CarlisleUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260041
CarterUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260022
CaseyUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260042
ClayUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260043
ClintonUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260042
CrittendenUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260041
CumberlandUnion PAIN1072-005 2024-12-01$34.29$23.95$58.24KY20260042

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

Is construction work growing in Kentucky?

95.6kConstruction jobsKentucky, 2026-09
+0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202640k60k80k100k120k1990199520002005201020152020202596kSep 2026
Construction employment in Kentucky (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Kentucky

More on Kentucky

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in Kentucky?

The median painter in Kentucky earned $23.13 an hour ($48,110 a year) in May 2025, 3% below the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $19.33–$28.72; the top 10% earn more than $31.11.

Where does Kentucky rank for painter pay?

Kentucky ranks 32nd of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $23.13 an hour, and 22nd after adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.2, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in Kentucky?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 80 counties, with a typical package of $58.24 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many painters work in Kentucky?

BLS counted 1,390 painters in Kentucky in May 2025, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.48; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in Kentucky?

Kentucky's labor market agency projects +6.0% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 2,170 to 2,300 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in Kentucky?

Kentucky projects about 180 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, Kentucky 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: Kentucky labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.