Painter salary in Maine
Median $28.50 an hour for 2,120 painters, construction and maintenance, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Painter pay in Maine: the full range
Maine ranks 7th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 6th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.38). 2,120 painters, construction and maintenance work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $22.75 – $24.12 | $47,320 – $50,170 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $24.12 – $30.35 | $50,170 – $63,120 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $30.35 – $36.31 | $63,120 – $75,530 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Painter pay by metro in Maine
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $23.77 | $30.35 | $36.31 | 1,550 | 6% above |
| Bangor | $19.81 | $23.65 | $27.70 | 70 | 17% below |
| Lewiston | $18.71 | $23.02 | $27.92 | 70 | 19% below |
Painter wages in Maine over time
Table
| Year | Maine $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.73 | $26.53 | $12.86 | 2,250 |
| 2000 | $14.57 | $27.24 | $13.10 | 2,040 |
| 2001 | $14.92 | $27.12 | $13.66 | 1,940 |
| 2002 | $15.19 | $27.18 | $13.98 | 1,870 |
| 2003 | $15.64 | $27.37 | $14.12 | 1,840 |
| 2004 | $15.99 | $27.25 | $14.55 | 1,890 |
| 2005 | $15.91 | $26.23 | $14.81 | 1,940 |
| 2006 | $15.72 | $25.10 | $15.00 | 1,720 |
| 2007 | $16.22 | $25.19 | $15.42 | 1,750 |
| 2008 | $17.01 | $25.44 | $15.85 | 1,630 |
| 2009 | $18.35 | $27.54 | $16.21 | 1,400 |
| 2010 | $18.89 | $27.89 | $16.48 | 1,230 |
| 2011 | $19.65 | $28.12 | $17.04 | 1,220 |
| 2012 | $22.31 | $31.28 | $16.92 | 1,180 |
| 2013 | $20.14 | $27.83 | $17.01 | 1,260 |
| 2014 | $20.31 | $27.62 | $17.29 | 1,180 |
| 2015 | $19.55 | $26.55 | $17.59 | 1,370 |
| 2016 | $19.72 | $26.45 | $18.06 | 1,460 |
| 2017 | $20.50 | $26.92 | $18.25 | 1,370 |
| 2018 | $21.79 | $27.94 | $18.72 | 1,390 |
| 2019 | $22.24 | $28.01 | $19.37 | 1,430 |
| 2020 | $22.63 | $28.15 | $20.25 | 1,530 |
| 2021 | $22.28 | $26.47 | $21.92 | 1,620 |
| 2022 | $22.54 | $24.80 | $22.16 | 1,760 |
| 2023 | $24.10 | $25.46 | $22.94 | 1,710 |
| 2024 | $27.06 | $27.77 | $23.40 | 1,950 |
| 2025 | $28.50 | $28.50 | $23.75 | 2,120 |
In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Maine changed by +7.3% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Maine
On federally funded construction in Maine, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 11 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $18.52). 11 of the 11 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Aroostook County at $22.08). The market median for the state is $28.50.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock | Survey SUME2014-017 2017-01-31 | $20.74 | $8.88 | $29.62 | ME20260008 |
| Aroostook | Survey SUME2014-015 2017-01-31 | $17.38 | $4.70 | $22.08 | ME20260006 |
| Piscataquis | Survey SUME2014-020 2017-01-31 | $17.38 | $4.70 | $22.08 | ME20260011 |
| Washington | Survey SUME2014-022 2017-01-31 | $17.38 | $4.70 | $22.08 | ME20260013 |
| Franklin | Survey SUME2014-016 2017-01-31 | $15.86 | $2.66 | $18.52 | ME20260007 |
| Kennebec | Survey SUME2014-018 2017-01-31 | $15.86 | $2.66 | $18.52 | ME20260009 |
| Knox | Survey SUME2014-019 2017-01-31 | $15.86 | $2.66 | $18.52 | ME20260010 |
| Lincoln | Survey SUME2014-023 2017-01-31 | $15.86 | $2.66 | $18.52 | ME20260014 |
| Oxford | Survey SUME2014-023 2017-01-31 | $15.86 | $2.66 | $18.52 | ME20260014 |
| Somerset | Survey SUME2014-021 2017-01-31 | $15.86 | $2.66 | $18.52 | ME20260012 |
| Waldo | Survey SUME2014-023 2017-01-31 | $15.86 | $2.66 | $18.52 | ME20260014 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Maine prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Maine?
Keep comparing
Painter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Maine
Questions this page answers
How much do painters make in Maine?
The median painter in Maine earned $28.50 an hour ($59,270 a year) in May 2025, 20% above the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $24.12–$30.35; the top 10% earn more than $36.31.
Where does Maine rank for painter pay?
Maine ranks 7th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $28.50 an hour, and 6th after adjusting for Maine's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.0, US = 100).
What is the union painter rate in Maine?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a painter classification for most Maine counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many painters work in Maine?
BLS counted 2,120 painters, construction and maintenance in Maine in May 2025, 3.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 2.29; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Maine 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.