Painter salary in Massachusetts
Median $27.65 an hour for 4,430 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Painter pay in Massachusetts: the full range
Massachusetts ranks 13th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 16th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.13). 4,430 painters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.5× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $20.92 – $22.51 | $43,520 – $46,830 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.51 – $33.68 | $46,830 – $70,050 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $33.68 – $52.81 | $70,050 – $109,850 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Painter pay by metro in Massachusetts
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $21.95 | $27.80 | $25.67 | $52.81 | 3,220 | 1% above |
| Amherst | $19.06 | $26.46 | $26.41 | $33.68 | 60 | 4% below |
| Worcester | $20.86 | $26.08 | $25.44 | $40.37 | 300 | 6% below |
| Barnstable | $18.40 | $24.36 | $24.76 | $37.68 | 250 | 12% below |
| Pittsfield | $20.00 | $24.21 | $25.46 | $35.25 | 90 | 12% below |
| Springfield | $19.59 | $23.86 | $24.83 | $37.13 | 180 | 14% below |
| Providence | $15.00 | $21.31 | $20.93 | $36.40 | 1,370 | 23% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Painter wages in Massachusetts over time
Table
| Year | Massachusetts $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.45 | $27.92 | $12.86 | 4,240 |
| 2000 | $13.43 | $25.11 | $13.10 | 4,690 |
| 2001 | $14.59 | $26.52 | $13.66 | 5,050 |
| 2002 | $14.77 | $26.43 | $13.98 | 5,300 |
| 2003 | $15.31 | $26.79 | $14.12 | 5,070 |
| 2004 | $16.67 | $28.41 | $14.55 | 5,320 |
| 2005 | $18.68 | $30.79 | $14.81 | 4,660 |
| 2006 | $18.73 | $29.91 | $15.00 | 4,420 |
| 2007 | $17.26 | $26.80 | $15.42 | 4,240 |
| 2008 | $17.75 | $26.54 | $15.85 | 4,020 |
| 2009 | $18.49 | $27.75 | $16.21 | 3,530 |
| 2010 | $19.77 | $29.19 | $16.48 | 3,150 |
| 2011 | $19.59 | $28.04 | $17.04 | 3,640 |
| 2012 | $18.50 | $25.94 | $16.92 | 3,760 |
| 2013 | $17.52 | $24.21 | $17.01 | 3,530 |
| 2014 | $18.90 | $25.70 | $17.29 | 3,830 |
| 2015 | $20.54 | $27.90 | $17.59 | 4,160 |
| 2016 | $20.68 | $27.74 | $18.06 | 4,900 |
| 2017 | $20.71 | $27.20 | $18.25 | 4,620 |
| 2018 | $21.27 | $27.27 | $18.72 | 4,850 |
| 2019 | $23.88 | $30.07 | $19.37 | 5,070 |
| 2020 | $25.14 | $31.27 | $20.25 | 4,620 |
| 2021 | $22.97 | $27.29 | $21.92 | 4,190 |
| 2022 | $26.82 | $29.50 | $22.16 | 4,160 |
| 2023 | $24.36 | $25.74 | $22.94 | 3,890 |
| 2024 | $26.86 | $27.57 | $23.40 | 4,830 |
| 2025 | $27.65 | $27.65 | $23.75 | 4,430 |
In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Massachusetts changed by -0.9% over the last ten years of data and by -8.1% since 2019.
Are there more painter jobs in Massachusetts?
Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Massachusetts has changed by +4.5%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -12.6%.
Table
| Year | Massachusetts jobs | Massachusetts index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 4,240 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 4,690 | 111 | 100 |
| 2001 | 5,050 | 119 | 98 |
| 2002 | 5,300 | 125 | 99 |
| 2003 | 5,070 | 120 | 95 |
| 2004 | 5,320 | 126 | 96 |
| 2005 | 4,660 | 110 | 96 |
| 2006 | 4,420 | 104 | 101 |
| 2007 | 4,240 | 100 | 100 |
| 2008 | 4,020 | 95 | 96 |
| 2009 | 3,530 | 83 | 82 |
| 2010 | 3,150 | 74 | 73 |
| 2011 | 3,640 | 86 | 71 |
| 2012 | 3,760 | 89 | 71 |
| 2013 | 3,530 | 83 | 74 |
| 2014 | 3,830 | 90 | 78 |
| 2015 | 4,160 | 98 | 82 |
| 2016 | 4,900 | 116 | 83 |
| 2017 | 4,620 | 109 | 85 |
| 2018 | 4,850 | 114 | 88 |
| 2019 | 5,070 | 120 | 89 |
| 2020 | 4,620 | 109 | 84 |
| 2021 | 4,190 | 99 | 82 |
| 2022 | 4,160 | 98 | 83 |
| 2023 | 3,890 | 92 | 83 |
| 2024 | 4,830 | 114 | 86 |
| 2025 | 4,430 | 104 | 86 |
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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +5.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 7,160 to 7,550, with about 600 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 4,430 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Massachusetts labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Massachusetts
On federally funded construction in Massachusetts, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 14 of the 14 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $80.32 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $27.65.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | Union PAIN0035-018 2024-07-01 | $46.26 | $36.00 | $82.26 | MA20260012 |
| Worcester | Union PAIN0035-018 2024-07-01 | $46.26 | $36.00 | $82.26 | MA20260013 |
| Barnstable | Union PAIN0035-004 2024-07-01 | $44.32 | $36.00 | $80.32 | MA20260001 |
| Bristol | Union PAIN0035-004 2024-07-01 | $44.32 | $36.00 | $80.32 | MA20260001 |
| Dukes | Union PAIN0035-004 2024-07-01 | $44.32 | $36.00 | $80.32 | MA20260001 |
| Essex | Union PAIN0035-004 2024-07-01 | $44.32 | $36.00 | $80.32 | MA20260001 |
| Middlesex | Union PAIN0035-004 2024-07-01 | $44.32 | $36.00 | $80.32 | MA20260001 |
| Nantucket | Union PAIN0035-004 2024-07-01 | $44.32 | $36.00 | $80.32 | MA20260001 |
| Norfolk | Union PAIN0035-004 2024-07-01 | $44.32 | $36.00 | $80.32 | MA20260001 |
| Suffolk | Union PAIN0035-004 2024-07-01 | $44.32 | $36.00 | $80.32 | MA20260001 |
| Berkshire | Union PAIN0035-007 2024-07-01 | $35.40 | $31.95 | $67.35 | MA20260003 |
| Franklin | Union PAIN0035-007 2024-07-01 | $35.40 | $31.95 | $67.35 | MA20260003 |
| Hampden | Union PAIN0035-007 2024-07-01 | $35.40 | $31.95 | $67.35 | MA20260003 |
| Hampshire | Union PAIN0035-007 2024-07-01 | $35.40 | $31.95 | $67.35 | MA20260003 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Massachusetts prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Massachusetts?
Keep comparing
Painter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Massachusetts
More on Massachusetts
Questions this page answers
How much do painters make in Massachusetts?
The median painter in Massachusetts earned $27.65 an hour ($57,510 a year) in May 2025, 16% above the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $22.51–$33.68; the top 10% earn more than $52.81.
Where does Massachusetts rank for painter pay?
Massachusetts ranks 13th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $27.65 an hour, and 16th after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (BEA price parity 105.8, US = 100).
What is the union painter rate in Massachusetts?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 14 counties, with a typical package of $80.32 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many painters work in Massachusetts?
BLS counted 4,430 painters in Massachusetts in May 2025, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.84; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is painter work growing in Massachusetts?
The BLS employer survey count of painters in Massachusetts went from 4,160 in 2015 to 4,430 in 2025, +6.5%, and -12.6% since 2019. Massachusetts's labor market agency projects +5.5% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 7,160 to 7,550 jobs.
How many painter openings a year are there in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts projects about 600 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, Massachusetts 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: Massachusetts labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.