Painter salary in Massachusetts
Median $27.65 an hour for 4,430 painters, construction and maintenance, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
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, construction and maintenance work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $20.92 – $22.51 | $43,520 – $46,830 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.51 – $33.68 | $46,830 – $70,050 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $33.68 – $52.81 | $70,050 – $109,850 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Painter pay by metro in Massachusetts
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $21.95 | $27.80 | $52.81 | 3,220 | 1% above |
| Amherst | $19.06 | $26.46 | $33.68 | 60 | 4% below |
| Worcester | $20.86 | $26.08 | $40.37 | 300 | 6% below |
| Barnstable | $18.40 | $24.36 | $37.68 | 250 | 12% below |
| Pittsfield | $20.00 | $24.21 | $35.25 | 90 | 12% below |
| Springfield | $19.59 | $23.86 | $37.13 | 180 | 14% below |
| Providence | $15.00 | $21.31 | $36.40 | 1,370 | 23% below |
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.
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 2026-09-28. 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
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, construction and maintenance in Massachusetts in May 2025, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.84; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Massachusetts 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.