Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Michigan

Median $24.35 an hour for 4,920 painters, construction and maintenance, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$24.35/hrMedian hourly wageMichigan, May data
$50,650/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.00 – $36.3810th to 90th percentilehourly range
4,920Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Painter pay in Michigan: the full range

Wage percentiles, MichiganMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrMichigan: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.78 · median $24.35 · 75th $30.27 · 90th $36.38Michigan$24.35$18.00$36.38United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters, construction and maintenance: Michigan vs United States, May 2025.

Michigan ranks 21st of 51 states for median painter pay, and 26th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.31). 4,920 painters, construction and maintenance work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$18.00 – $21.78$37,440 – $45,300roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$21.78 – $30.27$45,300 – $62,950the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$30.27 – $36.38$62,950 – $75,670the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in Michigan

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrBay City: $30.86Bay City$30.86Saginaw: $30.46Saginaw$30.46Flint: $29.44Flint$29.44Ann Arbor: $28.47Ann Arbor$28.47Detroit: $27.08Detroit$27.08Lansing: $25.68Lansing$25.68Traverse City: $25.00Traverse City$25.00Kalamazoo: $23.71Kalamazoo$23.71Grand Rapids: $23.50Grand Rapids$23.50South Bend: $23.47South Bend$23.47Niles: $22.79Niles$22.79Muskegon: $22.43Muskegon$22.43
Median hourly wage for painters, construction and maintenance by metro area in Michigan, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Bay City$18.38$30.86$34.156027% above
Saginaw$18.74$30.46$34.7413025% above
Flint$19.43$29.44$36.3826021% above
Ann Arbor$18.18$28.47$39.0716017% above
Detroit$18.93$27.08$36.571,92011% above
Lansing$18.19$25.68$36.082305% above
Traverse City$18.67$25.00$30.921803% above
Kalamazoo$19.18$23.71$29.091703% below
Grand Rapids$16.72$23.50$34.777703% below
South Bend$17.55$23.47$32.921704% below
Niles$15.80$22.79$36.01506% below
Muskegon$17.50$22.43$33.90908% below

Painter wages in Michigan over time

Michigan, 1999-2025MichiganUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$24.35Michigan$23.75United States
Median hourly wage for painters, construction and maintenance, Michigan vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMichigan $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.20$27.44$12.866,900
2000$15.83$29.60$13.106,720
2001$15.69$28.52$13.666,640
2002$16.39$29.33$13.987,810
2003$17.12$29.95$14.127,610
2004$17.28$29.45$14.557,290
2005$17.89$29.49$14.815,970
2006$18.24$29.13$15.005,390
2007$17.91$27.81$15.425,230
2008$19.03$28.46$15.855,240
2009$18.30$27.46$16.214,470
2010$17.72$26.16$16.483,680
2011$18.66$26.71$17.043,470
2012$17.98$25.21$16.923,460
2013$18.12$25.04$17.013,830
2014$18.57$25.25$17.293,940
2015$18.63$25.31$17.594,270
2016$18.50$24.82$18.063,880
2017$17.78$23.35$18.254,300
2018$18.10$23.21$18.724,000
2019$18.25$22.98$19.374,560
2020$19.51$24.27$20.254,070
2021$18.36$21.81$21.924,820
2022$21.90$24.09$22.165,200
2023$22.53$23.80$22.944,690
2024$23.73$24.35$23.404,930
2025$24.35$24.35$23.754,920

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Michigan changed by -3.8% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Michigan

On federally funded construction in Michigan, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 71 of the 81 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $44.65 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $18.42). 10 of the 81 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Antrim County at $18.45). The market median for the state is $24.35.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MIAlcona: $48.34 (union)Alger: $44.65 (union)Allegan: —Alpena: $48.34 (union)Antrim: $18.45 (survey)Arenac: $48.34 (union)Baraga: $44.65 (union)Barry: $43.98 (union)Bay: $48.34 (union)Benzie: $18.45 (survey)Berrien: $43.78 (union)Branch: $43.63 (union)Calhoun: $43.63 (union)Cass: $34.69 (union)Charlevoix: $18.70 (survey)Cheboygan: $48.34 (union)Chippewa: $44.65 (union)Clare: $48.34 (union)Clinton: $47.43 (union)Crawford: $48.34 (union)Delta: $44.65 (union)Dickinson: $44.65 (union)Eaton: $47.43 (union)Emmet: $18.45 (survey)Genesee: $48.30 (union)Gladwin: $48.34 (union)Gogebic: $44.65 (union)Grand Traverse: $18.38 (survey)Gratiot: $48.34 (union)Hillsdale: $44.52 (union)Houghton: $44.65 (union)Huron: $35.81 (union)Ingham: $47.43 (union)Ionia: $47.43 (union)Iosco: $48.34 (union)Iron: $44.65 (union)Isabella: $48.34 (union)Jackson: $44.52 (union)Kalamazoo: $43.63 (union)Kalkaska: $18.39 (survey)Kent: $47.43 (union)Keweenaw: $44.65 (union)Lake: $48.34 (union)Lapeer: $48.30 (union)Leelanau: $20.60 (survey)Lenawee: $44.52 (union)Livingston: $47.43 (union)Luce: $44.65 (union)Mackinac: $44.65 (union)Macomb: $53.26 (union)Manistee: $18.39 (survey)Marquette: $44.65 (union)Mason: —Mecosta: $43.63 (union)Menominee: $44.65 (union)Midland: $48.34 (union)Missaukee: $18.39 (survey)Monroe: $44.52 (union)Montcalm: $43.63 (union)Montmorency: $48.34 (union)Muskegon: $47.43 (union)Newaygo: $47.43 (union)Oakland: $53.26 (union)Oceana: $43.63 (union)Ogemaw: $48.34 (union)Ontonagon: $44.65 (union)Osceola: $43.53 (union)Oscoda: $48.34 (union)Otsego: $48.34 (union)Ottawa: $47.43 (union)Presque Isle: $48.34 (union)Roscommon: $48.34 (union)Saginaw: $48.34 (union)St. Clair: $35.81 (union)St. Joseph: $43.63 (union)Sanilac: $35.81 (union)Schoolcraft: $44.65 (union)Shiawassee: $48.30 (union)Tuscola: $35.81 (union)Van Buren: $43.63 (union)Washtenaw: $44.52 (union)Wayne: $53.26 (union)Wexford: $18.39 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$43.63$44.65$47.43$48.34n/asurvey 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)$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMacomb (Detroit): market median $27.08, prevailing (union) $53.26, gap +$26.18Macomb (Detroit)+$26.18Muskegon (Muskegon): market median $22.43, prevailing (union) $47.43, gap +$25.00Muskegon (Muskegon)+$25.00Midland (Michigan): market median $24.35, prevailing (union) $48.34, gap +$23.99Midland (Michigan)+$23.99Ionia (Grand Rapids): market median $23.50, prevailing (union) $47.43, gap +$23.93Ionia (Grand Rapids)+$23.93Clinton (Lansing): market median $25.68, prevailing (union) $47.43, gap +$21.75Clinton (Lansing)+$21.75Berrien (Niles): market median $22.79, prevailing (union) $43.78, gap +$20.99Berrien (Niles)+$20.99Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo): market median $23.71, prevailing (union) $43.63, gap +$19.92Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo)+$19.92Genesee (Flint): market median $29.44, prevailing (union) $48.30, gap +$18.86Genesee (Flint)+$18.86Saginaw (Saginaw): market median $30.46, prevailing (union) $48.34, gap +$17.88Saginaw (Saginaw)+$17.88Bay (Bay City): market median $30.86, prevailing (union) $48.34, gap +$17.48Bay (Bay City)+$17.48Washtenaw (Ann Arbor): market median $28.47, prevailing (union) $44.52, gap +$16.05Washtenaw (Ann Arbor)+$16.05Cass (South Bend): market median $23.47, prevailing (union) $34.69, gap +$11.22Cass (South Bend)+$11.22Leelanau (Traverse City): market median $25.00, prevailing (survey) $20.60, gap −$4.40Leelanau (Traverse City)−$4.40
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in Michigan.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
MacombUnion PAIN0022-003 2022-06-01$32.85$20.41$53.26MI20260091
OaklandUnion PAIN0022-003 2022-06-01$32.85$20.41$53.26MI20260095
WayneUnion PAIN0022-003 2022-06-01$32.85$20.41$53.26MI20260101
AlconaUnion PAIN1803-004 2025-06-01$29.23$19.11$48.34MI20260102
AlpenaUnion PAIN1803-004 2025-06-01$29.23$19.11$48.34MI20260105
ArenacUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$29.23$19.11$48.34MI20260107
BayUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$29.23$19.11$48.34MI20260077
CheboyganUnion PAIN1803-004 2025-06-01$29.23$19.11$48.34MI20260112
ClareUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$29.23$19.11$48.34MI20260114
CrawfordUnion PAIN1803-004 2025-06-01$29.23$19.11$48.34MI20260115
GladwinUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$29.23$19.11$48.34MI20260119
GratiotUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$29.23$19.11$48.34MI20260122
IoscoUnion PAIN1803-004 2025-06-01$29.23$19.11$48.34MI20260126
IsabellaUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$29.23$19.11$48.34MI20260127
LakeUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$29.23$19.11$48.34MI20260129

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Michigan prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Michigan?

211.1kConstruction jobsMichigan, 2026-08
-1.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025211kAug 2026
Construction employment in Michigan (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Michigan

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in Michigan?

The median painter in Michigan earned $24.35 an hour ($50,650 a year) in May 2025, 3% above the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $21.78–$30.27; the top 10% earn more than $36.38.

Where does Michigan rank for painter pay?

Michigan ranks 21st of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $24.35 an hour, and 26th after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (BEA price parity 96.2, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in Michigan?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 71 counties, with a typical package of $44.65 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many painters work in Michigan?

BLS counted 4,920 painters, construction and maintenance in Michigan in May 2025, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.77; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Michigan 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.