Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Michigan

Median $24.35 an hour for 4,920 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$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 2026-11-13

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: 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 work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.00 – $21.78$37,440 – $45,300roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.78 – $30.27$45,300 – $62,950the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$30.27 – $36.38$62,950 – $75,670the 75th to 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 by metro area in Michigan, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Bay City$18.38$30.86$33.58$34.156027% above
Saginaw$18.74$30.46$33.51$34.7413025% above
Flint$19.43$29.44$31.66$36.3826021% above
Ann Arbor$18.18$28.47$28.22$39.0716017% above
Detroit$18.93$27.08$27.00$36.571,92011% above
Lansing$18.19$25.68$27.03$36.082305% above
Traverse City$18.67$25.00$26.77$30.921803% above
Kalamazoo$19.18$23.71$25.01$29.091703% below
Grand Rapids$16.72$23.50$24.61$34.777703% below
South Bend$17.55$23.47$25.26$32.921704% below
Niles$15.80$22.79$24.66$36.01506% below
Muskegon$17.50$22.43$24.25$33.90908% below

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

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, 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 and by +6.0% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in Michigan?

+7.9%Jobs since 20194,560 then, 4,920 in 2025
+15.2%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 33rd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Michigan has changed by -28.7%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +7.9%.

Painters, construction and maintenance in Michigan vs United States, 1999 = 100MichiganUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages40608010012020002005201020152020202586United States71Michigan
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Michigan vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMichigan jobsMichigan indexUS index
19996,900100100
20006,72097100
20016,6409698
20027,81011399
20037,61011095
20047,29010696
20055,9708696
20065,39078101
20075,23076100
20085,2407696
20094,4706582
20103,6805373
20113,4705071
20123,4605071
20133,8305674
20143,9405778
20154,2706282
20163,8805683
20174,3006285
20184,0005888
20194,5606689
20204,0705984
20214,8207082
20225,2007583
20234,6906883
20244,9307186
20254,9207186

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 Michigan

+2.4%Projected growth in Michigan2024–2034, state agency
660Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
8,280Jobs in 20248,480 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Michigan's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +2.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 8,280 to 8,480, with about 660 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 4,920 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

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: n/aAlpena: $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: n/aMecosta: $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 2026-11-13. 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?

209.1kConstruction jobsMichigan, 2026-09
-1.3%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025209kSep 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

More on 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 in Michigan in May 2025, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.77; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in Michigan?

The BLS employer survey count of painters in Michigan went from 4,270 in 2015 to 4,920 in 2025, +15.2%, and +7.9% since 2019. Michigan's labor market agency projects +2.4% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 8,280 to 8,480 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in Michigan?

Michigan projects about 660 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, Michigan 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: Michigan labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.