Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Missouri

Median $27.65 an hour for 3,980 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$27.65/hrMedian hourly wageMissouri, May data
$57,510/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.82 – $38.2710th to 90th percentilehourly range
3,980Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Painter pay in Missouri: the full range

Wage percentiles, MissouriMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrMissouri: 10th $18.82 · 25th $22.28 · median $27.65 · 75th $32.94 · 90th $38.27Missouri$27.65$18.82$38.27United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters: Missouri vs United States, May 2025.

Missouri ranks 14th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 1st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.45). 3,980 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$18.82 – $22.28$39,150 – $46,350roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.28 – $32.94$46,350 – $68,510the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$32.94 – $38.27$68,510 – $79,600the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in Missouri

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrSt. Louis: $28.75St. Louis$28.75Cape Girardeau: $27.89Cape Girardeau$27.89Jefferson City: $26.02Jefferson City$26.02St. Joseph: $24.63St. Joseph$24.63Kansas City: $24.07Kansas City$24.07Springfield: $22.53Springfield$22.53Columbia: $22.24Columbia$22.24Joplin: $21.90Joplin$21.90
Median hourly wage for painters by metro area in Missouri, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
St. Louis$19.44$28.75$30.23$40.092,3504% above
Cape Girardeau$18.24$27.89$32.39$34.30901% above
Jefferson City$17.98$26.02$29.57$35.45606% below
St. Joseph$18.30$24.63$28.51$40.114011% below
Kansas City$17.98$24.07$26.02$36.531,33013% below
Springfield$17.72$22.53$25.43$30.2023019% below
Columbia$17.82$22.24$24.88$28.5516020% below
Joplin$17.50$21.90$25.55$35.956021% below

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

Painter wages in Missouri over time

Missouri, 1999-2025MissouriUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$27.65Missouri$23.75United States
Median hourly wage for painters, Missouri vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMissouri $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$19.27$37.24$12.865,740
2000$16.52$30.89$13.105,180
2001$16.88$30.69$13.665,040
2002$17.03$30.48$13.984,950
2003$16.58$29.01$14.124,980
2004$16.25$27.69$14.555,460
2005$16.28$26.84$14.816,020
2006$16.86$26.92$15.006,110
2007$17.73$27.53$15.425,420
2008$17.96$26.86$15.854,690
2009$17.93$26.91$16.213,880
2010$19.25$28.42$16.483,580
2011$19.84$28.40$17.043,510
2012$20.74$29.08$16.923,640
2013$23.50$32.48$17.013,810
2014$25.29$34.39$17.293,760
2015$25.01$33.97$17.593,750
2016$25.38$34.04$18.063,820
2017$23.65$31.06$18.254,270
2018$24.17$30.99$18.724,210
2019$24.12$30.37$19.374,250
2020$25.92$32.24$20.254,000
2021$23.70$28.16$21.923,670
2022$28.01$30.81$22.163,600
2023$28.27$29.87$22.944,280
2024$24.11$24.74$23.404,210
2025$27.65$27.65$23.753,980

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Missouri changed by -18.6% over the last ten years of data and by -9.0% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in Missouri?

-6.4%Jobs since 20194,250 then, 3,980 in 2025
+6.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 21st of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Missouri has changed by -30.7%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -6.4%.

Painters, construction and maintenance in Missouri vs United States, 1999 = 100MissouriUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages40608010012020002005201020152020202586United States69Missouri
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Missouri vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMissouri jobsMissouri indexUS index
19995,740100100
20005,18090100
20015,0408898
20024,9508699
20034,9808795
20045,4609596
20056,02010596
20066,110106101
20075,42094100
20084,6908296
20093,8806882
20103,5806273
20113,5106171
20123,6406371
20133,8106674
20143,7606678
20153,7506582
20163,8206783
20174,2707485
20184,2107388
20194,2507489
20204,0007084
20213,6706482
20223,6006383
20234,2807583
20244,2107386
20253,9806986

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 Missouri

+4.1%Projected growth in Missouri2024–2034, state agency
500Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
6,090Jobs in 20246,340 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Missouri's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +4.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 6,090 to 6,340, with about 500 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,980 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Missouri

On federally funded construction in Missouri, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 63 of the 115 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $56.07 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $26.91). 25 of the 115 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Butler County at $26.91). The market median for the state is $27.65.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MOAdair: $45.77 (union)Andrew: $33.81 (survey)Atchison: $45.77 (union)Audrain: $45.77 (union)Barry: $42.19 (union)Barton: $42.19 (union)Bates: $33.81 (survey)Benton: $42.19 (union)Bollinger: $57.06 (union)Boone: $33.81 (survey)Buchanan: $33.81 (survey)Butler: $26.91 (survey)Caldwell: $33.81 (survey)Callaway: $33.81 (survey)Camden: $26.91 (survey)Cape Girardeau: $57.06 (union)Carroll: $42.19 (union)Carter: $26.91 (survey)Cass: $33.81 (survey)Cedar: $26.91 (survey)Chariton: $45.77 (union)Christian: $25.93 (survey)Clark: $56.07 (union)Clay: $33.81 (survey)Clinton: $33.81 (survey)Cole: $33.81 (survey)Cooper: $42.19 (union)Crawford: $51.11 (union)Dade: $51.11 (union)Dallas: $25.93 (survey)Daviess: $56.07 (union)DeKalb: $33.81 (survey)Dent: $51.11 (union)Douglas: $51.11 (union)Dunklin: $26.91 (survey)Franklin: $57.06 (union)Gasconade: $51.11 (union)Gentry: $56.07 (union)Greene: $25.93 (survey)Grundy: $56.07 (union)Harrison: $56.07 (union)Henry: $51.11 (union)Hickory: $51.11 (union)Holt: $56.07 (union)Howard: $33.81 (survey)Howell: $26.91 (survey)Iron: $26.91 (survey)Jackson: $33.81 (survey)Jasper: $25.93 (survey)Jefferson: $57.06 (union)Johnson: $48.30 (union)Knox: $56.07 (union)Laclede: $51.11 (union)Lafayette: $33.81 (survey)Lawrence: $26.91 (survey)Lewis: $56.07 (union)Lincoln: $57.06 (union)Linn: $56.07 (union)Livingston: $56.07 (union)McDonald: $25.93 (survey)Macon: $56.07 (union)Madison: $26.91 (survey)Maries: $51.11 (union)Marion: $56.07 (union)Mercer: $56.07 (union)Miller: $51.11 (union)Mississippi: $26.91 (survey)Moniteau: $33.81 (survey)Monroe: $56.07 (union)Montgomery: $51.11 (union)Morgan: $51.11 (union)New Madrid: $26.91 (survey)Newton: $25.93 (survey)Nodaway: $56.07 (union)Oregon: $26.91 (survey)Osage: $33.81 (survey)Ozark: $51.11 (union)Pemiscot: $26.91 (survey)Perry: $26.91 (survey)Pettis: $42.19 (union)Phelps: $51.11 (union)Pike: $56.07 (union)Platte: $33.81 (survey)Polk: $25.93 (survey)Pulaski: $51.11 (union)Putnam: $56.07 (union)Ralls: $41.33 (union)Randolph: $56.07 (union)Ray: $33.81 (survey)Reynolds: $26.91 (survey)Ripley: $26.91 (survey)St. Charles: $57.06 (union)St. Clair: $51.11 (union)Ste. Genevieve: $26.91 (survey)St. Francois: $26.91 (survey)St. Louis: $57.06 (union)Saline: $56.07 (union)Schuyler: $56.07 (union)Scotland: $56.07 (union)Scott: $26.91 (survey)Shannon: $26.91 (survey)Shelby: $56.07 (union)Stoddard: $26.91 (survey)Stone: $51.11 (union)Sullivan: $56.07 (union)Taney: $51.11 (union)Texas: $26.91 (survey)Vernon: $26.91 (survey)Warren: $57.06 (union)Washington: $57.06 (union)Wayne: $26.91 (survey)Webster: $25.93 (survey)Worth: $56.07 (union)Wright: $26.91 (survey)St. Louis: $48.81 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$26.91$33.81$51.11$56.07survey 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)$0$20$40$60/hrBollinger (Cape Girardeau): market median $27.89, prevailing (union) $57.06, gap +$29.17Bollinger (Cape Girardeau)+$29.17Franklin (St. Louis): market median $28.75, prevailing (union) $57.06, gap +$28.31Franklin (St. Louis)+$28.31Cooper (Columbia): market median $22.24, prevailing (union) $42.19, gap +$19.95Cooper (Columbia)+$19.95Bates (Kansas City): market median $24.07, prevailing (survey) $33.81, gap +$9.74Bates (Kansas City)+$9.74Andrew (St. Joseph): market median $24.63, prevailing (survey) $33.81, gap +$9.18Andrew (St. Joseph)+$9.18Callaway (Jefferson City): market median $26.02, prevailing (survey) $33.81, gap +$7.79Callaway (Jefferson City)+$7.79Jasper (Joplin): market median $21.90, prevailing (survey) $25.93, gap +$4.03Jasper (Joplin)+$4.03Christian (Springfield): market median $22.53, prevailing (survey) $25.93, gap +$3.40Christian (Springfield)+$3.40
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in Missouri.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BollingerUnion PADC0058-001 2024-09-01$39.40$17.66$57.06MO20260083
Cape GirardeauUnion PADC0058-001 2024-09-01$39.40$17.66$57.06MO20260083
FranklinUnion PADC0058-001 2024-09-01$39.40$17.66$57.06MO20260074
JeffersonUnion PADC0058-001 2024-09-01$39.40$17.66$57.06MO20260077
LincolnUnion PADC0058-001 2024-09-01$39.40$17.66$57.06MO20260087
St. CharlesUnion PADC0058-001 2024-09-01$39.40$17.66$57.06MO20260087
St. LouisUnion PADC0058-001 2024-09-01$39.40$17.66$57.06MO20260089
WarrenUnion PADC0058-001 2024-09-01$39.40$17.66$57.06MO20260087
WashingtonUnion PADC0058-001 2024-09-01$39.40$17.66$57.06MO20260089
ClarkUnion PAIN2012-004 2025-04-01$36.10$19.97$56.07MO20260031
DaviessUnion PAIN2012-004 2025-04-01$36.10$19.97$56.07MO20260031
GentryUnion PAIN2012-004 2025-04-01$36.10$19.97$56.07MO20260031
GrundyUnion PAIN2012-004 2025-04-01$36.10$19.97$56.07MO20260031
HarrisonUnion PAIN2012-004 2025-04-01$36.10$19.97$56.07MO20260031
HoltUnion PAIN2012-004 2025-04-01$36.10$19.97$56.07MO20260031

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Missouri prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Missouri?

163.2kConstruction jobsMissouri, 2026-09
+6.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025163kSep 2026
Construction employment in Missouri (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Missouri

More on Missouri

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in Missouri?

The median painter in Missouri earned $27.65 an hour ($57,510 a year) in May 2025, 16% above the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $22.28–$32.94; the top 10% earn more than $38.27.

Where does Missouri rank for painter pay?

Missouri ranks 14th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $27.65 an hour, and 1st after adjusting for Missouri's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.8, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in Missouri?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 63 counties, with a typical package of $56.07 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many painters work in Missouri?

BLS counted 3,980 painters in Missouri in May 2025, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.94; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in Missouri?

The BLS employer survey count of painters in Missouri went from 3,750 in 2015 to 3,980 in 2025, +6.1%, and -6.4% since 2019. Missouri's labor market agency projects +4.1% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 6,090 to 6,340 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in Missouri?

Missouri projects about 500 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, Missouri 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: Missouri labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.