Painter salary in Nebraska
Median $22.73 an hour for 1,590 painters, construction and maintenance, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Painter pay in Nebraska: the full range
Nebraska ranks 35th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 28th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.23). 1,590 painters, construction and maintenance work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $16.06 – $18.19 | $33,410 – $37,840 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $18.19 – $24.62 | $37,840 – $51,220 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $24.62 – $27.88 | $51,220 – $57,990 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Painter pay by metro in Nebraska
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $17.12 | $22.96 | $28.67 | 930 | 1% above |
| Lincoln | $13.50 | $22.68 | $28.04 | 280 | about the same as |
| Sioux City | $17.72 | $22.48 | $29.86 | 90 | 1% below |
| Grand Island | $16.06 | $21.42 | $24.55 | 60 | 6% below |
Painter wages in Nebraska over time
Table
| Year | Nebraska $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $10.87 | $21.01 | $12.86 | 1,690 |
| 2000 | $11.85 | $22.15 | $13.10 | 1,690 |
| 2001 | $12.55 | $22.81 | $13.66 | 1,500 |
| 2002 | $12.90 | $23.09 | $13.98 | 1,660 |
| 2003 | $13.58 | $23.76 | $14.12 | 1,380 |
| 2004 | $13.91 | $23.71 | $14.55 | 1,510 |
| 2005 | $13.24 | $21.83 | $14.81 | 1,700 |
| 2006 | $13.20 | $21.08 | $15.00 | 1,700 |
| 2007 | $13.26 | $20.59 | $15.42 | 1,620 |
| 2008 | $14.62 | $21.86 | $15.85 | 1,540 |
| 2009 | $15.15 | $22.73 | $16.21 | 1,150 |
| 2010 | $15.84 | $23.39 | $16.48 | 1,190 |
| 2011 | $14.29 | $20.45 | $17.04 | 1,210 |
| 2012 | $14.57 | $20.43 | $16.92 | 1,290 |
| 2013 | $14.62 | $20.20 | $17.01 | 1,260 |
| 2014 | $15.36 | $20.89 | $17.29 | 1,250 |
| 2015 | $15.64 | $21.24 | $17.59 | 1,360 |
| 2016 | $16.32 | $21.89 | $18.06 | 1,350 |
| 2017 | $16.88 | $22.17 | $18.25 | 1,470 |
| 2018 | $16.68 | $21.39 | $18.72 | 1,480 |
| 2019 | $16.24 | $20.45 | $19.37 | 1,510 |
| 2020 | $17.28 | $21.50 | $20.25 | 1,510 |
| 2021 | $18.19 | $21.61 | $21.92 | 1,520 |
| 2022 | $18.67 | $20.54 | $22.16 | 1,580 |
| 2023 | $18.49 | $19.54 | $22.94 | 1,730 |
| 2024 | $21.64 | $22.21 | $23.40 | 1,580 |
| 2025 | $22.73 | $22.73 | $23.75 | 1,590 |
In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Nebraska changed by +7.0% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Nebraska
On federally funded construction in Nebraska, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 9 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $14.26). 9 of the 9 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Cass County at $14.26). The market median for the state is $22.73.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass | Survey SUNE2011-030 2011-10-27 | $14.26 | $0.00 | $14.26 | NE20260056 |
| Dakota | Survey SUNE2011-037 2011-10-27 | $14.26 | $0.00 | $14.26 | NE20260063 |
| Dixon | Survey SUNE2011-037 2011-10-27 | $14.26 | $0.00 | $14.26 | NE20260063 |
| Douglas | Survey SUNE2011-031 2011-10-27 | $14.26 | $0.00 | $14.26 | NE20260057 |
| Lancaster | Survey SUNE2011-032 2011-10-27 | $14.26 | $0.00 | $14.26 | NE20260058 |
| Sarpy | Survey SUNE2011-033 2011-10-27 | $14.26 | $0.00 | $14.26 | NE20260059 |
| Saunders | Survey SUNE2011-034 2011-10-27 | $14.26 | $0.00 | $14.26 | NE20260060 |
| Seward | Survey SUNE2011-035 2011-10-27 | $14.26 | $0.00 | $14.26 | NE20260061 |
| Washington | Survey SUNE2011-036 2011-10-27 | $14.26 | $0.00 | $14.26 | NE20260062 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Nebraska prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Nebraska?
Keep comparing
Painter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Nebraska
Questions this page answers
How much do painters make in Nebraska?
The median painter in Nebraska earned $22.73 an hour ($47,280 a year) in May 2025, 4% below the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $18.19–$24.62; the top 10% earn more than $27.88.
Where does Nebraska rank for painter pay?
Nebraska ranks 35th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $22.73 an hour, and 28th after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).
What is the union painter rate in Nebraska?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a painter classification for most Nebraska counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many painters work in Nebraska?
BLS counted 1,590 painters, construction and maintenance in Nebraska in May 2025, 1.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.07; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Nebraska 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.