Painter salary in Nevada
Median $27.11 an hour for 4,120 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Painter pay in Nevada: the full range
Nevada ranks 16th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 12th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.11). 4,120 painters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.4× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $19.92 – $22.57 | $41,430 – $46,950 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.57 – $30.47 | $46,950 – $63,390 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $30.47 – $47.21 | $63,390 – $98,190 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Painter pay by metro in Nevada
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $19.92 | $27.58 | $27.52 | $48.60 | 3,030 | 2% above |
| Reno | $21.04 | $25.99 | $25.73 | $34.24 | 910 | 4% below |
| Carson City | $21.08 | $24.70 | $25.18 | $36.59 | 60 | 9% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Painter wages in Nevada over time
Table
| Year | Nevada $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.16 | $27.36 | $12.86 | 3,790 |
| 2000 | $13.89 | $25.97 | $13.10 | 2,990 |
| 2001 | $15.41 | $28.01 | $13.66 | 2,890 |
| 2002 | $15.70 | $28.10 | $13.98 | 3,100 |
| 2003 | $16.54 | $28.94 | $14.12 | 2,950 |
| 2004 | $17.64 | $30.06 | $14.55 | 3,340 |
| 2005 | $18.19 | $29.99 | $14.81 | 3,880 |
| 2006 | $18.43 | $29.43 | $15.00 | 4,640 |
| 2007 | $17.16 | $26.64 | $15.42 | 4,470 |
| 2008 | $19.09 | $28.55 | $15.85 | 4,000 |
| 2009 | $21.17 | $31.77 | $16.21 | 2,590 |
| 2010 | $23.06 | $34.05 | $16.48 | 2,220 |
| 2011 | $24.16 | $34.58 | $17.04 | 2,270 |
| 2012 | $21.70 | $30.43 | $16.92 | 2,280 |
| 2013 | $23.08 | $31.90 | $17.01 | 2,590 |
| 2014 | $20.58 | $27.99 | $17.29 | 3,020 |
| 2015 | $18.67 | $25.36 | $17.59 | 3,120 |
| 2016 | $19.18 | $25.73 | $18.06 | 3,070 |
| 2017 | $19.99 | $26.26 | $18.25 | 3,410 |
| 2018 | $20.43 | $26.19 | $18.72 | 3,560 |
| 2019 | $20.51 | $25.83 | $19.37 | 3,890 |
| 2020 | $19.70 | $24.51 | $20.25 | 3,260 |
| 2021 | $22.02 | $26.16 | $21.92 | 4,320 |
| 2022 | $22.69 | $24.96 | $22.16 | 4,150 |
| 2023 | $23.18 | $24.49 | $22.94 | 3,920 |
| 2024 | $25.15 | $25.81 | $23.40 | 3,430 |
| 2025 | $27.11 | $27.11 | $23.75 | 4,120 |
In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Nevada changed by +6.9% over the last ten years of data and by +5.0% since 2019.
Are there more painter jobs in Nevada?
Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Nevada has changed by +8.7%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +5.9%.
Table
| Year | Nevada jobs | Nevada index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 3,790 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 2,990 | 79 | 100 |
| 2001 | 2,890 | 76 | 98 |
| 2002 | 3,100 | 82 | 99 |
| 2003 | 2,950 | 78 | 95 |
| 2004 | 3,340 | 88 | 96 |
| 2005 | 3,880 | 102 | 96 |
| 2006 | 4,640 | 122 | 101 |
| 2007 | 4,470 | 118 | 100 |
| 2008 | 4,000 | 106 | 96 |
| 2009 | 2,590 | 68 | 82 |
| 2010 | 2,220 | 59 | 73 |
| 2011 | 2,270 | 60 | 71 |
| 2012 | 2,280 | 60 | 71 |
| 2013 | 2,590 | 68 | 74 |
| 2014 | 3,020 | 80 | 78 |
| 2015 | 3,120 | 82 | 82 |
| 2016 | 3,070 | 81 | 83 |
| 2017 | 3,410 | 90 | 85 |
| 2018 | 3,560 | 94 | 88 |
| 2019 | 3,890 | 103 | 89 |
| 2020 | 3,260 | 86 | 84 |
| 2021 | 4,320 | 114 | 82 |
| 2022 | 4,150 | 110 | 83 |
| 2023 | 3,920 | 103 | 83 |
| 2024 | 3,430 | 90 | 86 |
| 2025 | 4,120 | 109 | 86 |
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 Nevada
Nevada's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +9.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,850 to 5,330, with about 440 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 4,120 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Nevada labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Nevada
On federally funded construction in Nevada, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 17 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $61.14). The market median for the state is $27.11.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clark | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $52.62 | $27.10 | $79.72 | NV20260091 |
| Esmeralda | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $52.62 | $27.10 | $79.72 | NV20260085 |
| Lincoln | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $52.62 | $27.10 | $79.72 | NV20260080 |
| Nye | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $52.62 | $27.10 | $79.72 | NV20260082 |
| Churchill | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260077 |
| Douglas | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260078 |
| Elko | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260083 |
| Eureka | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260084 |
| Humboldt | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260079 |
| Lander | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260086 |
| Lyon | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260081 |
| Mineral | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260087 |
| Pershing | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260088 |
| Storey | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260092 |
| Washoe | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260093 |
| White Pine | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260089 |
| Carson City | state SANV2025-001 2025-10-01 | $44.10 | $17.04 | $61.14 | NV20260090 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Nevada prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Nevada?
Keep comparing
Painter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Nevada
More on Nevada
Questions this page answers
How much do painters make in Nevada?
The median painter in Nevada earned $27.11 an hour ($56,390 a year) in May 2025, 14% above the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $22.57–$30.47; the top 10% earn more than $47.21.
Where does Nevada rank for painter pay?
Nevada ranks 16th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $27.11 an hour, and 12th after adjusting for Nevada's cost of living (BEA price parity 100.0, US = 100).
What is the union painter rate in Nevada?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a painter classification for most Nevada counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many painters work in Nevada?
BLS counted 4,120 painters in Nevada in May 2025, 2.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.84; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is painter work growing in Nevada?
The BLS employer survey count of painters in Nevada went from 3,120 in 2015 to 4,120 in 2025, +32.1%, and +5.9% since 2019. Nevada's labor market agency projects +9.9% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 4,850 to 5,330 jobs.
How many painter openings a year are there in Nevada?
Nevada projects about 440 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, Nevada 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: Nevada labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.