Skilled Wages

Painter salary in North Carolina

Median $21.21 an hour for 5,220 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$21.21/hrMedian hourly wageNorth Carolina, May data
$44,110/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$16.06 – $28.0310th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,220Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Painter pay in North Carolina: the full range

Wage percentiles, North CarolinaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrNorth Carolina: 10th $16.06 · 25th $17.83 · median $21.21 · 75th $23.63 · 90th $28.03North Carolina$21.21$16.06$28.03United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters: North Carolina vs United States, May 2025.

North Carolina ranks 46th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 46th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $22.49). 5,220 painters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$16.06 – $17.83$33,410 – $37,090roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$17.83 – $23.63$37,090 – $49,150the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$23.63 – $28.03$49,150 – $58,300the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in North Carolina

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrVirginia Beach: $22.65Virginia Beach$22.65Durham: $22.37Durham$22.37Raleigh: $21.81Raleigh$21.81Charlotte: $21.59Charlotte$21.59Pinehurst: $20.96Pinehurst$20.96Asheville: $20.66Asheville$20.66Wilmington: $20.60Wilmington$20.60Greensboro: $20.13Greensboro$20.13Fayetteville: $20.00Fayetteville$20.00Goldsboro: $19.46Goldsboro$19.46Rocky Mount: $19.42Rocky Mount$19.42Hickory: $19.17Hickory$19.17
Median hourly wage for painters by metro area in North Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Virginia Beach$16.75$22.65$23.14$34.641,6107% above
Durham$18.12$22.37$22.92$28.882605% above
Raleigh$17.71$21.81$22.21$27.858103% above
Charlotte$16.70$21.59$22.19$27.861,3702% above
Pinehurst$17.46$20.96$23.74$28.31301% below
Asheville$17.25$20.66$21.41$27.332103% below
Wilmington$13.43$20.60$21.37$27.072203% below
Greensboro$14.13$20.13$21.67$27.123505% below
Fayetteville$16.09$20.00$21.74$26.371106% below
Goldsboro$15.49$19.46$21.99$24.10608% below
Rocky Mount$13.00$19.42$22.07$27.02408% below
Hickory$13.25$19.17$21.66$23.5113010% below
Burlington$13.32$18.77$20.14$23.785012% below
Greenville$13.07$18.46$20.88$23.727013% below
Jacksonville$15.82$18.46$20.04$28.4813013% below
Winston-Salem$13.33$18.24$19.83$26.9135014% below

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

Painter wages in North Carolina over time

North Carolina, 1999-2025North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$23.75United States$21.21North Carolina
Median hourly wage for painters, North Carolina vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearNorth Carolina $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$10.51$20.31$12.867,740
2000$11.18$20.90$13.107,920
2001$11.54$20.98$13.666,830
2002$12.00$21.47$13.987,430
2003$12.18$21.31$14.126,970
2004$12.32$21.00$14.556,130
2005$12.53$20.66$14.816,160
2006$13.04$20.82$15.006,820
2007$13.55$21.04$15.427,300
2008$13.97$20.89$15.857,790
2009$14.02$21.04$16.216,490
2010$14.26$21.05$16.486,080
2011$14.50$20.75$17.046,100
2012$14.36$20.14$16.924,150
2013$14.61$20.19$17.014,130
2014$14.76$20.07$17.294,010
2015$15.03$20.42$17.593,700
2016$15.25$20.46$18.063,610
2017$15.51$20.37$18.254,090
2018$15.65$20.06$18.723,650
2019$15.98$20.12$19.373,590
2020$16.84$20.95$20.253,610
2021$17.76$21.10$21.924,380
2022$17.71$19.48$22.164,350
2023$18.38$19.42$22.944,460
2024$21.10$21.66$23.404,340
2025$21.21$21.21$23.755,220

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in North Carolina changed by +3.9% over the last ten years of data and by +5.4% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in North Carolina?

+45.4%Jobs since 20193,590 then, 5,220 in 2025
+41.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.7× the US share, 37th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of painters counted in North Carolina has changed by -32.6%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +45.4%.

Painters, construction and maintenance in North Carolina vs United States, 1999 = 100North CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages40608010012020002005201020152020202586United States67North Carolina
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, North Carolina vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearNorth Carolina jobsNorth Carolina indexUS index
19997,740100100
20007,920102100
20016,8308898
20027,4309699
20036,9709095
20046,1307996
20056,1608096
20066,82088101
20077,30094100
20087,79010196
20096,4908482
20106,0807973
20116,1007971
20124,1505471
20134,1305374
20144,0105278
20153,7004882
20163,6104783
20174,0905385
20183,6504788
20193,5904689
20203,6104784
20214,3805782
20224,3505683
20234,4605883
20244,3405686
20255,2206786

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 North Carolina

+5.0%Projected growth in North Carolina2024–2034, state agency
550Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
6,610Jobs in 20246,940 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

North Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +5.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 6,610 to 6,940, with about 550 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,220 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in North Carolina

On federally funded construction in North Carolina, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 100 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $16.60). 54 of the 100 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Alleghany County at $16.64). The market median for the state is $21.21.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, NCAlamance: $16.60 (survey)Alexander: $16.60 (survey)Alleghany: $16.64 (survey)Anson: $17.01 (survey)Ashe: $16.64 (survey)Avery: $16.64 (survey)Beaufort: $16.33 (survey)Bertie: $16.33 (survey)Bladen: $16.57 (survey)Brunswick: $16.60 (survey)Buncombe: $16.60 (survey)Burke: $16.60 (survey)Cabarrus: $16.60 (survey)Caldwell: $16.60 (survey)Camden: $16.33 (survey)Carteret: $16.33 (survey)Caswell: $16.87 (survey)Catawba: $16.60 (survey)Chatham: $16.60 (survey)Cherokee: $16.64 (survey)Chowan: $16.33 (survey)Clay: $16.64 (survey)Cleveland: $16.57 (survey)Columbus: $16.57 (survey)Craven: $16.60 (survey)Cumberland: $16.60 (survey)Currituck: $16.60 (survey)Dare: $16.33 (survey)Davidson: $16.36 (survey)Davie: $16.36 (survey)Duplin: $16.57 (survey)Durham: $16.60 (survey)Edgecombe: $16.60 (survey)Forsyth: $16.36 (survey)Franklin: $16.60 (survey)Gaston: $16.60 (survey)Gates: $16.60 (survey)Graham: $16.64 (survey)Granville: $16.87 (survey)Greene: $12.35 (survey)Guilford: $16.36 (survey)Halifax: $16.87 (survey)Harnett: $16.57 (survey)Haywood: $16.60 (survey)Henderson: $16.60 (survey)Hertford: $16.33 (survey)Hoke: $16.60 (survey)Hyde: $16.33 (survey)Iredell: $16.60 (survey)Jackson: $16.64 (survey)Johnston: $16.60 (survey)Jones: $16.60 (survey)Lee: $16.57 (survey)Lenoir: $16.57 (survey)Lincoln: $16.60 (survey)McDowell: $16.64 (survey)Macon: $16.64 (survey)Madison: $16.60 (survey)Martin: $16.33 (survey)Mecklenburg: $16.60 (survey)Mitchell: $16.64 (survey)Montgomery: $16.57 (survey)Moore: $16.57 (survey)Nash: $16.60 (survey)New Hanover: $16.60 (survey)Northampton: $16.87 (survey)Onslow: $16.60 (survey)Orange: $16.60 (survey)Pamlico: $16.60 (survey)Pasquotank: $16.33 (survey)Pender: $16.60 (survey)Perquimans: $16.33 (survey)Person: $16.60 (survey)Pitt: $16.60 (survey)Polk: $16.64 (survey)Randolph: $16.36 (survey)Richmond: $16.57 (survey)Robeson: $16.57 (survey)Rockingham: $16.36 (survey)Rowan: $16.60 (survey)Rutherford: $16.64 (survey)Sampson: $16.57 (survey)Scotland: $16.57 (survey)Stanly: $16.57 (survey)Stokes: $16.36 (survey)Surry: $16.64 (survey)Swain: $16.64 (survey)Transylvania: $16.64 (survey)Tyrrell: $16.33 (survey)Union: $16.60 (survey)Vance: $16.87 (survey)Wake: $16.60 (survey)Warren: $16.87 (survey)Washington: $16.33 (survey)Watauga: $16.64 (survey)Wayne: $16.60 (survey)Wilkes: $16.64 (survey)Wilson: $16.57 (survey)Yadkin: $16.36 (survey)Yancey: $16.64 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$16.36$16.60$16.64survey 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 (survey)$14$16$18$20$22$24/hrOnslow (Jacksonville): market median $18.46, prevailing (survey) $16.60, gap −$1.86Onslow (Jacksonville)−$1.86Pitt (Greenville): market median $18.46, prevailing (survey) $16.60, gap −$1.86Pitt (Greenville)−$1.86Davidson (Winston-Salem): market median $18.24, prevailing (survey) $16.36, gap −$1.88Davidson (Winston-Salem)−$1.88Alamance (Burlington): market median $18.77, prevailing (survey) $16.60, gap −$2.17Alamance (Burlington)−$2.17Alexander (Hickory): market median $19.17, prevailing (survey) $16.60, gap −$2.57Alexander (Hickory)−$2.57Edgecombe (Rocky Mount): market median $19.42, prevailing (survey) $16.60, gap −$2.82Edgecombe (Rocky Mount)−$2.82Wayne (Goldsboro): market median $19.46, prevailing (survey) $16.60, gap −$2.86Wayne (Goldsboro)−$2.86Cumberland (Fayetteville): market median $20.00, prevailing (survey) $16.60, gap −$3.40Cumberland (Fayetteville)−$3.40Guilford (Greensboro): market median $20.13, prevailing (survey) $16.36, gap −$3.77Guilford (Greensboro)−$3.77Brunswick (Wilmington): market median $20.60, prevailing (survey) $16.60, gap −$4.00Brunswick (Wilmington)−$4.00Buncombe (Asheville): market median $20.66, prevailing (survey) $16.60, gap −$4.06Buncombe (Asheville)−$4.06Moore (Pinehurst): market median $20.96, prevailing (survey) $16.57, gap −$4.39Moore (Pinehurst)−$4.39Anson (Charlotte): market median $21.59, prevailing (survey) $17.01, gap −$4.58Anson (Charlotte)−$4.58Franklin (Raleigh): market median $21.81, prevailing (survey) $16.60, gap −$5.21Franklin (Raleigh)−$5.21Chatham (Durham): market median $22.37, prevailing (survey) $16.60, gap −$5.77Chatham (Durham)−$5.77Currituck (Virginia Beach): market median $22.65, prevailing (survey) $16.60, gap −$6.05Currituck (Virginia Beach)−$6.05
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in North Carolina.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AnsonSurvey SUNC2011-002 2011-08-24$14.13$2.88$17.01NC20260021
CaswellSurvey SUNC2011-045 2011-08-26$15.12$1.75$16.87NC20260064
GranvilleSurvey SUNC2011-045 2011-08-26$15.12$1.75$16.87NC20260064
HalifaxSurvey SUNC2011-045 2011-08-26$15.12$1.75$16.87NC20260064
NorthamptonSurvey SUNC2011-036 2011-08-26$15.12$1.75$16.87NC20260055
VanceSurvey SUNC2011-045 2011-08-26$15.12$1.75$16.87NC20260064
WarrenSurvey SUNC2011-045 2011-08-26$15.12$1.75$16.87NC20260064
AlleghanySurvey SUNC2011-031 2011-08-26$14.77$1.87$16.64NC20260050
AsheSurvey SUNC2011-042 2011-08-26$14.77$1.87$16.64NC20260061
AverySurvey SUNC2011-032 2011-08-26$14.77$1.87$16.64NC20260051
CherokeeSurvey SUNC2011-033 2011-08-26$14.77$1.87$16.64NC20260052
ClaySurvey SUNC2011-042 2011-08-26$14.77$1.87$16.64NC20260061
GrahamSurvey SUNC2011-042 2011-08-26$14.77$1.87$16.64NC20260061
JacksonSurvey SUNC2011-035 2011-08-26$14.77$1.87$16.64NC20260054
McDowellSurvey SUNC2011-042 2011-08-26$14.77$1.87$16.64NC20260061

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

Is construction work growing in North Carolina?

296.4kConstruction jobsNorth Carolina, 2026-09
+6.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025296kSep 2026
Construction employment in North Carolina (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in North Carolina

More on North Carolina

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in North Carolina?

The median painter in North Carolina earned $21.21 an hour ($44,110 a year) in May 2025, 11% below the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $17.83–$23.63; the top 10% earn more than $28.03.

Where does North Carolina rank for painter pay?

North Carolina ranks 46th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $21.21 an hour, and 46th after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in North Carolina?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a painter classification for most North Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many painters work in North Carolina?

BLS counted 5,220 painters in North Carolina in May 2025, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.73; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in North Carolina?

The BLS employer survey count of painters in North Carolina went from 3,700 in 2015 to 5,220 in 2025, +41.1%, and +45.4% since 2019. North Carolina's labor market agency projects +5.0% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 6,610 to 6,940 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in North Carolina?

North Carolina projects about 550 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, North Carolina 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: North Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.