Skilled Wages

Painter salary in North Carolina

Median $21.21 an hour for 5,220 painters, construction and maintenance, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$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 2026-09-28

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, construction and maintenance: 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, construction and maintenance work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$16.06 – $17.83$33,410 – $37,090roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$17.83 – $23.63$37,090 – $49,150the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$23.63 – $28.03$49,150 – $58,300the 75th–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, construction and maintenance by metro area in North Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Virginia Beach$16.75$22.65$34.641,6107% above
Durham$18.12$22.37$28.882605% above
Raleigh$17.71$21.81$27.858103% above
Charlotte$16.70$21.59$27.861,3702% above
Pinehurst$17.46$20.96$28.31301% below
Asheville$17.25$20.66$27.332103% below
Wilmington$13.43$20.60$27.072203% below
Greensboro$14.13$20.13$27.123505% below
Fayetteville$16.09$20.00$26.371106% below
Goldsboro$15.49$19.46$24.10608% below
Rocky Mount$13.00$19.42$27.02408% below
Hickory$13.25$19.17$23.5113010% below
Burlington$13.32$18.77$23.785012% below
Greenville$13.07$18.46$23.727013% below
Jacksonville$15.82$18.46$28.4813013% below
Winston-Salem$13.33$18.24$26.9135014% below

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, construction and maintenance, 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.

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 2026-09-28. 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?

299.4kConstruction jobsNorth Carolina, 2026-08
+6.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025299kAug 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

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, construction and maintenance in North Carolina in May 2025, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.73; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, North Carolina 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.