Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Ohio

Median $23.77 an hour for 5,600 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$23.77/hrMedian hourly wageOhio, May data
$49,450/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.82 – $35.7710th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,600Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Painter pay in Ohio: the full range

Wage percentiles, OhioMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrOhio: 10th $17.82 · 25th $21.17 · median $23.77 · 75th $29.71 · 90th $35.77Ohio$23.77$17.82$35.77United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters: Ohio vs United States, May 2025.

Ohio ranks 26th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 24th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.61). 5,600 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$17.82 – $21.17$37,060 – $44,040roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$21.17 – $29.71$44,040 – $61,790the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$29.71 – $35.77$61,790 – $74,400the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in Ohio

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrAkron: $27.67Akron$27.67Springfield: $27.34Springfield$27.34Columbus: $24.91Columbus$24.91Wheeling: $24.62Wheeling$24.62Cincinnati: $24.12Cincinnati$24.12Cleveland: $23.84Cleveland$23.84Youngstown: $23.75Youngstown$23.75Toledo: $23.47Toledo$23.47Canton: $23.37Canton$23.37Dayton: $22.75Dayton$22.75Weirton: $22.49Weirton$22.49Lima: $22.37Lima$22.37
Median hourly wage for painters by metro area in Ohio, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Akron$18.14$27.67$29.63$35.7846016% above
Springfield$18.14$27.34$30.21$31.248015% above
Columbus$18.40$24.91$26.08$37.079805% above
Wheeling$15.89$24.62$27.88$31.49604% above
Cincinnati$18.30$24.12$25.28$34.308901% above
Cleveland$18.01$23.84$25.39$36.401,110about the same as
Youngstown$17.09$23.75$27.17$34.73400about the same as
Toledo$17.51$23.47$25.65$33.154001% below
Canton$17.27$23.37$26.14$34.702202% below
Dayton$17.65$22.75$24.54$33.703004% below
Weirton$15.39$22.49$25.27$33.26505% below
Lima$13.94$22.37$24.94$34.41406% below
Huntington$15.46$22.12$25.02$30.651807% below

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

Painter wages in Ohio over time

Ohio, 1999-2025OhioUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$23.77Ohio$23.75United States
Median hourly wage for painters, Ohio vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearOhio $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.66$28.33$12.868,770
2000$14.47$27.05$13.109,040
2001$15.03$27.32$13.669,140
2002$15.17$27.15$13.988,650
2003$14.91$26.09$14.128,700
2004$15.46$26.35$14.558,350
2005$15.61$25.73$14.817,820
2006$15.77$25.18$15.007,760
2007$15.58$24.19$15.426,940
2008$16.84$25.18$15.856,700
2009$17.77$26.67$16.215,510
2010$19.05$28.13$16.484,890
2011$18.95$27.12$17.044,880
2012$18.55$26.01$16.925,420
2013$17.31$23.92$17.015,740
2014$17.78$24.18$17.296,210
2015$17.89$24.30$17.596,320
2016$18.96$25.43$18.065,500
2017$18.61$24.44$18.255,470
2018$19.36$24.82$18.725,780
2019$19.98$25.16$19.375,870
2020$20.15$25.07$20.255,450
2021$22.21$26.39$21.925,500
2022$22.50$24.75$22.165,400
2023$24.35$25.73$22.946,350
2024$25.79$26.47$23.406,050
2025$23.77$23.77$23.755,600

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Ohio changed by -2.2% over the last ten years of data and by -5.5% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in Ohio?

-4.6%Jobs since 20195,870 then, 5,600 in 2025
-11.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.0Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.7× the US share, 38th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Ohio has changed by -36.1%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -4.6%.

Painters, construction and maintenance in Ohio vs United States, 1999 = 100OhioUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages40608010012020002005201020152020202586United States64Ohio
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Ohio vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearOhio jobsOhio indexUS index
19998,770100100
20009,040103100
20019,14010498
20028,6509999
20038,7009995
20048,3509596
20057,8208996
20067,76088101
20076,94079100
20086,7007696
20095,5106382
20104,8905673
20114,8805671
20125,4206271
20135,7406674
20146,2107178
20156,3207282
20165,5006383
20175,4706285
20185,7806688
20195,8706789
20205,4506284
20215,5006382
20225,4006283
20236,3507283
20246,0506986
20255,6006486

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 Ohio

+1.1%Projected growth in Ohio2024–2034, state agency
710Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
9,060Jobs in 20249,160 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Ohio's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +1.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 9,060 to 9,160, with about 710 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,600 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Ohio

On federally funded construction in Ohio, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 53 of the 87 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $51.80 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $31.40). 33 of the 87 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Allen County at $35.18). The market median for the state is $23.77.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, OHAdams: $54.74 (union)Allen: $35.18 (survey)Ashland: $31.40 (survey)Ashtabula: $31.40 (survey)Athens: $54.74 (union)Auglaize: $28.76 (survey)Belmont: $35.18 (survey)Brown: $42.04 (union)Butler: $42.04 (union)Carroll: $50.08 (union)Champaign: $28.76 (survey)Clark: $43.12 (union)Clermont: $42.04 (union)Clinton: $54.74 (union)Columbiana: $31.40 (survey)Coshocton: $54.74 (union)Crawford: $31.40 (survey)Cuyahoga: $51.80 (union)Darke: $28.76 (survey)Defiance: $28.76 (survey)Delaware: $44.61 (union)Erie: $51.80 (union)Fairfield: $44.61 (union)Fayette: $54.74 (union)Franklin: $44.61 (union)Fulton: $58.54 (union)Gallia: $54.74 (union)Geauga: $51.80 (union)Greene: $43.12 (union)Guernsey: $54.74 (union)Hamilton: $42.04 (union)Hancock: $28.76 (survey)Hardin: $28.76 (survey)Harrison: $54.74 (union)Henry: $28.76 (survey)Highland: $54.74 (union)Hocking: $54.74 (union)Holmes: $31.40 (survey)Huron: $31.40 (survey)Jackson: $54.74 (union)Jefferson: $35.18 (survey)Knox: $31.40 (survey)Lake: $51.80 (union)Lawrence: $35.18 (survey)Licking: $44.61 (union)Logan: $28.76 (survey)Lorain: $51.80 (union)Lucas: $58.54 (union)Madison: $44.61 (union)Mahoning: $49.00 (union)Marion: $31.40 (survey)Medina: $51.80 (union)Meigs: $54.74 (union)Mercer: $28.76 (survey)Miami: $43.12 (union)Monroe: $54.74 (union)Montgomery: $43.12 (union)Morgan: $54.74 (union)Morrow: $44.61 (union)Muskingum: $54.74 (union)Noble: $54.74 (union)Ottawa: $58.54 (union)Paulding: $28.76 (survey)Perry: $54.74 (union)Pickaway: $44.61 (union)Pike: $54.74 (union)Portage: $35.18 (survey)Preble: $43.12 (union)Putnam: $28.76 (survey)Richland: $44.61 (union)Ross: $54.74 (union)Sandusky: $31.40 (survey)Scioto: $54.74 (union)Seneca: $31.40 (survey)Shelby: $28.76 (survey)Stark: $50.08 (union)Summit: $35.18 (survey)Trumbull: $39.45 (survey)Tuscarawas: $54.74 (union)Union: $44.61 (union)Van Wert: $28.76 (survey)Vinton: $54.74 (union)Warren: $42.04 (union)Washington: $35.18 (survey)Wayne: $31.40 (survey)Williams: $28.76 (survey)Wood: n/aWyandot: $31.40 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$31.40$42.04$44.61$54.74n/asurvey 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$80/hrFulton (Toledo): market median $23.47, prevailing (union) $58.54, gap +$35.07Fulton (Toledo)+$35.07Ottawa (Ohio): market median $23.77, prevailing (union) $58.54, gap +$34.77Ottawa (Ohio)+$34.77Hocking (Columbus): market median $24.91, prevailing (union) $54.74, gap +$29.83Hocking (Columbus)+$29.83Cuyahoga (Cleveland): market median $23.84, prevailing (union) $51.80, gap +$27.96Cuyahoga (Cleveland)+$27.96Carroll (Canton): market median $23.37, prevailing (union) $50.08, gap +$26.71Carroll (Canton)+$26.71Mahoning (Youngstown): market median $23.75, prevailing (union) $49.00, gap +$25.25Mahoning (Youngstown)+$25.25Greene (Dayton): market median $22.75, prevailing (union) $43.12, gap +$20.37Greene (Dayton)+$20.37Brown (Cincinnati): market median $24.12, prevailing (union) $42.04, gap +$17.92Brown (Cincinnati)+$17.92Clark (Springfield): market median $27.34, prevailing (union) $43.12, gap +$15.78Clark (Springfield)+$15.78Lawrence (Huntington): market median $22.12, prevailing (survey) $35.18, gap +$13.06Lawrence (Huntington)+$13.06Allen (Lima): market median $22.37, prevailing (survey) $35.18, gap +$12.81Allen (Lima)+$12.81Jefferson (Weirton): market median $22.49, prevailing (survey) $35.18, gap +$12.69Jefferson (Weirton)+$12.69Belmont (Wheeling): market median $24.62, prevailing (survey) $35.18, gap +$10.56Belmont (Wheeling)+$10.56Portage (Akron): market median $27.67, prevailing (survey) $35.18, gap +$7.51Portage (Akron)+$7.51
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in Ohio.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
FultonUnion PAIN0007-004 2025-07-01$34.66$23.88$58.54OH20260079
LucasUnion PAIN0007-004 2025-07-01$34.66$23.88$58.54OH20260088
OttawaUnion PAIN0007-004 2025-07-01$34.66$23.88$58.54OH20260095
AdamsUnion PAIN0093-003 2024-12-01$30.28$24.46$54.74OH20260030
AthensUnion PAIN0093-003 2024-12-01$30.28$24.46$54.74OH20260033
ClintonUnion PAIN0093-003 2024-12-01$30.28$24.46$54.74OH20260064
CoshoctonUnion PAIN0093-003 2024-12-01$30.28$24.46$54.74OH20260065
FayetteUnion PAIN0093-003 2024-12-01$30.28$24.46$54.74OH20260040
GalliaUnion PAIN0093-003 2024-12-01$30.28$24.46$54.74OH20260041
GuernseyUnion PAIN0093-003 2024-12-01$30.28$24.46$54.74OH20260065
HarrisonUnion PAIN0093-003 2024-12-01$30.28$24.46$54.74OH20260065
HighlandUnion PAIN0093-003 2024-12-01$30.28$24.46$54.74OH20260064
HockingUnion PAIN0093-003 2024-12-01$30.28$24.46$54.74OH20260064
JacksonUnion PAIN0093-003 2024-12-01$30.28$24.46$54.74OH20260064
MeigsUnion PAIN0093-003 2024-12-01$30.28$24.46$54.74OH20260047

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Ohio prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Ohio?

285.5kConstruction jobsOhio, 2026-09
+6.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025286kSep 2026
Construction employment in Ohio (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Ohio

More on Ohio

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in Ohio?

The median painter in Ohio earned $23.77 an hour ($49,450 a year) in May 2025, about the same as the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $21.17–$29.71; the top 10% earn more than $35.77.

Where does Ohio rank for painter pay?

Ohio ranks 26th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $23.77 an hour, and 24th after adjusting for Ohio's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.8, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in Ohio?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 53 counties, with a typical package of $51.80 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many painters work in Ohio?

BLS counted 5,600 painters in Ohio in May 2025, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.70; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in Ohio?

The BLS employer survey count of painters in Ohio went from 6,320 in 2015 to 5,600 in 2025, -11.4%, and -4.6% since 2019. Ohio's labor market agency projects +1.1% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 9,060 to 9,160 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in Ohio?

Ohio projects about 710 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, Ohio 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 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Ohio labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.