Painter salary in Oregon
Median $23.51 an hour for 5,410 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Painter pay in Oregon: the full range
Oregon ranks 28th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 40th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $22.74). 5,410 painters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.39 – $22.09 | $38,260 – $45,950 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.09 – $29.60 | $45,950 – $61,580 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $29.60 – $35.36 | $61,580 – $73,560 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Painter pay by metro in Oregon
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $18.75 | $25.62 | $24.31 | $35.51 | 3,540 | 9% above |
| Bend | $18.63 | $23.30 | $22.49 | $29.93 | 420 | 1% below |
| Salem | $18.30 | $23.00 | $22.20 | $29.77 | 670 | 2% below |
| Grants Pass | $18.46 | $22.85 | $23.36 | $28.70 | 80 | 3% below |
| Corvallis | $18.34 | $22.72 | $21.85 | $29.22 | 40 | 3% below |
| Albany | $18.04 | $22.67 | $22.20 | $29.44 | 180 | 4% below |
| Eugene | $17.62 | $22.01 | $21.66 | $28.93 | 310 | 6% below |
| Medford | $18.01 | $22.00 | $21.70 | $29.49 | 220 | 6% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Painter wages in Oregon over time
Table
| Year | Oregon $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.10 | $27.25 | $12.86 | 3,890 |
| 2000 | $14.69 | $27.46 | $13.10 | 3,850 |
| 2001 | $15.11 | $27.47 | $13.66 | 3,640 |
| 2002 | $15.22 | $27.24 | $13.98 | 4,040 |
| 2003 | $14.91 | $26.09 | $14.12 | 3,230 |
| 2004 | $14.62 | $24.92 | $14.55 | 3,580 |
| 2005 | $14.19 | $23.39 | $14.81 | 3,520 |
| 2006 | $15.14 | $24.18 | $15.00 | 4,210 |
| 2007 | $14.55 | $22.59 | $15.42 | 4,860 |
| 2008 | $14.62 | $21.86 | $15.85 | 4,800 |
| 2009 | $14.87 | $22.31 | $16.21 | 3,670 |
| 2010 | $15.41 | $22.75 | $16.48 | 2,900 |
| 2011 | $16.25 | $23.26 | $17.04 | 2,900 |
| 2012 | $16.80 | $23.56 | $16.92 | 2,640 |
| 2013 | $16.61 | $22.95 | $17.01 | 2,670 |
| 2014 | $16.61 | $22.59 | $17.29 | 3,020 |
| 2015 | $16.13 | $21.91 | $17.59 | 3,540 |
| 2016 | $16.23 | $21.77 | $18.06 | 4,170 |
| 2017 | $16.53 | $21.71 | $18.25 | 4,480 |
| 2018 | $17.09 | $21.91 | $18.72 | 4,810 |
| 2019 | $18.51 | $23.31 | $19.37 | 4,750 |
| 2020 | $19.36 | $24.08 | $20.25 | 4,320 |
| 2021 | $18.54 | $22.03 | $21.92 | 4,690 |
| 2022 | $21.30 | $23.43 | $22.16 | 5,420 |
| 2023 | $23.12 | $24.43 | $22.94 | 4,560 |
| 2024 | $23.50 | $24.12 | $23.40 | 4,780 |
| 2025 | $23.51 | $23.51 | $23.75 | 5,410 |
In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Oregon changed by +7.3% over the last ten years of data and by +0.9% since 2019.
Are there more painter jobs in Oregon?
Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Oregon has changed by +39.1%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +13.9%.
Table
| Year | Oregon jobs | Oregon index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 3,890 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 3,850 | 99 | 100 |
| 2001 | 3,640 | 94 | 98 |
| 2002 | 4,040 | 104 | 99 |
| 2003 | 3,230 | 83 | 95 |
| 2004 | 3,580 | 92 | 96 |
| 2005 | 3,520 | 90 | 96 |
| 2006 | 4,210 | 108 | 101 |
| 2007 | 4,860 | 125 | 100 |
| 2008 | 4,800 | 123 | 96 |
| 2009 | 3,670 | 94 | 82 |
| 2010 | 2,900 | 75 | 73 |
| 2011 | 2,900 | 75 | 71 |
| 2012 | 2,640 | 68 | 71 |
| 2013 | 2,670 | 69 | 74 |
| 2014 | 3,020 | 78 | 78 |
| 2015 | 3,540 | 91 | 82 |
| 2016 | 4,170 | 107 | 83 |
| 2017 | 4,480 | 115 | 85 |
| 2018 | 4,810 | 124 | 88 |
| 2019 | 4,750 | 122 | 89 |
| 2020 | 4,320 | 111 | 84 |
| 2021 | 4,690 | 121 | 82 |
| 2022 | 5,420 | 139 | 83 |
| 2023 | 4,560 | 117 | 83 |
| 2024 | 4,780 | 123 | 86 |
| 2025 | 5,410 | 139 | 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 Oregon
Oregon's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +10.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 7,040 to 7,790, with about 640 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,410 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Oregon labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Oregon
On federally funded construction in Oregon, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 13 of the 13 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $57.53 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $23.51.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260094 |
| Clackamas | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260095 |
| Columbia | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260096 |
| Deschutes | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260097 |
| Jackson | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260103 |
| Josephine | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260103 |
| Lane | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260098 |
| Linn | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260099 |
| Marion | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260104 |
| Multnomah | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260100 |
| Polk | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260104 |
| Washington | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260101 |
| Yamhill | Union PAIN0010-010 2025-07-01 | $40.85 | $16.68 | $57.53 | OR20260102 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Oregon prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Oregon?
Keep comparing
Painter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Oregon
More on Oregon
Questions this page answers
How much do painters make in Oregon?
The median painter in Oregon earned $23.51 an hour ($48,900 a year) in May 2025, 1% below the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $22.09–$29.60; the top 10% earn more than $35.36.
Where does Oregon rank for painter pay?
Oregon ranks 28th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $23.51 an hour, and 40th after adjusting for Oregon's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.4, US = 100).
What is the union painter rate in Oregon?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 13 counties, with a typical package of $57.53 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many painters work in Oregon?
BLS counted 5,410 painters in Oregon in May 2025, 2.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.90; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is painter work growing in Oregon?
The BLS employer survey count of painters in Oregon went from 3,540 in 2015 to 5,410 in 2025, +52.8%, and +13.9% since 2019. Oregon's labor market agency projects +10.7% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 7,040 to 7,790 jobs.
How many painter openings a year are there in Oregon?
Oregon projects about 640 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, Oregon 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: Oregon labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.