Painter salary in Oregon
Median $23.51 an hour for 5,410 painters, construction and maintenance, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
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, construction and maintenance work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.39 – $22.09 | $38,260 – $45,950 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.09 – $29.60 | $45,950 – $61,580 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $29.60 – $35.36 | $61,580 – $73,560 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Painter pay by metro in Oregon
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $18.75 | $25.62 | $35.51 | 3,540 | 9% above |
| Bend | $18.63 | $23.30 | $29.93 | 420 | 1% below |
| Salem | $18.30 | $23.00 | $29.77 | 670 | 2% below |
| Grants Pass | $18.46 | $22.85 | $28.70 | 80 | 3% below |
| Corvallis | $18.34 | $22.72 | $29.22 | 40 | 3% below |
| Albany | $18.04 | $22.67 | $29.44 | 180 | 4% below |
| Eugene | $17.62 | $22.01 | $28.93 | 310 | 6% below |
| Medford | $18.01 | $22.00 | $29.49 | 220 | 6% below |
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.
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 2026-09-28. 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
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, construction and maintenance in Oregon in May 2025, 2.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.90; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Oregon 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.