Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Pennsylvania

Median $25.06 an hour for 5,980 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$25.06/hrMedian hourly wagePennsylvania, May data
$52,120/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.91 – $34.7310th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,980Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Painter pay in Pennsylvania: the full range

Wage percentiles, PennsylvaniaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrPennsylvania: 10th $17.91 · 25th $22.89 · median $25.06 · 75th $29.33 · 90th $34.73Pennsylvania$25.06$17.91$34.73United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters: Pennsylvania vs United States, May 2025.

Pennsylvania ranks 20th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 21st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.68). 5,980 painters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$17.91 – $22.89$37,250 – $47,600roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.89 – $29.33$47,600 – $61,000the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$29.33 – $34.73$61,000 – $72,230the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in Pennsylvania

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrPhiladelphia: $27.60Philadelphia$27.60Chambersburg: $27.22Chambersburg$27.22York: $25.97York$25.97Harrisburg: $25.87Harrisburg$25.87Allentown: $24.46Allentown$24.46Reading: $24.22Reading$24.22Scranton: $23.89Scranton$23.89Pittsburgh: $23.79Pittsburgh$23.79Lebanon: $23.78Lebanon$23.78Lancaster: $23.77Lancaster$23.77Johnstown: $22.91Johnstown$22.91Erie: $22.90Erie$22.90
Median hourly wage for painters by metro area in Pennsylvania, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Philadelphia$18.04$27.60$26.90$37.003,36010% above
Chambersburg$23.26$27.22$28.77$33.06909% above
York$18.70$25.97$27.05$28.702004% above
Harrisburg$18.14$25.87$26.21$32.772303% above
Allentown$18.00$24.46$24.46$33.343102% below
Reading$17.60$24.22$24.94$30.851103% below
Scranton$17.05$23.89$25.52$30.611305% below
Pittsburgh$17.33$23.79$25.12$33.961,2605% below
Lebanon$16.90$23.78$25.52$30.15505% below
Lancaster$18.02$23.77$24.18$29.984305% below
Johnstown$17.44$22.91$26.67$29.15309% below
Erie$16.23$22.90$25.16$28.451309% below
State College$17.37$22.39$23.13$29.479011% below
Altoona$18.11$22.22$24.83$28.096011% below
Williamsport$17.29$22.13$23.98$27.594012% below

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

Painter wages in Pennsylvania over time

Pennsylvania, 1999-2025PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$25.06Pennsylvania$23.75United States
Median hourly wage for painters, Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearPennsylvania $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.01$29.01$12.866,940
2000$15.06$28.16$13.108,340
2001$15.57$28.30$13.668,020
2002$15.84$28.35$13.987,740
2003$15.60$27.30$14.127,810
2004$16.69$28.44$14.557,130
2005$16.33$26.92$14.816,840
2006$17.36$27.72$15.006,500
2007$16.91$26.26$15.426,510
2008$17.77$26.57$15.856,520
2009$17.59$26.40$16.215,930
2010$17.96$26.52$16.485,400
2011$18.30$26.19$17.045,520
2012$18.38$25.77$16.925,410
2013$18.29$25.28$17.015,190
2014$17.85$24.27$17.295,480
2015$18.58$25.24$17.595,570
2016$18.51$24.83$18.065,890
2017$19.15$25.15$18.255,890
2018$20.13$25.81$18.726,360
2019$20.53$25.85$19.376,170
2020$21.54$26.79$20.255,560
2021$21.49$25.53$21.925,800
2022$22.27$24.50$22.166,290
2023$23.55$24.88$22.946,200
2024$24.15$24.79$23.406,110
2025$25.06$25.06$23.755,980

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Pennsylvania changed by -0.7% over the last ten years of data and by -3.1% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in Pennsylvania?

-3.1%Jobs since 20196,170 then, 5,980 in 2025
+7.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.0Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.7× the US share, 42nd of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Pennsylvania has changed by -13.8%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -3.1%.

Painters, construction and maintenance in Pennsylvania vs United States, 1999 = 100PennsylvaniaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages608010012014020002005201020152020202586United States86Pennsylvania
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Pennsylvania vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearPennsylvania jobsPennsylvania indexUS index
19996,940100100
20008,340120100
20018,02011698
20027,74011299
20037,81011295
20047,13010396
20056,8409996
20066,50094101
20076,51094100
20086,5209496
20095,9308582
20105,4007873
20115,5208071
20125,4107871
20135,1907574
20145,4807978
20155,5708082
20165,8908583
20175,8908585
20186,3609288
20196,1708989
20205,5608084
20215,8008482
20226,2909183
20236,2008983
20246,1108886
20255,9808686

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 Pennsylvania

+4.1%Projected growth in Pennsylvania2024–2034, state agency
740Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
8,960Jobs in 20249,330 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +4.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 8,960 to 9,330, with about 740 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,980 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Pennsylvania

On federally funded construction in Pennsylvania, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 63 of the 63 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $52.01 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $25.06.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, PAAdams: $42.14 (union)Allegheny: $54.28 (union)Armstrong: $59.73 (union)Beaver: $59.73 (union)Bedford: $54.28 (union)Berks: $49.66 (union)Blair: $54.28 (union)Bradford: $44.07 (union)Bucks: n/aButler: $59.73 (union)Cambria: $54.28 (union)Cameron: $54.28 (union)Carbon: $42.75 (union)Centre: $54.28 (union)Chester: n/aClarion: $54.28 (union)Clearfield: $54.28 (union)Clinton: $54.28 (union)Columbia: $44.07 (union)Crawford: $54.28 (union)Cumberland: $42.14 (union)Dauphin: $42.14 (union)Delaware: n/aElk: $54.28 (union)Erie: $52.01 (union)Fayette: $59.73 (union)Forest: $54.28 (union)Franklin: $42.63 (union)Fulton: $54.28 (union)Greene: $54.28 (union)Huntingdon: $54.28 (union)Indiana: $54.28 (union)Jefferson: $54.28 (union)Juniata: $44.07 (union)Lackawanna: $44.07 (union)Lancaster: $42.14 (union)Lawrence: $54.28 (union)Lebanon: $42.14 (union)Lehigh: $42.75 (union)Luzerne: $44.07 (union)Lycoming: $44.07 (union)McKean: $54.28 (union)Mercer: $52.01 (union)Mifflin: $44.07 (union)Monroe: $44.07 (union)Montgomery: n/aMontour: $44.07 (union)Northampton: $42.75 (union)Northumberland: $44.07 (union)Perry: $42.14 (union)Philadelphia: $69.34 (union)Pike: $44.07 (union)Potter: $54.28 (union)Schuylkill: $44.07 (union)Snyder: $44.07 (union)Somerset: $54.28 (union)Sullivan: $44.07 (union)Susquehanna: $44.07 (union)Tioga: $44.07 (union)Union: $44.07 (union)Venango: $54.28 (union)Warren: $54.28 (union)Washington: $59.73 (union)Wayne: $44.07 (union)Westmoreland: $59.73 (union)Wyoming: $44.07 (union)York: $42.14 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$44.07$54.28n/a
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)$0$20$40$60$80/hrPhiladelphia (Philadelphia): market median $27.60, prevailing (union) $69.34, gap +$41.74Philadelphia (Philadelphia)+$41.74Armstrong (Pittsburgh): market median $23.79, prevailing (union) $59.73, gap +$35.94Armstrong (Pittsburgh)+$35.94Blair (Altoona): market median $22.22, prevailing (union) $54.28, gap +$32.06Blair (Altoona)+$32.06Centre (State College): market median $22.39, prevailing (union) $54.28, gap +$31.89Centre (State College)+$31.89Cambria (Johnstown): market median $22.91, prevailing (union) $54.28, gap +$31.37Cambria (Johnstown)+$31.37Erie (Erie): market median $22.90, prevailing (union) $52.01, gap +$29.11Erie (Erie)+$29.11Berks (Reading): market median $24.22, prevailing (union) $49.66, gap +$25.44Berks (Reading)+$25.44Lycoming (Williamsport): market median $22.13, prevailing (union) $44.07, gap +$21.94Lycoming (Williamsport)+$21.94Lackawanna (Scranton): market median $23.89, prevailing (union) $44.07, gap +$20.18Lackawanna (Scranton)+$20.18Lancaster (Lancaster): market median $23.77, prevailing (union) $42.14, gap +$18.37Lancaster (Lancaster)+$18.37Lebanon (Lebanon): market median $23.78, prevailing (union) $42.14, gap +$18.36Lebanon (Lebanon)+$18.36Carbon (Allentown): market median $24.46, prevailing (union) $42.75, gap +$18.29Carbon (Allentown)+$18.29Adams (Pennsylvania): market median $25.06, prevailing (union) $42.14, gap +$17.08Adams (Pennsylvania)+$17.08Cumberland (Harrisburg): market median $25.87, prevailing (union) $42.14, gap +$16.27Cumberland (Harrisburg)+$16.27York (York): market median $25.97, prevailing (union) $42.14, gap +$16.17York (York)+$16.17Franklin (Chambersburg): market median $27.22, prevailing (union) $42.63, gap +$15.41Franklin (Chambersburg)+$15.41
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in Pennsylvania.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
PhiladelphiaUnion PAIN0021-001 2021-05-01$41.24$28.10$69.34PA20260003
ArmstrongUnion PAIN0057-034 2023-06-01$36.01$23.72$59.73PA20260074
BeaverUnion PAIN0057-034 2023-06-01$36.01$23.72$59.73PA20260075
ButlerUnion PAIN0057-034 2023-06-01$36.01$23.72$59.73PA20260079
FayetteUnion PAIN0057-034 2023-06-01$36.01$23.72$59.73PA20260089
WashingtonUnion PAIN0057-034 2023-06-01$36.01$23.72$59.73PA20260104
WestmorelandUnion PAIN0057-034 2023-06-01$36.01$23.72$59.73PA20260105
AlleghenyUnion PAIN0057-003 2023-06-01$30.56$23.72$54.28PA20260001
BedfordUnion PAIN0057-001 2023-06-01$30.56$23.72$54.28PA20260043
BlairUnion PAIN0057-035 2023-06-01$30.56$23.72$54.28PA20260077
CambriaUnion PAIN0057-035 2023-06-01$30.56$23.72$54.28PA20260080
CameronUnion PAIN0057-001 2023-06-01$30.56$23.72$54.28PA20260045
CentreUnion PAIN0057-035 2023-06-01$30.56$23.72$54.28PA20260082
ClarionUnion PAIN0057-001 2023-06-01$30.56$23.72$54.28PA20260046
ClearfieldUnion PAIN0057-001 2023-06-01$30.56$23.72$54.28PA20260047

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

Is construction work growing in Pennsylvania?

272.0kConstruction jobsPennsylvania, 2026-09
-0.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025272kSep 2026
Construction employment in Pennsylvania (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Pennsylvania

More on Pennsylvania

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in Pennsylvania?

The median painter in Pennsylvania earned $25.06 an hour ($52,120 a year) in May 2025, 6% above the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $22.89–$29.33; the top 10% earn more than $34.73.

Where does Pennsylvania rank for painter pay?

Pennsylvania ranks 20th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $25.06 an hour, and 21st after adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.6, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in Pennsylvania?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 63 counties, with a typical package of $52.01 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many painters work in Pennsylvania?

BLS counted 5,980 painters in Pennsylvania in May 2025, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.68; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in Pennsylvania?

The BLS employer survey count of painters in Pennsylvania went from 5,570 in 2015 to 5,980 in 2025, +7.4%, and -3.1% since 2019. Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects +4.1% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 8,960 to 9,330 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania projects about 740 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, Pennsylvania 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: Pennsylvania labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.