Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Tennessee

Median $20.78 an hour for 3,040 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$20.78/hrMedian hourly wageTennessee, May data
$43,230/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$16.88 – $29.3410th to 90th percentilehourly range
3,040Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Painter pay in Tennessee: the full range

Wage percentiles, TennesseeMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrTennessee: 10th $16.88 · 25th $17.96 · median $20.78 · 75th $23.03 · 90th $29.34Tennessee$20.78$16.88$29.34United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters: Tennessee vs United States, May 2025.

Tennessee ranks 48th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 41st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $22.61). 3,040 painters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$16.88 – $17.96$35,110 – $37,350roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$17.96 – $23.03$37,350 – $47,900the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$23.03 – $29.34$47,900 – $61,030the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in Tennessee

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrChattanooga: $22.82Chattanooga$22.82Memphis: $21.45Memphis$21.45Nashville: $21.31Nashville$21.31Jackson: $20.59Jackson$20.59Clarksville: $20.42Clarksville$20.42Knoxville: $19.44Knoxville$19.44Kingsport: $19.11Kingsport$19.11Johnson City: $18.94Johnson City$18.94Morristown: $18.90Morristown$18.90Cleveland: $17.96Cleveland$17.96
Median hourly wage for painters by metro area in Tennessee, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Chattanooga$17.34$22.82$24.94$30.1323010% above
Memphis$17.61$21.45$23.26$30.415903% above
Nashville$17.84$21.31$22.13$29.878803% above
Jackson$16.13$20.59$24.08$29.50601% below
Clarksville$14.04$20.42$22.46$28.62802% below
Knoxville$16.68$19.44$20.99$28.434006% below
Kingsport$15.49$19.11$22.12$27.431208% below
Johnson City$16.39$18.94$21.55$28.67609% below
Morristown$16.05$18.90$21.87$26.61409% below
Cleveland$16.01$17.96$20.39$26.938014% below

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

Painter wages in Tennessee over time

Tennessee, 1999-2025TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$23.75United States$20.78Tennessee
Median hourly wage for painters, Tennessee vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearTennessee $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.31$23.79$12.865,000
2000$12.69$23.73$13.104,360
2001$13.02$23.67$13.664,150
2002$13.15$23.53$13.984,170
2003$13.13$22.97$14.124,090
2004$12.72$21.68$14.554,290
2005$12.31$20.29$14.814,790
2006$13.10$20.92$15.004,060
2007$13.95$21.66$15.423,180
2008$14.45$21.61$15.853,120
2009$14.41$21.62$16.212,580
2010$14.40$21.26$16.482,600
2011$15.10$21.61$17.042,560
2012$15.29$21.44$16.922,490
2013$15.36$21.23$17.012,520
2014$14.86$20.21$17.292,720
2015$14.76$20.05$17.592,990
2016$15.08$20.23$18.063,010
2017$16.37$21.50$18.252,630
2018$16.38$21.00$18.723,230
2019$17.35$21.85$19.373,220
2020$17.72$22.04$20.253,260
2021$17.71$21.04$21.923,010
2022$18.33$20.16$22.163,580
2023$18.79$19.85$22.943,270
2024$19.57$20.08$23.403,630
2025$20.78$20.78$23.753,040

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Tennessee changed by +3.6% over the last ten years of data and by -4.9% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in Tennessee?

-5.6%Jobs since 20193,220 then, 3,040 in 2025
+1.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
0.9Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.6× the US share, 44th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Tennessee has changed by -39.2%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -5.6%.

Painters, construction and maintenance in Tennessee vs United States, 1999 = 100TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages40608010012020002005201020152020202586United States61Tennessee
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Tennessee vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearTennessee jobsTennessee indexUS index
19995,000100100
20004,36087100
20014,1508398
20024,1708399
20034,0908295
20044,2908696
20054,7909696
20064,06081101
20073,18064100
20083,1206296
20092,5805282
20102,6005273
20112,5605171
20122,4905071
20132,5205074
20142,7205478
20152,9906082
20163,0106083
20172,6305385
20183,2306588
20193,2206489
20203,2606584
20213,0106082
20223,5807283
20233,2706583
20243,6307386
20253,0406186

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 Tennessee

+10.4%Projected growth in Tennessee2024–2034, state agency
460Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
5,090Jobs in 20245,620 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Tennessee's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +10.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,090 to 5,620, with about 460 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,040 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Tennessee

On federally funded construction in Tennessee, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 95 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $14.07). The market median for the state is $20.78.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, TNAnderson: $29.46 (survey)Bedford: $14.07 (survey)Benton: $14.07 (survey)Bledsoe: $14.07 (survey)Blount: $29.46 (survey)Bradley: $15.48 (survey)Campbell: $29.46 (survey)Cannon: $14.30 (survey)Carroll: $14.07 (survey)Carter: $29.46 (survey)Cheatham: $14.30 (survey)Chester: $17.00 (survey)Claiborne: $14.07 (survey)Clay: $14.07 (survey)Cocke: $14.07 (survey)Coffee: $14.07 (survey)Crockett: $17.00 (survey)Cumberland: $14.07 (survey)Davidson: $14.30 (survey)Decatur: $14.07 (survey)DeKalb: $14.07 (survey)Dickson: $14.30 (survey)Dyer: $14.07 (survey)Fayette: $17.00 (survey)Fentress: $14.07 (survey)Franklin: $14.07 (survey)Gibson: $14.07 (survey)Giles: $14.07 (survey)Grainger: $29.46 (survey)Greene: $14.07 (survey)Grundy: $14.07 (survey)Hamblen: $29.46 (survey)Hamilton: $15.48 (survey)Hancock: $14.07 (survey)Hardeman: $14.07 (survey)Hardin: $14.07 (survey)Hawkins: $29.46 (survey)Haywood: $14.07 (survey)Henderson: $14.07 (survey)Henry: $14.07 (survey)Hickman: $14.30 (survey)Houston: $14.07 (survey)Humphreys: $14.07 (survey)Jackson: $14.07 (survey)Jefferson: $29.46 (survey)Johnson: $14.07 (survey)Knox: $29.46 (survey)Lake: $14.07 (survey)Lauderdale: $14.07 (survey)Lawrence: $14.07 (survey)Lewis: $14.07 (survey)Lincoln: $14.07 (survey)Loudon: $29.46 (survey)McMinn: $14.07 (survey)McNairy: $14.07 (survey)Macon: $14.30 (survey)Madison: $17.00 (survey)Marion: $15.48 (survey)Marshall: $14.07 (survey)Maury: $14.30 (survey)Meigs: $14.07 (survey)Monroe: $14.07 (survey)Montgomery: $14.61 (survey)Moore: $14.07 (survey)Morgan: $29.46 (survey)Obion: $14.07 (survey)Overton: $14.07 (survey)Perry: $14.07 (survey)Pickett: $14.07 (survey)Polk: $15.48 (survey)Putnam: $14.07 (survey)Rhea: $14.07 (survey)Roane: $29.46 (survey)Robertson: $14.30 (survey)Rutherford: $14.30 (survey)Scott: $14.07 (survey)Sequatchie: $15.48 (survey)Sevier: $14.07 (survey)Shelby: $17.00 (survey)Smith: $14.30 (survey)Stewart: $14.07 (survey)Sullivan: $29.46 (survey)Sumner: $14.30 (survey)Tipton: $17.00 (survey)Trousdale: $14.30 (survey)Unicoi: $29.46 (survey)Union: $29.46 (survey)Van Buren: $14.07 (survey)Warren: $14.07 (survey)Washington: $29.46 (survey)Wayne: $14.07 (survey)Weakley: $14.07 (survey)White: $14.07 (survey)Williamson: $14.30 (survey)Wilson: $14.30 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$14.30$17.00survey 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)$10$15$20$25$30$35/hrHamblen (Morristown): market median $18.90, prevailing (survey) $29.46, gap +$10.56Hamblen (Morristown)+$10.56Carter (Johnson City): market median $18.94, prevailing (survey) $29.46, gap +$10.52Carter (Johnson City)+$10.52Hawkins (Kingsport): market median $19.11, prevailing (survey) $29.46, gap +$10.35Hawkins (Kingsport)+$10.35Anderson (Knoxville): market median $19.44, prevailing (survey) $29.46, gap +$10.02Anderson (Knoxville)+$10.02Bradley (Cleveland): market median $17.96, prevailing (survey) $15.48, gap −$2.48Bradley (Cleveland)−$2.48Chester (Jackson): market median $20.59, prevailing (survey) $17.00, gap −$3.59Chester (Jackson)−$3.59Fayette (Memphis): market median $21.45, prevailing (survey) $17.00, gap −$4.45Fayette (Memphis)−$4.45Montgomery (Clarksville): market median $20.42, prevailing (survey) $14.61, gap −$5.81Montgomery (Clarksville)−$5.81Cannon (Nashville): market median $21.31, prevailing (survey) $14.30, gap −$7.01Cannon (Nashville)−$7.01Hamilton (Chattanooga): market median $22.82, prevailing (survey) $15.48, gap −$7.34Hamilton (Chattanooga)−$7.34
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in Tennessee.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AndersonSurvey SUTN2017-029 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260176
BlountSurvey SUTN2017-030 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260177
CampbellSurvey SUTN2017-048 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260195
CarterSurvey SUTN2017-050 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260197
GraingerSurvey SUTN2017-048 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260195
HamblenSurvey SUTN2017-032 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260179
HawkinsSurvey SUTN2017-054 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260201
JeffersonSurvey SUTN2017-034 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260181
KnoxSurvey SUTN2017-035 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260182
LoudonSurvey SUTN2017-055 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260202
MorganSurvey SUTN2017-055 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260202
RoaneSurvey SUTN2017-039 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260186
SullivanSurvey SUTN2017-054 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260201
UnicoiSurvey SUTN2017-050 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260197
UnionSurvey SUTN2017-043 2021-04-16$19.31$10.15$29.46TN20260190

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

Is construction work growing in Tennessee?

169.4kConstruction jobsTennessee, 2026-09
+0.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025169kSep 2026
Construction employment in Tennessee (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Tennessee

More on Tennessee

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in Tennessee?

The median painter in Tennessee earned $20.78 an hour ($43,230 a year) in May 2025, 13% below the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $17.96–$23.03; the top 10% earn more than $29.34.

Where does Tennessee rank for painter pay?

Tennessee ranks 48th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $20.78 an hour, and 41st after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (BEA price parity 91.9, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in Tennessee?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a painter classification for most Tennessee counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many painters work in Tennessee?

BLS counted 3,040 painters in Tennessee in May 2025, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.64; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in Tennessee?

The BLS employer survey count of painters in Tennessee went from 2,990 in 2015 to 3,040 in 2025, +1.7%, and -5.6% since 2019. Tennessee's labor market agency projects +10.4% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 5,090 to 5,620 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in Tennessee?

Tennessee projects about 460 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, Tennessee 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: Tennessee labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.