Painter salary in Utah
Median $22.14 an hour for 3,510 painters, construction and maintenance, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Painter pay in Utah: the full range
Utah ranks 39th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 47th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $22.39). 3,510 painters, construction and maintenance work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $17.41 – $18.32 | $36,220 – $38,100 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $18.32 – $25.89 | $38,100 – $53,840 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $25.89 – $31.62 | $53,840 – $65,780 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Painter pay by metro in Utah
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $18.46 | $23.20 | $31.62 | 1,430 | 5% above |
| Ogden | $17.76 | $22.88 | $35.14 | 600 | 3% above |
| St. George | $17.37 | $20.70 | $27.47 | 330 | 7% below |
| Logan | $17.23 | $20.19 | $26.29 | 120 | 9% below |
| Provo | $15.04 | $18.71 | $27.94 | 640 | 15% below |
Painter wages in Utah over time
Table
| Year | Utah $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.62 | $24.39 | $12.86 | 2,400 |
| 2000 | $12.88 | $24.08 | $13.10 | 2,510 |
| 2001 | $12.77 | $23.21 | $13.66 | 2,640 |
| 2002 | $13.29 | $23.78 | $13.98 | 2,730 |
| 2003 | $13.21 | $23.11 | $14.12 | 2,630 |
| 2004 | $13.33 | $22.72 | $14.55 | 2,630 |
| 2005 | $13.67 | $22.53 | $14.81 | 2,560 |
| 2006 | $14.19 | $22.66 | $15.00 | 2,880 |
| 2007 | $14.64 | $22.73 | $15.42 | 3,200 |
| 2008 | $14.26 | $21.32 | $15.85 | 3,430 |
| 2009 | $14.63 | $21.95 | $16.21 | 2,600 |
| 2010 | $14.95 | $22.07 | $16.48 | 2,290 |
| 2011 | $17.23 | $24.66 | $17.04 | 1,950 |
| 2012 | $16.54 | $23.19 | $16.92 | 2,320 |
| 2013 | $16.60 | $22.94 | $17.01 | 2,470 |
| 2014 | $16.60 | $22.57 | $17.29 | 2,720 |
| 2015 | $17.08 | $23.20 | $17.59 | 2,450 |
| 2016 | $17.38 | $23.31 | $18.06 | 2,420 |
| 2017 | $17.08 | $22.43 | $18.25 | 2,580 |
| 2018 | $16.41 | $21.04 | $18.72 | 3,220 |
| 2019 | $17.53 | $22.08 | $19.37 | 3,180 |
| 2020 | $18.57 | $23.10 | $20.25 | 3,310 |
| 2021 | $18.54 | $22.03 | $21.92 | 3,430 |
| 2022 | $18.62 | $20.48 | $22.16 | 3,680 |
| 2023 | $19.62 | $20.73 | $22.94 | 3,750 |
| 2024 | $22.07 | $22.65 | $23.40 | 3,350 |
| 2025 | $22.14 | $22.14 | $23.75 | 3,510 |
In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Utah changed by -4.6% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Utah
On federally funded construction in Utah, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 5 of the 10 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $34.78 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $15.33). 5 of the 10 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Box Elder County at $15.33). The market median for the state is $22.14.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juab | Union PAIN0077-005 2025-08-01 | $26.00 | $8.78 | $34.78 | UT20260084 |
| Salt Lake | Union PAIN0077-004 2025-08-01 | $26.00 | $8.78 | $34.78 | UT20260085 |
| Tooele | Union PAIN0077-004 2025-08-01 | $26.00 | $8.78 | $34.78 | UT20260086 |
| Utah | Union PAIN0077-005 2025-08-01 | $26.00 | $8.78 | $34.78 | UT20260087 |
| Washington | Union PAIN0077-005 2025-08-01 | $26.00 | $8.78 | $34.78 | UT20260088 |
| Box Elder | Survey SUUT2012-013 2014-07-29 | $15.33 | $0.00 | $15.33 | UT20260081 |
| Cache | Survey SUUT2012-014 2014-07-29 | $15.33 | $0.00 | $15.33 | UT20260082 |
| Davis | Survey SUUT2012-015 2014-07-29 | $15.33 | $0.00 | $15.33 | UT20260083 |
| Morgan | Survey SUUT2012-021 2014-07-29 | $15.33 | $0.00 | $15.33 | UT20260089 |
| Weber | Survey SUUT2012-021 2014-07-29 | $15.33 | $0.00 | $15.33 | UT20260089 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Utah prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Utah?
Keep comparing
Painter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Utah
Questions this page answers
How much do painters make in Utah?
The median painter in Utah earned $22.14 an hour ($46,050 a year) in May 2025, 7% below the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $18.32–$25.89; the top 10% earn more than $31.62.
Where does Utah rank for painter pay?
Utah ranks 39th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $22.14 an hour, and 47th after adjusting for Utah's cost of living (BEA price parity 98.9, US = 100).
What is the union painter rate in Utah?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 5 counties, with a typical package of $34.78 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many painters work in Utah?
BLS counted 3,510 painters, construction and maintenance in Utah in May 2025, 2.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.40; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Utah 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.