Painter salary in Vermont
Median $25.54 an hour for 550 painters, construction and maintenance, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Painter pay in Vermont: the full range
Vermont ranks 18th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 18th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.06). 550 painters, construction and maintenance work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $23.11 – $23.42 | $48,060 – $48,710 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.42 – $28.97 | $48,710 – $60,260 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $28.97 – $30.77 | $60,260 – $64,000 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Painter pay by metro in Vermont
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $23.54 | $28.21 | $31.36 | 150 | 10% above |
Painter wages in Vermont over time
Table
| Year | Vermont $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $9.97 | $19.27 | $12.86 | 660 |
| 2000 | $10.97 | $20.51 | $13.10 | 640 |
| 2001 | $11.42 | $20.76 | $13.66 | 660 |
| 2002 | $11.81 | $21.13 | $13.98 | 610 |
| 2003 | $12.52 | $21.91 | $14.12 | 530 |
| 2004 | $13.46 | $22.94 | $14.55 | 670 |
| 2005 | $13.21 | $21.78 | $14.81 | 570 |
| 2006 | $14.50 | $23.16 | $15.00 | 780 |
| 2007 | $14.77 | $22.93 | $15.42 | 820 |
| 2008 | $15.34 | $22.94 | $15.85 | 820 |
| 2009 | $15.84 | $23.77 | $16.21 | 600 |
| 2010 | $16.59 | $24.49 | $16.48 | 540 |
| 2011 | $15.68 | $22.44 | $17.04 | 530 |
| 2012 | $16.38 | $22.97 | $16.92 | 610 |
| 2013 | $16.51 | $22.82 | $17.01 | 560 |
| 2014 | $17.53 | $23.84 | $17.29 | 630 |
| 2015 | $17.08 | $23.20 | $17.59 | 620 |
| 2016 | $17.22 | $23.10 | $18.06 | 690 |
| 2017 | $18.05 | $23.71 | $18.25 | 680 |
| 2018 | $18.47 | $23.68 | $18.72 | 610 |
| 2019 | $19.34 | $24.35 | $19.37 | 560 |
| 2020 | $20.35 | $25.31 | $20.25 | 480 |
| 2021 | $22.80 | $27.09 | $21.92 | 610 |
| 2022 | $23.54 | $25.90 | $22.16 | 710 |
| 2023 | $23.96 | $25.32 | $22.94 | 600 |
| 2024 | $23.78 | $24.41 | $23.40 | 650 |
| 2025 | $25.54 | $25.54 | $23.75 | 550 |
In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Vermont changed by +10.1% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Vermont
On federally funded construction in Vermont, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 14 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $20.25). 14 of the 14 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Addison County at $20.25). The market median for the state is $25.54.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor | Survey SUVT2011-008 2011-02-10 | $15.28 | $5.28 | $20.56 | VT20260023 |
| Addison | Survey SUVT2011-001 2011-02-10 | $16.11 | $4.14 | $20.25 | VT20260016 |
| Bennington | Survey SUVT2011-002 2011-02-10 | $16.11 | $4.14 | $20.25 | VT20260017 |
| Caledonia | Survey SUVT2011-003 2011-02-10 | $16.11 | $4.14 | $20.25 | VT20260018 |
| Essex | Survey SUVT2011-009 2011-02-10 | $16.11 | $4.14 | $20.25 | VT20260024 |
| Lamoille | Survey SUVT2011-009 2011-02-10 | $16.11 | $4.14 | $20.25 | VT20260024 |
| Orange | Survey SUVT2011-009 2011-02-10 | $16.11 | $4.14 | $20.25 | VT20260024 |
| Orleans | Survey SUVT2011-004 2011-02-10 | $16.11 | $4.14 | $20.25 | VT20260019 |
| Rutland | Survey SUVT2011-005 2011-02-10 | $16.11 | $4.14 | $20.25 | VT20260020 |
| Washington | Survey SUVT2011-006 2011-02-10 | $16.11 | $4.14 | $20.25 | VT20260021 |
| Windham | Survey SUVT2011-007 2011-02-10 | $16.11 | $4.14 | $20.25 | VT20260022 |
| Franklin | Survey SUVT2011-011 2011-02-10 | $17.91 | $0.00 | $17.91 | VT20260026 |
| Grand Isle | Survey SUVT2011-012 2011-02-10 | $17.91 | $0.00 | $17.91 | VT20260027 |
| Chittenden | Survey SUVT2011-010 2011-02-10 | $16.82 | $0.00 | $16.82 | VT20260025 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Vermont prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Vermont?
Keep comparing
Painter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Vermont
Questions this page answers
How much do painters make in Vermont?
The median painter in Vermont earned $25.54 an hour ($53,120 a year) in May 2025, 8% above the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $23.42–$28.97; the top 10% earn more than $30.77.
Where does Vermont rank for painter pay?
Vermont ranks 18th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $25.54 an hour, and 18th after adjusting for Vermont's cost of living (BEA price parity 98.0, US = 100).
What is the union painter rate in Vermont?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a painter classification for most Vermont counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many painters work in Vermont?
BLS counted 550 painters, construction and maintenance in Vermont in May 2025, 1.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.26; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Vermont 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.