Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Virginia

Median $22.82 an hour for 5,930 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$22.82/hrMedian hourly wageVirginia, May data
$47,470/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$17.50 – $30.4410th to 90th percentilehourly range
5,930Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Painter pay in Virginia: the full range

Wage percentiles, VirginiaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrVirginia: 10th $17.50 · 25th $18.89 · median $22.82 · 75th $27.03 · 90th $30.44Virginia$22.82$17.50$30.44United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters: Virginia vs United States, May 2025.

Virginia ranks 34th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 43rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $22.57). 5,930 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$17.50 – $18.89$36,400 – $39,300roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$18.89 – $27.03$39,300 – $56,220the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$27.03 – $30.44$56,220 – $63,310the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in Virginia

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrWashington DC: $24.31Washington DC$24.31Richmond: $22.92Richmond$22.92Virginia Beach: $22.65Virginia Beach$22.65Charlottesville: $22.02Charlottesville$22.02Roanoke: $21.65Roanoke$21.65Winchester: $20.96Winchester$20.96Harrisonburg: $20.03Harrisonburg$20.03Kingsport: $19.11Kingsport$19.11Blacksburg: $18.99Blacksburg$18.99Lynchburg: $18.75Lynchburg$18.75
Median hourly wage for painters by metro area in Virginia, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Washington DC$20.00$24.31$22.32$35.604,3807% above
Richmond$17.69$22.92$23.41$28.501,010about the same as
Virginia Beach$16.75$22.65$23.14$34.641,6101% below
Charlottesville$17.61$22.02$22.22$29.241804% below
Roanoke$15.89$21.65$23.13$28.882205% below
Winchester$16.37$20.96$21.72$26.11608% below
Harrisonburg$15.07$20.03$21.11$26.65—12% below
Kingsport$15.49$19.11$22.12$27.4312016% below
Blacksburg$15.39$18.99$20.49$24.825017% below
Lynchburg$15.64$18.75$20.97$25.6911018% below

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

Painter wages in Virginia over time

Virginia, 1999-2025VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$23.75United States$22.82Virginia
Median hourly wage for painters, Virginia vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearVirginia $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$12.57$24.29$12.867,690
2000$12.02$22.47$13.108,720
2001$12.58$22.87$13.669,390
2002$13.25$23.71$13.989,430
2003$13.32$23.31$14.128,980
2004$13.97$23.81$14.558,700
2005$14.10$23.24$14.818,460
2006$14.56$23.25$15.009,070
2007$14.86$23.07$15.428,770
2008$15.58$23.30$15.858,100
2009$15.85$23.79$16.216,720
2010$16.04$23.68$16.486,190
2011$16.18$23.16$17.045,880
2012$16.08$22.55$16.925,930
2013$16.55$22.87$17.016,050
2014$17.19$23.38$17.296,230
2015$17.47$23.73$17.596,050
2016$17.80$23.88$18.066,260
2017$17.78$23.35$18.255,780
2018$18.23$23.37$18.725,870
2019$18.77$23.64$19.375,320
2020$19.59$24.37$20.255,420
2021$18.58$22.08$21.925,270
2022$20.84$22.93$22.164,940
2023$21.97$23.21$22.945,170
2024$21.48$22.05$23.405,300
2025$22.82$22.82$23.755,930

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Virginia changed by -3.8% over the last ten years of data and by -3.5% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in Virginia?

+11.5%Jobs since 20195,320 then, 5,930 in 2025
-2.0%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.4Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.0× the US share, 18th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Virginia has changed by -22.9%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +11.5%.

Painters, construction and maintenance in Virginia vs United States, 1999 = 100VirginiaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages40608010012014020002005201020152020202586United States77Virginia
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Virginia vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearVirginia jobsVirginia indexUS index
19997,690100100
20008,720113100
20019,39012298
20029,43012399
20038,98011795
20048,70011396
20058,46011096
20069,070118101
20078,770114100
20088,10010596
20096,7208782
20106,1908073
20115,8807671
20125,9307771
20136,0507974
20146,2308178
20156,0507982
20166,2608183
20175,7807585
20185,8707688
20195,3206989
20205,4207084
20215,2706882
20224,9406483
20235,1706783
20245,3006986
20255,9307786

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 Virginia

+4.8%Projected growth in Virginia2024–2034, state agency
760Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
9,100Jobs in 20249,540 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Virginia's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +4.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 9,100 to 9,540, with about 760 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 5,930 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Virginia

On federally funded construction in Virginia, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 48 of the 80 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $41.02 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $16.58). 32 of the 80 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Amelia County at $16.58). The market median for the state is $22.82.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, VAAccomack: n/aAlbemarle: $41.02 (union)Alleghany: n/aAmelia: $16.58 (survey)Amherst: $41.02 (union)Appomattox: $41.02 (union)Arlington: $41.02 (union)Augusta: $41.02 (union)Bath: n/aBedford: $41.02 (union)Bland: n/aBotetourt: $41.02 (union)Brunswick: n/aBuchanan: n/aBuckingham: $41.02 (union)Campbell: $41.02 (union)Caroline: $16.58 (survey)Carroll: n/aCharles City: $16.58 (survey)Charlotte: n/aChesterfield: $16.58 (survey)Clarke: $41.02 (union)Craig: $41.02 (union)Culpeper: $41.02 (union)Cumberland: n/aDickenson: n/aDinwiddie: $16.58 (survey)Essex: n/aFairfax: $41.02 (union)Fauquier: $41.02 (union)Floyd: $41.02 (union)Fluvanna: $41.02 (union)Franklin: $41.02 (union)Frederick: $41.02 (union)Giles: $41.02 (union)Gloucester: $23.53 (survey)Goochland: $16.58 (survey)Grayson: n/aGreene: $41.02 (union)Greensville: n/aHalifax: n/aHanover: $16.58 (survey)Henrico: $16.58 (survey)Henry: n/aHighland: n/aIsle of Wight: $23.53 (survey)James City: $23.53 (survey)King and Queen: n/aKing George: n/aKing William: $16.58 (survey)Lancaster: n/aLee: n/aLoudoun: $41.02 (union)Louisa: n/aLunenburg: n/aMadison: n/aMathews: $23.53 (survey)Mecklenburg: n/aMiddlesex: n/aMontgomery: $41.02 (union)Nelson: $41.02 (union)New Kent: $16.58 (survey)Northampton: n/aNorthumberland: n/aNottoway: n/aOrange: n/aPage: n/aPatrick: n/aPittsylvania: n/aPowhatan: $16.58 (survey)Prince Edward: n/aPrince George: $16.58 (survey)Prince William: $41.02 (union)Pulaski: $20.01 (survey)Rappahannock: $41.02 (union)Richmond: n/aRoanoke: $41.02 (union)Rockbridge: n/aRockingham: $41.02 (union)Russell: n/aScott: $41.02 (union)Shenandoah: n/aSmyth: n/aSouthampton: n/aSpotsylvania: $41.02 (union)Stafford: $41.02 (union)Surry: n/aSussex: $16.58 (survey)Tazewell: n/aWarren: $41.02 (union)Washington: $41.02 (union)Westmoreland: n/aWise: n/aWythe: n/aYork: $23.53 (survey)Alexandria: $41.02 (union)Bristol: $41.02 (union)Buena Vista: n/aCharlottesville: $41.02 (union)Chesapeake: $23.53 (survey)Colonial Heights: $16.58 (survey)Covington: n/aDanville: n/aEmporia: n/aFairfax: $41.02 (union)Falls Church: $41.02 (union)Franklin: n/aFredericksburg: $41.02 (union)Galax: n/aHampton: $23.53 (survey)Harrisonburg: $41.02 (union)Hopewell: $16.58 (survey)Lexington: n/aLynchburg: $41.02 (union)Manassas: $41.02 (union)Manassas Park: $41.02 (union)Martinsville: n/aNewport News: $23.53 (survey)Norfolk: $23.53 (survey)Norton: n/aPetersburg: $16.58 (survey)Poquoson: $23.53 (survey)Portsmouth: $23.53 (survey)Radford: $41.02 (union)Richmond: $16.58 (survey)Roanoke: $41.02 (union)Salem: $41.02 (union)Staunton: $41.02 (union)Suffolk: $23.53 (survey)Virginia Beach: $23.53 (survey)Waynesboro: $41.02 (union)Williamsburg: $23.53 (survey)Winchester: $41.02 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$34.02n/asurvey 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 (union)Prevailing (survey)$10$20$30$40$50/hrAmherst (Lynchburg): market median $18.75, prevailing (union) $41.02, gap +$22.27Amherst (Lynchburg)+$22.27Floyd (Blacksburg): market median $18.99, prevailing (union) $41.02, gap +$22.03Floyd (Blacksburg)+$22.03Scott (Kingsport): market median $19.11, prevailing (union) $41.02, gap +$21.91Scott (Kingsport)+$21.91Rockingham (Harrisonburg): market median $20.03, prevailing (union) $41.02, gap +$20.99Rockingham (Harrisonburg)+$20.99Frederick (Winchester): market median $20.96, prevailing (union) $41.02, gap +$20.06Frederick (Winchester)+$20.06Botetourt (Roanoke): market median $21.65, prevailing (union) $41.02, gap +$19.37Botetourt (Roanoke)+$19.37Albemarle (Charlottesville): market median $22.02, prevailing (union) $41.02, gap +$19.00Albemarle (Charlottesville)+$19.00Augusta (Virginia): market median $22.82, prevailing (union) $41.02, gap +$18.20Augusta (Virginia)+$18.20Arlington (Washington DC): market median $24.31, prevailing (union) $41.02, gap +$16.71Arlington (Washington DC)+$16.71Gloucester (Virginia Beach): market median $22.65, prevailing (survey) $23.53, gap +$0.88Gloucester (Virginia Beach)+$0.88Amelia (Richmond): market median $22.92, prevailing (survey) $16.58, gap −$6.34Amelia (Richmond)−$6.34
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in Virginia.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AlbemarleUnion PAIN0051-033 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260011
AmherstUnion PAIN0051-033 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260171
AppomattoxUnion PAIN0051-033 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260012
ArlingtonUnion PAIN0051-035 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260013
AugustaUnion PAIN0051-033 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260014
BedfordUnion PAIN0051-033 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260171
BotetourtUnion PAIN0051-033 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260172
BuckinghamUnion PAIN0051-033 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260173
CampbellUnion PAIN0051-033 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260171
ClarkeUnion PAIN0051-035 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260018
CraigUnion PAIN0051-033 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260172
CulpeperUnion PAIN0051-035 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260174
FairfaxUnion PAIN0051-035 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260178
FauquierUnion PAIN0051-035 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260020
FloydUnion PAIN0051-033 2025-06-01$29.16$11.86$41.02VA20260175

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

Is construction work growing in Virginia?

230.8kConstruction jobsVirginia, 2026-09
-1.1%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025231kSep 2026
Construction employment in Virginia (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Virginia

More on Virginia

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in Virginia?

The median painter in Virginia earned $22.82 an hour ($47,470 a year) in May 2025, 4% below the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $18.89–$27.03; the top 10% earn more than $30.44.

Where does Virginia rank for painter pay?

Virginia ranks 34th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $22.82 an hour, and 43rd after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 101.1, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in Virginia?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 48 counties, with a typical package of $41.02 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many painters work in Virginia?

BLS counted 5,930 painters in Virginia in May 2025, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.00; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in Virginia?

The BLS employer survey count of painters in Virginia went from 6,050 in 2015 to 5,930 in 2025, -2.0%, and +11.5% since 2019. Virginia's labor market agency projects +4.8% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 9,100 to 9,540 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in Virginia?

Virginia projects about 760 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, Virginia 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: Virginia labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.