Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Washington

Median $28.68 an hour for 9,510 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$28.68/hrMedian hourly wageWashington, May data
$59,650/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.85 – $38.6210th to 90th percentilehourly range
9,510Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Painter pay in Washington: the full range

Wage percentiles, WashingtonMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrWashington: 10th $21.85 · 25th $23.53 · median $28.68 · 75th $31.32 · 90th $38.62Washington$28.68$21.85$38.62United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters: Washington vs United States, May 2025.

Washington ranks 4th of 51 states for median painter pay, and 13th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.80). 9,510 painters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.85 – $23.53$45,450 – $48,940roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.53 – $31.32$48,940 – $65,140the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$31.32 – $38.62$65,140 – $80,330the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in Washington

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrBremerton: $31.29Bremerton$31.29Seattle: $29.06Seattle$29.06Olympia: $29.04Olympia$29.04Kennewick: $28.36Kennewick$28.36Bellingham: $28.27Bellingham$28.27Longview: $28.13Longview$28.13Mount Vernon: $27.88Mount Vernon$27.88Spokane: $27.43Spokane$27.43Portland: $25.62Portland$25.62Walla Walla: $24.74Walla Walla$24.74Wenatchee: $24.34Wenatchee$24.34Yakima: $22.44Yakima$22.44
Median hourly wage for painters by metro area in Washington, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Bremerton$23.78$31.29$29.63$44.398109% above
Seattle$22.79$29.06$26.16$38.125,1401% above
Olympia$22.05$29.04$28.00$40.412301% above
Kennewick$18.62$28.36$28.33$44.915201% below
Bellingham$21.55$28.27$27.37$37.532801% below
Longview$22.72$28.13$28.85$39.94402% below
Mount Vernon$20.40$27.88$27.23$36.991503% below
Spokane$20.95$27.43$27.35$33.667004% below
Portland$18.75$25.62$24.31$35.513,54011% below
Walla Walla$18.58$24.74$25.12$31.708014% below
Wenatchee$18.97$24.34$23.43$30.5521015% below
Yakima$18.65$22.44$23.50$29.5724022% below

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

Painter wages in Washington over time

Washington, 1999-2025WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$28.68Washington$23.75United States
Median hourly wage for painters, Washington vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWashington $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$16.79$32.45$12.867,180
2000$15.98$29.88$13.107,280
2001$16.17$29.39$13.666,870
2002$16.30$29.17$13.986,940
2003$16.59$29.03$14.126,530
2004$16.06$27.37$14.556,660
2005$17.36$28.62$14.817,150
2006$16.45$26.27$15.008,260
2007$17.23$26.75$15.428,940
2008$15.85$23.70$15.858,890
2009$16.68$25.03$16.217,570
2010$17.40$25.69$16.486,790
2011$18.22$26.08$17.046,680
2012$18.68$26.19$16.926,960
2013$18.34$25.35$17.017,240
2014$18.50$25.16$17.298,120
2015$18.78$25.51$17.598,550
2016$19.01$25.50$18.069,100
2017$18.38$24.14$18.259,670
2018$19.44$24.92$18.7210,000
2019$20.66$26.02$19.379,720
2020$23.78$29.58$20.258,860
2021$23.33$27.72$21.928,630
2022$23.67$26.04$22.168,380
2023$24.60$25.99$22.949,230
2024$28.13$28.87$23.408,820
2025$28.68$28.68$23.759,510

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Washington changed by +12.4% over the last ten years of data and by +10.2% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in Washington?

-2.2%Jobs since 20199,720 then, 9,510 in 2025
+11.2%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.7Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.9× the US share, 4th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Washington has changed by +32.5%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -2.2%.

Painters, construction and maintenance in Washington vs United States, 1999 = 100WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150200020052010201520202025132Washington86United States
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Washington vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWashington jobsWashington indexUS index
19997,180100100
20007,280101100
20016,8709698
20026,9409799
20036,5309195
20046,6609396
20057,15010096
20068,260115101
20078,940124100
20088,89012496
20097,57010582
20106,7909573
20116,6809371
20126,9609771
20137,24010174
20148,12011378
20158,55011982
20169,10012783
20179,67013585
201810,00013988
20199,72013589
20208,86012384
20218,63012082
20228,38011783
20239,23012983
20248,82012386
20259,51013286

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 Washington

-2.7%Projected growth in Washington2024–2034, state agency
1,290Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
18,620Jobs in 202418,110 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Washington's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by -2.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 18,620 to 18,110, with about 1,290 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 9,510 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Washington

On federally funded construction in Washington, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 39 of the 39 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $55.94 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $28.68.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WAAdams: $49.60 (union)Asotin: $55.94 (union)Benton: $55.94 (union)Chelan: $55.94 (union)Clallam: $55.94 (union)Clark: $55.94 (union)Columbia: $55.94 (union)Cowlitz: $55.94 (union)Douglas: $55.94 (union)Ferry: $49.60 (union)Franklin: $55.94 (union)Garfield: $49.60 (union)Grant: $49.60 (union)Grays Harbor: $55.94 (union)Island: $55.94 (union)Jefferson: $55.94 (union)King: $55.94 (union)Kitsap: $55.94 (union)Kittitas: $49.60 (union)Klickitat: $57.53 (union)Lewis: $55.94 (union)Lincoln: $49.60 (union)Mason: $55.94 (union)Okanogan: $49.60 (union)Pacific: $57.53 (union)Pend Oreille: $55.94 (union)Pierce: $55.94 (union)San Juan: $55.94 (union)Skagit: $55.94 (union)Skamania: $55.94 (union)Snohomish: $55.94 (union)Spokane: $55.94 (union)Stevens: $55.94 (union)Thurston: $55.94 (union)Wahkiakum: $57.53 (union)Walla Walla: $55.94 (union)Whatcom: $55.94 (union)Whitman: $49.60 (union)Yakima: $55.94 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$53.40$55.94
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)$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrYakima (Yakima): market median $22.44, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$33.50Yakima (Yakima)+$33.50Chelan (Wenatchee): market median $24.34, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$31.60Chelan (Wenatchee)+$31.60Walla Walla (Walla Walla): market median $24.74, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$31.20Walla Walla (Walla Walla)+$31.20Clark (Portland): market median $25.62, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$30.32Clark (Portland)+$30.32Spokane (Spokane): market median $27.43, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$28.51Spokane (Spokane)+$28.51Skagit (Mount Vernon): market median $27.88, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$28.06Skagit (Mount Vernon)+$28.06Cowlitz (Longview): market median $28.13, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$27.81Cowlitz (Longview)+$27.81Whatcom (Bellingham): market median $28.27, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$27.67Whatcom (Bellingham)+$27.67Benton (Kennewick): market median $28.36, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$27.58Benton (Kennewick)+$27.58Asotin (Washington): market median $28.68, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$27.26Asotin (Washington)+$27.26Thurston (Olympia): market median $29.04, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$26.90Thurston (Olympia)+$26.90King (Seattle): market median $29.06, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$26.88King (Seattle)+$26.88Kitsap (Bremerton): market median $31.29, prevailing (union) $55.94, gap +$24.65Kitsap (Bremerton)+$24.65
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in Washington.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
KlickitatUnion PAIN0010-015 2025-07-01$40.85$16.68$57.53WA20260031
PacificUnion PAIN0010-014 2025-07-01$40.85$16.68$57.53WA20260036
WahkiakumUnion PAIN0010-015 2025-07-01$40.85$16.68$57.53WA20260040
AsotinUnion PAIN0300-003 2025-07-01$41.24$14.70$55.94WA20260003
BentonUnion PAIN0300-003 2025-07-01$41.24$14.70$55.94WA20260102
ChelanUnion PAIN0300-003 2025-07-01$41.24$14.70$55.94WA20260103
ClallamUnion PAIN0300-004 2025-07-01$41.24$14.70$55.94WA20260022
ClarkUnion PAIN0300-003 2025-07-01$41.24$14.70$55.94WA20260120
ColumbiaUnion PAIN0300-003 2025-07-01$41.24$14.70$55.94WA20260104
CowlitzUnion PAIN0300-003 2025-07-01$41.24$14.70$55.94WA20260105
DouglasUnion PAIN0300-003 2025-07-01$41.24$14.70$55.94WA20260106
FranklinUnion PAIN0300-003 2025-07-01$41.24$14.70$55.94WA20260107
Grays HarborUnion PAIN0300-004 2025-07-01$41.24$14.70$55.94WA20260027
IslandUnion PAIN0300-004 2025-07-01$41.24$14.70$55.94WA20260028
JeffersonUnion PAIN0300-004 2025-07-01$41.24$14.70$55.94WA20260029

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

Is construction work growing in Washington?

223.9kConstruction jobsWashington, 2026-09
+0.7%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025224kSep 2026
Construction employment in Washington (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Washington

More on Washington

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in Washington?

The median painter in Washington earned $28.68 an hour ($59,650 a year) in May 2025, 21% above the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $23.53–$31.32; the top 10% earn more than $38.62.

Where does Washington rank for painter pay?

Washington ranks 4th of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $28.68 an hour, and 13th after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in Washington?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 39 counties, with a typical package of $55.94 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many painters work in Washington?

BLS counted 9,510 painters in Washington in May 2025, 2.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.85; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in Washington?

The BLS employer survey count of painters in Washington went from 8,550 in 2015 to 9,510 in 2025, +11.2%, and -2.2% since 2019. Washington's labor market agency projects -2.7% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 18,620 to 18,110 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in Washington?

Washington projects about 1,290 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, Washington 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: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.