Skilled Wages

Painter salary in Wisconsin

Median $24.08 an hour for 3,350 painters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$24.08/hrMedian hourly wageWisconsin, May data
$50,090/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$18.21 – $36.0810th to 90th percentilehourly range
3,350Jobs countedemployer survey

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

Painter pay in Wisconsin: the full range

Wage percentiles, WisconsinMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrWisconsin: 10th $18.21 · 25th $22.42 · median $24.08 · 75th $28.89 · 90th $36.08Wisconsin$24.08$18.21$36.08United States: 10th $18.00 · 25th $21.46 · median $23.75 · 75th $29.65 · 90th $37.89United States$23.75
Hourly wage percentiles for painters: Wisconsin vs United States, May 2025.

Wisconsin ranks 23rd of 51 states for median painter pay, and 25th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.59). 3,350 painters work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$18.21 – $22.42$37,870 – $46,640roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.42 – $28.89$46,640 – $60,100the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$28.89 – $36.08$60,100 – $75,040the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Painter pay by metro in Wisconsin

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrMinneapolis: $29.26Minneapolis$29.26Madison: $27.16Madison$27.16Janesville: $25.04Janesville$25.04Oshkosh: $24.54Oshkosh$24.54Racine: $24.50Racine$24.50Appleton: $24.34Appleton$24.34Milwaukee: $24.34Milwaukee$24.34Duluth: $23.90Duluth$23.90La Crosse: $23.79La Crosse$23.79Sheboygan: $23.78Sheboygan$23.78Fond du Lac: $23.76Fond du Lac$23.76Kenosha: $23.47Kenosha$23.47
Median hourly wage for painters by metro area in Wisconsin, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Minneapolis$17.91$29.26$27.92$44.712,71022% above
Madison$18.98$27.16$27.91$38.3452013% above
Janesville$13.75$25.04$26.72$37.23504% above
Oshkosh$17.95$24.54$26.42$33.13902% above
Racine$18.59$24.50$25.52$41.05802% above
Appleton$18.82$24.34$26.34$33.20801% above
Milwaukee$18.94$24.34$25.12$36.111,1401% above
Duluth$16.49$23.90$26.91$37.501201% below
La Crosse$13.47$23.79$25.92$29.80601% below
Sheboygan$18.69$23.78$25.30$35.67901% below
Fond du Lac$17.67$23.76$25.94$34.70301% below
Kenosha$18.51$23.47$23.21$35.501003% below
Green Bay$17.40$23.02$24.73$30.872004% below
Wausau$17.29$22.90$24.70$34.49505% below
Eau Claire$17.65$22.71$24.47$34.621106% below

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

Painter wages in Wisconsin over time

Wisconsin, 1999-2025WisconsinUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$24.08Wisconsin$23.75United States
Median hourly wage for painters, Wisconsin vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWisconsin $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$14.93$28.85$12.865,220
2000$14.88$27.82$13.104,670
2001$15.48$28.14$13.664,450
2002$16.07$28.76$13.984,650
2003$16.10$28.17$14.124,390
2004$15.47$26.37$14.554,520
2005$15.93$26.26$14.814,120
2006$16.13$25.76$15.003,860
2007$16.94$26.30$15.423,530
2008$17.35$25.94$15.853,670
2009$17.10$25.66$16.213,490
2010$17.83$26.32$16.482,980
2011$18.16$25.99$17.042,890
2012$18.10$25.38$16.922,820
2013$18.77$25.94$17.012,900
2014$18.13$24.66$17.293,070
2015$18.85$25.60$17.593,070
2016$19.14$25.67$18.063,260
2017$19.82$26.03$18.253,180
2018$19.83$25.42$18.723,470
2019$21.01$26.46$19.373,710
2020$22.07$27.45$20.253,690
2021$22.29$26.48$21.923,130
2022$22.94$25.24$22.163,020
2023$23.25$24.57$22.943,250
2024$24.05$24.68$23.403,430
2025$24.08$24.08$23.753,350

In today's dollars, the median painter wage in Wisconsin changed by -6.0% over the last ten years of data and by -9.0% since 2019.

Are there more painter jobs in Wisconsin?

-9.7%Jobs since 20193,710 then, 3,350 in 2025
+9.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
1.1Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.8× the US share, 30th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of painters counted in Wisconsin has changed by -35.8%, against -13.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -9.7%.

Painters, construction and maintenance in Wisconsin vs United States, 1999 = 100WisconsinUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages40608010012020002005201020152020202586United States64Wisconsin
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Wisconsin vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearWisconsin jobsWisconsin indexUS index
19995,220100100
20004,67090100
20014,4508598
20024,6508999
20034,3908495
20044,5208796
20054,1207996
20063,86074101
20073,53068100
20083,6707096
20093,4906782
20102,9805773
20112,8905571
20122,8205471
20132,9005674
20143,0705978
20153,0705982
20163,2606283
20173,1806185
20183,4706688
20193,7107189
20203,6907184
20213,1306082
20223,0205883
20233,2506283
20243,4306686
20253,3506486

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 Wisconsin

+5.2%Projected growth in Wisconsin2024–2034, state agency
410Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
4,920Jobs in 20245,170 projected for 2034
+3.0%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Wisconsin's labor market agency projects the number of painters in the state to change by +5.2% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,920 to 5,170, with about 410 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,350 counted by the BLS employer survey.

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

Union scale and prevailing wage for painters in Wisconsin

On federally funded construction in Wisconsin, contractors must pay painters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 20 of the 72 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $58.82 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $15.97). 52 of the 72 counties still use a survey rate dated 2002 or earlier (for example Adams County at $15.97). The market median for the state is $24.08.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WIAdams: $15.97 (survey)Ashland: $15.97 (survey)Barron: $15.97 (survey)Bayfield: $15.97 (survey)Brown: $58.82 (union)Buffalo: $15.97 (survey)Burnett: $15.97 (survey)Calumet: $58.82 (union)Chippewa: $36.26 (union)Clark: $15.97 (survey)Columbia: $15.97 (survey)Crawford: $15.97 (survey)Dane: $58.82 (union)Dodge: $15.97 (survey)Door: $15.97 (survey)Douglas: $65.43 (union)Dunn: $15.97 (survey)Eau Claire: $36.26 (union)Florence: $15.97 (survey)Fond du Lac: $15.97 (survey)Forest: $15.97 (survey)Grant: $15.97 (survey)Green: $15.97 (survey)Green Lake: $15.97 (survey)Iowa: $15.97 (survey)Iron: $15.97 (survey)Jackson: $15.97 (survey)Jefferson: $15.97 (survey)Juneau: $15.97 (survey)Kenosha: $67.99 (union)Kewaunee: $15.97 (survey)La Crosse: $36.28 (union)Lafayette: $15.97 (survey)Langlade: $15.97 (survey)Lincoln: $15.97 (survey)Manitowoc: $15.97 (survey)Marathon: $58.82 (union)Marinette: $15.97 (survey)Marquette: $15.97 (survey)Menominee: $15.97 (survey)Milwaukee: $67.31 (union)Monroe: $15.97 (survey)Oconto: $15.97 (survey)Oneida: $15.97 (survey)Outagamie: $58.82 (union)Ozaukee: $67.31 (union)Pepin: $15.97 (survey)Pierce: $36.26 (union)Polk: $15.97 (survey)Portage: $15.97 (survey)Price: $15.97 (survey)Racine: $67.99 (union)Richland: $15.97 (survey)Rock: $58.82 (union)Rusk: $15.97 (survey)St. Croix: $36.26 (union)Sauk: $15.97 (survey)Sawyer: $15.97 (survey)Shawano: $15.97 (survey)Sheboygan: $58.82 (union)Taylor: $15.97 (survey)Trempealeau: $15.97 (survey)Vernon: $15.97 (survey)Vilas: $15.97 (survey)Walworth: $15.97 (survey)Washburn: $15.97 (survey)Washington: $67.31 (union)Waukesha: $67.31 (union)Waupaca: $15.97 (survey)Waushara: $15.97 (survey)Winnebago: $58.82 (union)Wood: $15.97 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$54.31survey 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)$0$20$40$60$80/hrKenosha (Kenosha): market median $23.47, prevailing (union) $67.99, gap +$44.52Kenosha (Kenosha)+$44.52Racine (Racine): market median $24.50, prevailing (union) $67.99, gap +$43.49Racine (Racine)+$43.49Milwaukee (Milwaukee): market median $24.34, prevailing (union) $67.31, gap +$42.97Milwaukee (Milwaukee)+$42.97Douglas (Duluth): market median $23.90, prevailing (union) $65.43, gap +$41.53Douglas (Duluth)+$41.53Marathon (Wausau): market median $22.90, prevailing (union) $58.82, gap +$35.92Marathon (Wausau)+$35.92Brown (Green Bay): market median $23.02, prevailing (union) $58.82, gap +$35.80Brown (Green Bay)+$35.80Sheboygan (Sheboygan): market median $23.78, prevailing (union) $58.82, gap +$35.04Sheboygan (Sheboygan)+$35.04Calumet (Appleton): market median $24.34, prevailing (union) $58.82, gap +$34.48Calumet (Appleton)+$34.48Winnebago (Oshkosh): market median $24.54, prevailing (union) $58.82, gap +$34.28Winnebago (Oshkosh)+$34.28Rock (Janesville): market median $25.04, prevailing (union) $58.82, gap +$33.78Rock (Janesville)+$33.78Dane (Madison): market median $27.16, prevailing (union) $58.82, gap +$31.66Dane (Madison)+$31.66Chippewa (Eau Claire): market median $22.71, prevailing (union) $36.26, gap +$13.55Chippewa (Eau Claire)+$13.55La Crosse (La Crosse): market median $23.79, prevailing (union) $36.28, gap +$12.49La Crosse (La Crosse)+$12.49Pierce (Minneapolis): market median $29.26, prevailing (union) $36.26, gap +$7.00Pierce (Minneapolis)+$7.00Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac): market median $23.76, prevailing (survey) $15.97, gap −$7.79Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac)−$7.79
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for painters, metro counties in Wisconsin.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
KenoshaUnion PAIN0934-002 2025-06-01$41.62$26.37$67.99WI20260004
RacineUnion PAIN0108-001 2025-06-01$44.64$23.35$67.99WI20260009
MilwaukeeUnion PAIN0781-001 2025-06-01$42.44$24.87$67.31WI20260001
OzaukeeUnion PAIN0781-001 2025-06-01$42.44$24.87$67.31WI20260001
WashingtonUnion PAIN0781-001 2025-06-01$42.44$24.87$67.31WI20260001
WaukeshaUnion PAIN0781-001 2025-06-01$42.44$24.87$67.31WI20260001
DouglasUnion PAIN0106-003 2025-05-05$38.17$27.26$65.43WI20260007
BrownUnion PAIN0802-007 2025-06-01$37.65$21.17$58.82WI20260014
CalumetUnion PAIN0802-008 2025-06-01$37.65$21.17$58.82WI20260016
DaneUnion PAIN0802-001 2025-06-01$37.65$21.17$58.82WI20260005
MarathonUnion PAIN0802-005 2025-06-01$37.65$21.17$58.82WI20260002
OutagamieUnion PAIN0802-008 2025-06-01$37.65$21.17$58.82WI20260016
RockUnion PAIN0802-001 2025-06-01$37.65$21.17$58.82WI20260012
SheboyganUnion PAIN0802-008 2025-06-01$37.65$21.17$58.82WI20260016
WinnebagoUnion PAIN0802-008 2025-06-01$37.65$21.17$58.82WI20260016

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

Is construction work growing in Wisconsin?

160.1kConstruction jobsWisconsin, 2026-09
+5.0%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025160kSep 2026
Construction employment in Wisconsin (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Painter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Wisconsin

More on Wisconsin

Questions this page answers

How much do painters make in Wisconsin?

The median painter in Wisconsin earned $24.08 an hour ($50,090 a year) in May 2025, 1% above the national median of $23.75. The middle half earn $22.42–$28.89; the top 10% earn more than $36.08.

Where does Wisconsin rank for painter pay?

Wisconsin ranks 23rd of 51 states for painter pay, with a median of $24.08 an hour, and 25th after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).

What is the union painter rate in Wisconsin?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for painters in 20 counties, with a typical package of $58.82 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many painters work in Wisconsin?

BLS counted 3,350 painters in Wisconsin in May 2025, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.79; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is painter work growing in Wisconsin?

The BLS employer survey count of painters in Wisconsin went from 3,070 in 2015 to 3,350 in 2025, +9.1%, and -9.7% since 2019. Wisconsin's labor market agency projects +5.2% growth for painters between 2024 and 2034, from 4,920 to 5,170 jobs.

How many painter openings a year are there in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin projects about 410 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, Wisconsin 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: Wisconsin labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.