Painter salary by state
The national median for painters was $23.75 an hour, or $49,400 a year, in May 2025. Where the work is changes that a lot: Hawaii pays $13.52 an hour more at the median than Arkansas.
$23.75National median hourly
$49,400National median yearly
225,190Painters on payrolls
51States and DC with figures
National pay for painters
These are BLS figures for painters in construction and maintenance: house painters, commercial painters and maintenance crews. Artists and auto painters are counted elsewhere.
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.00 | $37,440 |
| 25th percentile | $21.46 | $44,640 |
| Median | $23.75 | $49,400 |
| 75th percentile | $29.65 | $61,660 |
| 90th percentile | $37.89 | $78,810 |
| Average (mean) | $26.64 | $55,420 |
Highest and lowest paying states
Ranked by median hourly wage. These are wages as paid, not adjusted for living costs.
| Top 5 | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hawaii | $32.80 | $68,220 |
| 2. Illinois | $29.45 | $61,260 |
| 3. Alaska | $29.32 | $60,980 |
| 4. Washington | $28.68 | $59,650 |
| 5. New York | $28.64 | $59,570 |
| Bottom 5 | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 51. Arkansas | $19.28 | $40,090 |
| 50. South Carolina | $19.64 | $40,840 |
| 49. Rhode Island | $20.00 | $41,590 |
| 48. Tennessee | $20.78 | $43,230 |
| 47. Alabama | $21.12 | $43,930 |
Painter pay in every state
Pick a state for its full page: the pay range, how it compares with its neighbors, how many painters work there and what a business should charge.
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Bottom to top tenth | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $21.12 | $43,930 | $16.44 to $27.64 | 1,570 |
| Alaska | $29.32 | $60,980 | $21.09 to $41.08 | 440 |
| Arizona | $23.20 | $48,250 | $19.32 to $30.59 | 5,210 |
| Arkansas | $19.28 | $40,090 | $14.97 to $26.26 | 890 |
| California | $28.38 | $59,020 | $20.26 to $43.75 | 38,430 |
| Colorado | $25.47 | $52,970 | $19.51 to $37.36 | 3,480 |
| Connecticut | $28.12 | $58,480 | $19.29 to $44.42 | 2,230 |
| Delaware | $28.14 | $58,530 | $16.86 to $33.82 | 480 |
| District of Columbia | $28.61 | $59,520 | $22.49 to $39.13 | 500 |
| Florida | $22.85 | $47,530 | $17.65 to $29.47 | 22,450 |
| Georgia | $23.24 | $48,340 | $17.64 to $32.72 | 2,760 |
| Hawaii | $32.80 | $68,220 | $22.64 to $43.67 | 1,900 |
| Idaho | $21.58 | $44,880 | $16.54 to $29.28 | 2,040 |
| Illinois | $29.45 | $61,260 | $19.63 to $50.65 | 6,820 |
| Indiana | $24.16 | $50,260 | $17.51 to $33.43 | 3,510 |
| Iowa | $23.90 | $49,710 | $17.83 to $32.22 | 1,770 |
| Kansas | $21.88 | $45,510 | $16.24 to $28.13 | 1,570 |
| Kentucky | $23.13 | $48,110 | $17.26 to $31.11 | 1,390 |
| Louisiana | $22.31 | $46,410 | $15.39 to $28.52 | 4,090 |
| Maine | $28.50 | $59,270 | $22.75 to $36.31 | 2,120 |
| Maryland | $23.62 | $49,120 | $19.50 to $37.52 | 3,750 |
| Massachusetts | $27.65 | $57,510 | $20.92 to $52.81 | 4,430 |
| Michigan | $24.35 | $50,650 | $18.00 to $36.38 | 4,920 |
| Minnesota | $27.54 | $57,270 | $17.53 to $42.30 | 3,810 |
| Mississippi | $21.54 | $44,800 | $16.60 to $31.12 | 1,060 |
| Missouri | $27.65 | $57,510 | $18.82 to $38.27 | 3,980 |
| Montana | $28.03 | $58,290 | $16.90 to $33.42 | 920 |
| Nebraska | $22.73 | $47,280 | $16.06 to $27.88 | 1,590 |
| Nevada | $27.11 | $56,390 | $19.92 to $47.21 | 4,120 |
| New Hampshire | $23.88 | $49,670 | $19.63 to $30.54 | 910 |
| New Jersey | $28.49 | $59,250 | $18.11 to $46.13 | 4,110 |
| New Mexico | $22.23 | $46,240 | $18.16 to $33.92 | 1,010 |
| New York | $28.64 | $59,570 | $21.95 to $53.63 | 13,040 |
| North Carolina | $21.21 | $44,110 | $16.06 to $28.03 | 5,220 |
| North Dakota | $26.38 | $54,870 | $17.71 to $37.64 | 420 |
| Ohio | $23.77 | $49,450 | $17.82 to $35.77 | 5,600 |
| Oklahoma | $21.59 | $44,900 | $14.74 to $32.41 | 1,880 |
| Oregon | $23.51 | $48,900 | $18.39 to $35.36 | 5,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $25.06 | $52,120 | $17.91 to $34.73 | 5,980 |
| Rhode Island | $20.00 | $41,590 | $15.00 to $30.96 | 1,160 |
| South Carolina | $19.64 | $40,840 | $13.10 to $27.65 | 2,080 |
| South Dakota | $23.15 | $48,160 | $17.26 to $28.63 | 670 |
| Tennessee | $20.78 | $43,230 | $16.88 to $29.34 | 3,040 |
| Texas | $21.86 | $45,460 | $17.25 to $28.32 | 18,330 |
| Utah | $22.14 | $46,050 | $17.41 to $31.62 | 3,510 |
| Vermont | $25.54 | $53,120 | $23.11 to $30.77 | 550 |
| Virginia | $22.82 | $47,470 | $17.50 to $30.44 | 5,930 |
| Washington | $28.68 | $59,650 | $21.85 to $38.62 | 9,510 |
| West Virginia | $21.26 | $44,230 | $14.04 to $30.60 | 720 |
| Wisconsin | $24.08 | $50,090 | $18.21 to $36.08 | 3,350 |
| Wyoming | $22.70 | $47,220 | $15.08 to $30.09 | 480 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 47-2141, painters, construction and maintenance, all industries. Read from the BLS state and national data files. Counts leave out the self-employed.
From a wage to a price
If you run the business, the wage is only the start. At the national median of $23.75, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) give a rate of $112.30 per billable hour. Try yours in the labor rate calculator.
Other trades
National median $30.67 an hourPlumber salary by statePlumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, from apprentices to master plumbers.National median $30.38 an hourElectrician salary by stateInside wiring, panels and service work, residential through industrial.National median $29.33 an hourHVAC Technician salary by stateHeating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers.National median $26.65 an hourRoofer salary by stateShingle, metal and flat roof installers and repair crews.National median $29.12 an hourCarpenter salary by stateFraming, finish and remodel carpenters.National median $18.82 an hourLandscaper salary by stateLandscaping and groundskeeping workers, lawn crews included.National median $17.07 an hourHouse Cleaner salary by stateMaids and housekeeping cleaners, in homes, hotels and hospitals.National median $17.71 an hourJanitor salary by stateJanitors and commercial cleaners, office crews and custodians.National median $21.75 an hourPest Control Technician salary by stateTechnicians who inspect, treat and trap in homes and businesses.National median $22.66 an hourConstruction Laborer salary by stateCrew labor on job sites: demo, digging, hauling and cleanup.National median $29.71 an hourSheet Metal Worker salary by stateDuctwork, flashing and metal fabrication, in the shop and on site.National median $25.55 an hourSolar Installer salary by stateCrews who mount, wire and set up solar panels.National median $38.42 an hourConstruction Supervisor salary by stateForemen and crew leads who run the work on site.