How much does a painter make?
The median painter in the United States earns $49,400 per year, about $23.75 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all painters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 47-2141.
Painter salary range
Pay for painters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $37,440 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $78,810. The average (mean) wage of $55,420 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $44,640 | $21.46 | |
| Median (50th) | $49,400 | $23.75 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $61,660 | $29.65 | |
| 90th percentile | $78,810 | $37.89 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for painters, construction and maintenance (SOC 47-2141), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Painter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Painters earn the most in Hawaii at $68,220 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $40,090. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $68,220 | 1,900 |
| Illinois | $61,260 | 6,820 |
| Alaska | $60,980 | 440 |
| Washington | $59,650 | 9,510 |
| New York | $59,570 | 13,040 |
| District of Columbia | $59,520 | 500 |
| Maine | $59,270 | 2,120 |
| New Jersey | $59,250 | 4,110 |
| California | $59,020 | 38,430 |
| Delaware | $58,530 | 480 |
| Connecticut | $58,480 | 2,230 |
| Montana | $58,290 | 920 |
| Massachusetts | $57,510 | 4,430 |
| Missouri | $57,510 | 3,980 |
| Minnesota | $57,270 | 3,810 |
| Nevada | $56,390 | 4,120 |
| North Dakota | $54,870 | 420 |
| Vermont | $53,120 | 550 |
| Colorado | $52,970 | 3,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,120 | 5,980 |
| Michigan | $50,650 | 4,920 |
| Indiana | $50,260 | 3,510 |
| Wisconsin | $50,090 | 3,350 |
| Iowa | $49,710 | 1,770 |
| New Hampshire | $49,670 | 910 |
| Ohio | $49,450 | 5,600 |
| Maryland | $49,120 | 3,750 |
| Oregon | $48,900 | 5,410 |
| Georgia | $48,340 | 2,760 |
| Arizona | $48,250 | 5,210 |
| South Dakota | $48,160 | 670 |
| Kentucky | $48,110 | 1,390 |
| Florida | $47,530 | 22,450 |
| Virginia | $47,470 | 5,930 |
| Nebraska | $47,280 | 1,590 |
| Wyoming | $47,220 | 480 |
| Louisiana | $46,410 | 4,090 |
| New Mexico | $46,240 | 1,010 |
| Utah | $46,050 | 3,510 |
| Kansas | $45,510 | 1,570 |
| Texas | $45,460 | 18,330 |
| Oklahoma | $44,900 | 1,880 |
| Idaho | $44,880 | 2,040 |
| Mississippi | $44,800 | 1,060 |
| West Virginia | $44,230 | 720 |
| North Carolina | $44,110 | 5,220 |
| Alabama | $43,930 | 1,570 |
| Tennessee | $43,230 | 3,040 |
| Rhode Island | $41,590 | 1,160 |
| South Carolina | $40,840 | 2,080 |
| Arkansas | $40,090 | 890 |
State median wages for painters, construction and maintenance (SOC 47-2141), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for painters
The BLS projects employment of painters to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 326,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 336,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 24,900 openings a year for painters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a painter
The typical entry-level education for painters is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a painter earns
Experience, licensing, certifications, region, and overtime move these numbers the most. A licensed, experienced worker in a high cost metro or a strong union market lands near the top of the range, while apprentices and workers in rural areas start closer to the bottom.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Hawaii, $68,220) and the lowest (Arkansas, $40,090) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 225,190 people work as painters in the United States. At $49,400 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Painter salary FAQ
How much does a painter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a painter is $23.75. The middle half of painters earn between $21.46 and $29.65 per hour.
What is the highest painter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of painters earn more than $78,810 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a painter make a year?
The median annual salary for a painter is $49,400. The average (mean) wage of $55,420 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a painter a well paid job?
At $49,400 a year, a painter earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 225,190 people work as painters in the United States.
Which state pays painters the most?
Hawaii has the highest median salary for painters at $68,220 a year. Illinois ($61,260) and Alaska ($60,980) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a painter a good career?
Employment of painters is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 24,900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a painter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for painters as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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