How much does a painting, coating, and decorating worker make?
The median painting, coating, and decorating worker in the United States earns $41,600 per year, about $20.00 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all painting, coating, and decorating workers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-9123.
Painting, coating, and decorating worker salary range
Pay for painting, coating, and decorating workers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $31,470 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $60,820. The average (mean) wage of $45,210 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 | $31,470 | $15.13 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $37,030 | $17.80 | |
| Median (50th) | $41,600 | $20.00 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $50,360 | $24.21 | |
| 90th percentile | $60,820 | $29.24 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for painting, coating, and decorating workers (SOC 51-9123), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Painting, coating, and decorating worker salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Painting, coating, and decorating workers earn the most in Washington at $61,210 a year, and the least in South Dakota at $31,550. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $61,210 | 90 |
| Nevada | $60,190 | N/A |
| Colorado | $54,070 | 170 |
| Massachusetts | $54,070 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $52,160 | 90 |
| Connecticut | $50,720 | 50 |
| Ohio | $49,080 | 230 |
| Missouri | $48,560 | 140 |
| New York | $48,510 | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $48,330 | 230 |
| Maryland | $47,320 | 50 |
| Virginia | $47,090 | 290 |
| Iowa | $46,670 | 100 |
| Georgia | $46,310 | 60 |
| Idaho | $45,050 | N/A |
| South Carolina | $43,820 | 140 |
| Minnesota | $43,630 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $42,960 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $42,220 | 200 |
| Illinois | $41,960 | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,660 | 180 |
| California | $41,600 | N/A |
| Indiana | $41,350 | 490 |
| Arkansas | $40,310 | 50 |
| Kansas | $39,470 | 90 |
| Michigan | $38,500 | 140 |
| Utah | $38,430 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $38,320 | 50 |
| Florida | $37,440 | 720 |
| Wyoming | $37,090 | 60 |
| Arizona | $37,030 | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $36,780 | 100 |
| Tennessee | $35,540 | 200 |
| Montana | $34,790 | 40 |
| Mississippi | $33,330 | 70 |
| Texas | $32,430 | 550 |
| South Dakota | $31,550 | 40 |
State median wages for painting, coating, and decorating workers (SOC 51-9123), 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 painting, coating, and decorating workers
The BLS projects employment of painting, coating, and decorating workers to grow 1.3% from 2025 to 2035. That is slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 8,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 8,300 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 700 openings a year for painting, coating, and decorating workers. 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 painting, coating, and decorating worker
The typical entry-level education for painting, coating, and decorating workers 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 painting, coating, and decorating worker earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $61,210) and the lowest (South Dakota, $31,550) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 7,940 people work as painting, coating, and decorating workers in the United States. At $41,600 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Painting, coating, and decorating worker salary FAQ
How much does a painting, coating, and decorating worker make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a painting, coating, and decorating worker is $20.00. The middle half of painting, coating, and decorating workers earn between $17.80 and $24.21 per hour.
What is the highest painting, coating, and decorating worker salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of painting, coating, and decorating workers earn more than $60,820 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a painting, coating, and decorating worker make a year?
The median annual salary for a painting, coating, and decorating worker is $41,600. The average (mean) wage of $45,210 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 painting, coating, and decorating worker a well paid job?
At $41,600 a year, a painting, coating, and decorating worker earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 7,940 people work as painting, coating, and decorating workers in the United States.
Which state pays painting, coating, and decorating workers the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for painting, coating, and decorating workers at $61,210 a year. Nevada ($60,190) and Colorado ($54,070) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a painting, coating, and decorating worker a good career?
Employment of painting, coating, and decorating workers is projected to grow 1.3% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a painting, coating, and decorating worker?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for painting, coating, and decorating workers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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