How Much Does a Painter Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$49,400
Painters in the U.S. earn a median of $49,400 a year, or $23.75 an hour. Half of painters earn more than $49,400 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $78,810.
Pay percentiles for painters
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18.00 | $37,440 |
| 25th | $21.46 | $44,640 |
| 50th (median) | $23.75 | $49,400 |
| 75th | $29.65 | $61,660 |
| 90th | $37.89 | $78,810 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for painters
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $68,220 | $32.80 | +38% |
| Illinois | $61,260 | $29.45 | +24% |
| Alaska | $60,980 | $29.32 | +23% |
| Washington | $59,650 | $28.68 | +21% |
| New York | $59,570 | $28.64 | +21% |
| District of Columbia | $59,520 | $28.61 | +20% |
| Maine | $59,270 | $28.50 | +20% |
| New Jersey | $59,250 | $28.49 | +20% |
| California | $59,020 | $28.38 | +19% |
| Delaware | $58,530 | $28.14 | +18% |
| United States | $49,400 | $23.75 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many painters are there?
BLS counts about 225,190 painters employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Painters, Construction and Maintenance”. The most jobs are in California (38,430), Florida (22,450) and Texas (18,330).
The mean (average) annual wage is $55,420, higher than the median of $49,400.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $4,117
- Biweekly
- $1,900
- Weekly
- $950
- Daily (8 hours)
- $190
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do painters make an hour?
The median hourly wage for painters is $23.75. The middle 50% earn between $21.46 and $29.65 an hour.
Which state pays painters the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage for painters at $68,220, +38% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for painters?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of painters earn less than $37,440 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.