§ 03 Trade wages
Painters: what they earn, metro by metro
Prepare surfaces and apply paint, stain and coatings inside and out. 225,190 people work in this occupation nationwide. You hire them for interior and exterior painting, staining and surface prep.
BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 47-2141
Painters, United States
25th pct$21.46per hour
Median$23.75per hour
75th pct$29.65per hour
10th pct$18.00
90th pct$37.89
Mean$26.64
Workers225,190
Your multiplier: ×2.0Median wage × multiplier: $48/hr
OEWS reports what employers pay these workers per hour. A contractor’s bill also covers the business: insurance, licensing, vehicles, tools, office staff, warranty callbacks, unbilled travel time and profit. The wage is a floor for understanding a quote, never a price. You set the multiplier; we publish no typical markup because we have no citable source for one.What else is in a bill for this trade
- Prep time (scraping, patching, priming) often exceeds painting time
- EPA lead-safe certification and containment for pre-1978 homes
- Paint and supplies, sometimes billed separately
BLS OEWS May 2025 · United States · mean RSE 0.6%Employee wages from the BLS employer survey. Not what a contractor bills.
| Metro | Median | 25th–75th | Workers | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $40.56 | $26.56–$41.65 | 160 | +71% |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $35.41 | $30.92–$40.24 | 180 | +49% |
| Rockford, IL | $34.95 | $26.10–$45.67 | 130 | +47% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $31.81 | $28.45–$41.00 | 1,390 | +34% |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $31.29 | $27.77–$38.62 | 810 | +32% |
| Peoria, IL | $30.98 | $23.20–$41.70 | 110 | +30% |
| Springfield, IL | $30.74 | $24.16–$38.82 | 110 | +29% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $30.58 | $27.13–$37.68 | 5,310 | +29% |
| Saginaw, MI | $30.46 | $22.80–$34.74 | 130 | +28% |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $30.35 | $26.05–$31.01 | 1,550 | +28% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $30.19 | $24.12–$37.09 | 730 | +27% |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $30.00 | $23.78–$35.21 | 230 | +26% |
| Vallejo, CA | $29.99 | $24.33–$37.25 | 410 | +26% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $29.79 | $27.30–$37.66 | 2,410 | +25% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $29.68 | $23.54–$46.08 | 5,480 | +25% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $29.53 | $24.46–$39.94 | 11,930 | +24% |
| Napa, CA | $29.52 | $23.86–$34.88 | 270 | +24% |
| Flint, MI | $29.44 | $22.79–$36.38 | 260 | +24% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $29.26 | $21.28–$36.41 | 2,710 | +23% |
| Salinas, CA | $29.26 | $23.08–$34.57 | 520 | +23% |
| Bozeman, MT | $29.25 | $23.60–$33.32 | 260 | +23% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $29.06 | $23.86–$33.64 | 5,140 | +22% |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $29.04 | $23.97–$32.19 | 230 | +22% |
| Anchorage, AK | $29.02 | $25.84–$35.51 | 330 | +22% |
| Rochester, MN | $28.95 | $21.91–$36.34 | 220 | +22% |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $28.75 | $23.19–$37.07 | 2,350 | +21% |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $28.66 | $24.30–$39.87 | 150 | +21% |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $28.65 | $23.24–$37.51 | 480 | +21% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $28.61 | $22.53–$36.86 | 2,410 | +20% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $28.47 | $23.08–$38.91 | 160 | +20% |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $28.43 | $22.00–$35.74 | 400 | +20% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $28.41 | $22.85–$33.00 | 12,100 | +20% |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $28.36 | $21.88–$31.35 | 520 | +19% |
| Bellingham, WA | $28.27 | $22.66–$30.69 | 280 | +19% |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $28.24 | $23.62–$37.98 | 420 | +19% |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $28.21 | $24.11–$28.76 | 150 | +19% |
| New Haven, CT | $28.12 | $22.76–$34.79 | 340 | +18% |
| Billings, MT | $27.95 | $22.93–$29.73 | 120 | +18% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $27.92 | $23.59–$28.87 | 1,670 | +18% |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $27.88 | $23.73–$29.84 | 150 | +17% |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $27.82 | $21.60–$32.52 | 210 | +17% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $27.80 | $23.30–$33.92 | 3,220 | +17% |
| Akron, OH | $27.67 | $22.02–$34.84 | 460 | +17% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $27.60 | $23.21–$30.69 | 3,360 | +16% |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $27.60 | $21.91–$30.95 | 620 | +16% |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $27.58 | $22.57–$33.34 | 3,030 | +16% |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $27.43 | $22.37–$29.45 | 700 | +15% |
| Madison, WI | $27.16 | $23.06–$35.97 | 520 | +14% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $27.12 | $22.50–$30.95 | 870 | +14% |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $27.08 | $20.93–$34.65 | 1,920 | +14% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $26.91 | $22.71–$31.96 | 4,040 | +13% |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $26.44 | $21.43–$29.67 | 110 | +11% |
| Evansville, IN | $26.16 | $22.30–$30.12 | 250 | +10% |
| Worcester, MA | $26.08 | $20.90–$31.57 | 300 | +10% |
| Redding, CA | $26.00 | $22.53–$31.45 | 130 | +9% |
| Reno, NV | $25.99 | $22.62–$28.32 | 910 | +9% |
| York-Hanover, PA | $25.97 | $22.85–$27.17 | 200 | +9% |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $25.87 | $22.74–$29.23 | 230 | +9% |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $25.70 | $22.18–$30.57 | 950 | +8% |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $25.68 | $22.68–$30.47 | 230 | +8% |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $25.64 | $22.56–$30.81 | 750 | +8% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $25.62 | $22.75–$30.44 | 3,540 | +8% |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $25.45 | $17.88–$32.80 | 460 | +7% |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $25.43 | $22.59–$29.02 | 210 | +7% |
| Boulder, CO | $25.37 | $23.67–$29.37 | 140 | +7% |
| Fresno, CA | $25.34 | $21.49–$30.72 | 680 | +7% |
| Traverse City, MI | $25.00 | $21.90–$28.54 | 180 | +5% |
| Columbus, OH | $24.91 | $22.52–$31.45 | 980 | +5% |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $24.83 | $22.93–$30.64 | 480 | +5% |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $24.47 | $20.82–$30.77 | 1,250 | +3% |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $24.46 | $23.17–$29.50 | 310 | +3% |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $24.34 | $23.06–$29.33 | 1,140 | +2% |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $24.34 | $22.80–$28.31 | 210 | +2% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $24.31 | $22.85–$28.43 | 4,380 | +2% |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $24.24 | $22.97–$32.82 | 310 | +2% |
| Reading, PA | $24.22 | $22.43–$27.92 | 110 | +2% |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $24.18 | $21.79–$29.62 | 590 | +2% |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $24.12 | $22.50–$29.00 | 890 | +2% |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $24.07 | $21.64–$30.43 | 1,330 | +1% |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $23.90 | $20.95–$30.52 | 120 | +1% |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $23.89 | $21.66–$28.15 | 130 | +1% |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $23.88 | $21.18–$26.36 | 250 | +1% |
| Springfield, MA | $23.86 | $21.58–$30.09 | 180 | 0% |
| Cleveland, OH | $23.84 | $21.21–$31.68 | 1,110 | 0% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $23.83 | $21.31–$25.99 | 1,340 | 0% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $23.79 | $23.08–$29.23 | 1,260 | 0% |
| Lancaster, PA | $23.77 | $23.17–$28.23 | 430 | 0% |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $23.75 | $20.83–$28.78 | 400 | 0% |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $23.71 | $22.57–$27.37 | 170 | 0% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $23.62 | $21.41–$27.95 | 1,110 | -1% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $23.62 | $19.66–$29.25 | 200 | -1% |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $23.61 | $21.35–$27.43 | 460 | -1% |
| Greeley, CO | $23.59 | $21.88–$27.14 | 180 | -1% |
| Modesto, CA | $23.54 | $22.57–$28.81 | 480 | -1% |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $23.52 | $21.58–$29.13 | 590 | -1% |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $23.51 | $21.40–$30.01 | 3,750 | -1% |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $23.51 | $21.88–$27.93 | 270 | -1% |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $23.50 | $21.89–$28.24 | 770 | -1% |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $23.49 | $22.23–$28.46 | 3,920 | -1% |
| Toledo, OH | $23.47 | $20.20–$29.93 | 400 | -1% |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $23.47 | $20.23–$29.17 | 170 | -1% |
| Kenosha, WI | $23.47 | $22.02–$28.97 | 100 | -1% |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $23.37 | $22.11–$26.17 | 1,290 | -2% |
| Syracuse, NY | $23.37 | $22.48–$29.73 | 310 | -2% |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $23.37 | $20.09–$29.60 | 220 | -2% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $23.36 | $22.29–$28.73 | 1,460 | -2% |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $23.31 | $19.38–$27.26 | 6,210 | -2% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $23.31 | $22.04–$27.04 | 360 | -2% |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $23.30 | $21.83–$23.89 | 1,040 | -2% |
| Bend, OR | $23.30 | $22.41–$27.91 | 420 | -2% |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $23.29 | $20.00–$25.64 | 360 | -2% |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $23.20 | $18.98–$27.56 | 1,430 | -2% |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $23.10 | $18.38–$28.55 | 130 | -3% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $23.09 | $21.63–$26.91 | 1,420 | -3% |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $23.04 | $21.86–$24.54 | 230 | -3% |
| Green Bay, WI | $23.02 | $19.08–$28.04 | 200 | -3% |
| Odessa, TX | $23.01 | $18.31–$26.38 | 110 | -3% |
| Salem, OR | $23.00 | $21.87–$26.44 | 670 | -3% |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $22.96 | $18.27–$26.16 | 930 | -3% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $22.95 | $20.64–$22.95 | 640 | -3% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $22.95 | $21.03–$24.38 | 550 | -3% |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $22.93 | $20.02–$23.68 | 350 | -3% |
| Richmond, VA | $22.92 | $18.94–$23.56 | 1,010 | -3% |
| Erie, PA | $22.90 | $19.09–$27.00 | 130 | -4% |
| Ogden, UT | $22.88 | $18.32–$32.65 | 600 | -4% |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $22.87 | $20.25–$24.00 | 3,080 | -4% |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $22.87 | $18.00–$27.25 | 340 | -4% |
| Charleston, WV | $22.86 | $17.01–$27.17 | 100 | -4% |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $22.84 | $18.45–$25.27 | 410 | -4% |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $22.82 | $19.08–$29.14 | 230 | -4% |
| Punta Gorda, FL | $22.78 | $18.10–$23.70 | 210 | -4% |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $22.75 | $19.00–$28.00 | 300 | -4% |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $22.74 | $19.10–$27.77 | 130 | -4% |
| Rochester, NY | $22.71 | $22.34–$29.03 | 590 | -4% |
| Eau Claire, WI | $22.71 | $21.83–$28.39 | 110 | -4% |
| Lincoln, NE | $22.68 | $17.76–$24.92 | 280 | -5% |
| Albany, OR | $22.67 | $19.27–$25.17 | 180 | -5% |
| Chico, CA | $22.66 | $18.46–$28.32 | 240 | -5% |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $22.65 | $18.62–$27.67 | 1,610 | -5% |
| Longview, TX | $22.60 | $21.99–$25.99 | 310 | -5% |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $22.58 | $20.97–$23.84 | 320 | -5% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $22.56 | $21.38–$24.72 | 160 | -5% |
| Rapid City, SD | $22.55 | $18.19–$25.90 | 110 | -5% |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $22.52 | $19.01–$23.39 | 1,520 | -5% |
| Gainesville, FL | $22.52 | $20.66–$23.66 | 200 | -5% |
| Lake Charles, LA | $22.50 | $20.71–$22.92 | 530 | -5% |
| Columbia, SC | $22.47 | $17.59–$23.54 | 220 | -5% |
| Topeka, KS | $22.45 | $17.23–$24.30 | 170 | -5% |
| Yakima, WA | $22.44 | $22.34–$27.51 | 240 | -6% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $22.41 | $17.90–$29.07 | 900 | -6% |
| Bloomington, IL | $22.39 | $19.19–$27.96 | 120 | -6% |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $22.38 | $19.81–$23.59 | 1,860 | -6% |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $22.37 | $18.56–$24.01 | 260 | -6% |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $22.33 | $18.22–$23.64 | 450 | -6% |
| St. Cloud, MN | $22.30 | $21.12–$28.80 | 120 | -6% |
| Mobile, AL | $22.29 | $18.28–$24.03 | 230 | -6% |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $22.27 | $19.00–$23.09 | 510 | -6% |
| Columbia, MO | $22.24 | $18.10–$27.66 | 160 | -6% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $22.21 | $19.45–$23.98 | 630 | -6% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $22.21 | $19.94–$28.81 | 290 | -6% |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $22.18 | $19.04–$23.91 | 4,970 | -7% |
| Savannah, GA | $22.14 | $17.79–$23.93 | 110 | -7% |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $22.12 | $17.42–$27.35 | 180 | -7% |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $22.11 | $18.96–$23.81 | 700 | -7% |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $22.11 | $17.96–$23.43 | 130 | -7% |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $22.09 | $19.12–$22.92 | 420 | -7% |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $22.07 | $18.36–$25.60 | 220 | -7% |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $22.04 | $18.97–$24.10 | 530 | -7% |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $22.03 | $17.91–$22.85 | 210 | -7% |
| Charlottesville, VA | $22.02 | $18.47–$26.11 | 180 | -7% |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $22.01 | $21.22–$25.27 | 310 | -7% |
| Medford, OR | $22.00 | $21.75–$28.12 | 220 | -7% |
| Waco, TX | $21.91 | $19.24–$25.62 | 230 | -8% |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $21.90 | $18.84–$24.05 | 4,570 | -8% |
| Ocala, FL | $21.89 | $19.16–$23.02 | 270 | -8% |
| Boise City, ID | $21.88 | $17.67–$23.61 | 1,030 | -8% |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $21.81 | $18.16–$23.89 | 810 | -8% |
| Manhattan, KS | $21.79 | $18.05–$23.28 | 110 | -8% |
| Wichita, KS | $21.75 | $17.08–$23.21 | 400 | -8% |
| Las Cruces, NM | $21.75 | $18.48–$22.12 | 100 | -8% |
| Midland, TX | $21.74 | $19.51–$24.15 | 150 | -8% |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $21.73 | $17.54–$23.19 | 2,840 | -9% |
| Jackson, MS | $21.70 | $19.68–$28.23 | 190 | -9% |
| Roanoke, VA | $21.65 | $18.10–$23.41 | 220 | -9% |
| Tucson, AZ | $21.63 | $20.27–$26.66 | 620 | -9% |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $21.59 | $18.23–$23.93 | 1,370 | -9% |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $21.47 | $18.12–$23.35 | 250 | -10% |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $21.45 | $17.93–$22.56 | 590 | -10% |
| Birmingham, AL | $21.42 | $18.25–$24.98 | 380 | -10% |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $21.41 | $19.71–$22.39 | 100 | -10% |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $21.34 | $17.30–$22.77 | 110 | -10% |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $21.31 | $18.85–$24.78 | 880 | -10% |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $21.21 | $20.45–$22.19 | 190 | -11% |
| Tallahassee, FL | $21.19 | $17.80–$22.58 | 310 | -11% |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $21.15 | $18.04–$23.78 | 100 | -11% |
| Lafayette, LA | $20.90 | $18.87–$23.25 | 290 | -12% |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $20.89 | $18.93–$22.54 | 170 | -12% |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $20.88 | $18.30–$22.75 | 960 | -12% |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $20.85 | $18.00–$25.37 | 120 | -12% |
| St. George, UT | $20.70 | $17.65–$22.80 | 330 | -13% |
| Asheville, NC | $20.66 | $18.06–$23.28 | 210 | -13% |
| Wilmington, NC | $20.60 | $16.77–$22.98 | 220 | -13% |
| Tulsa, OK | $20.51 | $17.91–$22.50 | 520 | -14% |
| Amarillo, TX | $20.35 | $17.72–$21.74 | 170 | -14% |
| Logan, UT-ID | $20.19 | $17.70–$22.66 | 120 | -15% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $20.00 | $16.87–$22.51 | 110 | -16% |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $20.00 | $16.94–$22.01 | 100 | -16% |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $19.75 | $17.85–$22.62 | 150 | -17% |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $19.71 | $17.25–$22.91 | 110 | -17% |
| Lubbock, TX | $19.50 | $17.66–$21.65 | 130 | -18% |
| Knoxville, TN | $19.44 | $18.12–$22.09 | 400 | -18% |
| Tyler, TX | $19.31 | $17.70–$21.11 | 140 | -19% |
| Spartanburg, SC | $19.28 | $17.78–$22.54 | 120 | -19% |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $19.17 | $15.51–$21.11 | 130 | -19% |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $19.11 | $17.93–$25.83 | 120 | -20% |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $18.79 | $17.86–$23.48 | 330 | -21% |
| Lynchburg, VA | $18.75 | $16.66–$22.72 | 110 | -21% |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $18.71 | $17.62–$23.28 | 640 | -21% |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $18.59 | $17.67–$22.81 | 410 | -22% |
| Jacksonville, NC | $18.46 | $16.19–$22.11 | 130 | -22% |
| Monroe, LA | $18.26 | $15.32–$21.71 | 110 | -23% |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $18.24 | $14.72–$23.63 | 350 | -23% |
| El Paso, TX | $17.44 | $16.73–$20.83 | 250 | -27% |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $17.33 | $8.42–$22.08 | 280 | -27% |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $12.00 | $11.19–$15.00 | 440 | -49% |
136 more metros have an estimate that BLS flags as less reliable (relative standard error over 5% or fewer than 100 workers); we leave those out.