How much do painters make in the US in 2026?

Which state is best for painters?

Different states win on different measures — here's the top on each. Pick the one that matters to you.

Across 25 states: $40,840–$61,260 (median $50,090).

Painter pay by state

Where is the union premium biggest for Painters?

Named locals and the premium over the BLS all-worker median.

We don't have union scale data for Painter across our states yet — these states are predominantly non-union, or we haven't added IBEW/UA data. Submitting your pay helps build complete data for Painter.

Union landscape

Some painters work under a collective bargaining agreement, and if you do — or are thinking about it — that matters for your paycheck. Union scale rates are set at the local level and can shift with each contract cycle, which means a statewide average from a government survey won't reflect what a union painter on a prevailing-wage job is actually clearing. TradesPays does not currently have union scale data for painters in any of our 25 covered states. That's a straightforward gap, not a footnote. If you're covered by a collective bargaining agreement or considering joining one, the only reliable number is the current rate sheet from your local. Go straight to the source — ask your local for the current journeyman scale, any applicable premium rates for specialty work (lead paint, high structures, industrial coatings), and what the fringe breakdown looks like between wages, health, and pension. Those details live at the local level, and no statewide survey captures them accurately. Once we have verified, current union scale data for painters, we'll post it directly on the state pages.

What we don't track yet

The state-level figures on TradesPays are trade-wide medians. That's useful as a benchmark, but it leaves out detail that matters to a working painter. Here's what we're not showing yet and why it matters. Metro-level pay: A painter in Chicago and a painter downstate Illinois both fold into that $61,260 state figure. Urban markets, high-cost metros, and remote rural areas can diverge significantly from the statewide number. We don't publish metro figures yet because we want to stand behind the accuracy of what we post. When metro data is solid enough to be useful, it'll go up. Tier splits — apprentice, journeyman, foreman: The BLS data we work from is trade-level. It doesn't break out pay by experience tier or license level for painters the way union scale sheets do. A first-year apprentice and a 15-year journeyman running a crew are both in the same number right now. That's a real limitation. Specialty work: Industrial coatings, bridge painting, lead and hazmat work, and high-rise exterior all carry different pay realities than standard residential repaint. We don't separate those out yet. If you work in this trade and have data — pay stubs, certified payroll rates, contract sheets you can share without identifying information — use the submission form to send it in. Real-world numbers from workers make the site more accurate for everyone.

Painter pay: FAQ

What is the national median wage for painters?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, the national median annual wage for painters (construction and maintenance) is $49,400.

What do painters earn at the 25th and 75th percentiles nationally?

The 25th percentile sits at $44,640 and the 75th percentile at $61,660. That $17,000 gap reflects real differences in experience, market, and type of work — it's not noise.

Which states in the TradesPays dataset pay painters the most?

Of the 25 states currently covered, the three highest are Illinois at $61,260, Washington at $59,650, and New York at $59,570.

Which state in the dataset has the lowest painter wages?

South Carolina is the lowest in our current set at $40,840 annually. Keep in mind this is a statewide trade-level median — individual situations will vary.

Does TradesPays cover all 50 states for painters?

Not yet. Painter wages are currently covered across 25 states. We add states as we can verify the underlying data meets our quality threshold.

Do these numbers include benefits like health insurance or a pension?

No. The BLS OEWS figures TradesPays uses are wage and salary earnings only. Benefits — health coverage, retirement contributions, paid leave — are on top of these numbers and are not captured here.

Does specialty work like industrial coatings or lead paint removal pay more?

It often does in practice, but TradesPays doesn't break out specialty classifications for painters yet. The figures on this page are for the broader painter (construction and maintenance) category. If you work a specialty and want to help us get that data right, use the submission form.

Other trades to compare