How much do painters make in Arizona in 2026?

The median Arizona painter earns $48,250 a year, or about $23.20 an hour, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. That's the middle of the pack — half of painters in the state earn more, half earn less. If you're sizing up a job offer or negotiating a raise, that's your benchmark.

The bottom quarter of painters in Arizona earn $45,370 or less — roughly $21.81 an hour. These are typically entry-level workers or those in lower-cost rural markets. The top quarter clears $58,560 a year or more, which works out to $28.15 an hour. Experienced painters working commercial or industrial jobs, or those with specialty skills like decorative finishes or industrial coatings, are most likely to land in that upper tier.

The spread between the 25th and 75th percentile is about $13,190 a year. That's meaningful money, and it doesn't come down to luck. The biggest drivers of where you land in that range are your specialty, your employer type, and your geography within Arizona.

Commercial and industrial painting tends to pay more than residential work. A painter spraying epoxy coatings in a warehouse or working on a high-rise in Phoenix is generally going to out-earn someone rolling walls in new-home construction. Industrial coatings, lead abatement certification, and spray equipment experience are the skills most likely to push your rate toward the top of the range.

Location within Arizona matters too. The Phoenix metro pulls the most painting work by volume, and with large commercial and multifamily projects running year-round, competition for experienced hands keeps wages higher there. Tucson runs a bit behind Phoenix on wage levels. Rural and smaller markets typically sit closer to the 25th percentile, though lower cost of living can offset some of that gap.

No union scale data is available for painters in Arizona. Many painters here work non-union, either for painting contractors or as owner-operators on residential jobs. If you're evaluating a union versus non-union position, ask specifically about the current local wage scale and benefit package — the total compensation picture matters, not just the hourly rate.

Hours can vary, especially for painters who work residential. Wet weather, project delays, and seasonal slowdowns in some parts of the state can trim annual hours below the standard 2,080. Commercial and industrial painters working for larger contractors tend to have steadier year-round hours, which makes the annual figures above more reliable for them.

TradesPays updates this page when new BLS data is released, so the numbers here reflect the most current published survey.