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How much do painters make in San Diego, CA in 2026?

Government wage survey, BLS OEWS May 2025. Updated June 2026.

In 2026, painters in San Diego, CA earn a median of $55,970 per year ($26.91/hr), according to BLS OEWS (May 2025). That is about $3,050 below the California statewide median. Last updated June 2026.

Median pay (50th pct)

$55,970/yr

Half of San Diego, CA painters earn between $47,240 and $66,480 per year.

$47,240/yr$55,970/yr$66,480/yr

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Painter pay in San Diego, CA: key numbers
Median pay$55,970/yr ($26.91/hr)
Pay range (25th–75th percentile)$47,240 – $66,480/yr
Vs California statewide median-$3,050/yr
Painters employed in this metro4,040
Job concentration vs national1.81×
SourceBLS OEWS May 2025
Last updatedJune 2026

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Painter pay in San Diego, CA vs California

The median painter wage in San Diego, CA is $55,970/yr (BLS OEWS May 2025). The California statewide median is $59,020/yr (BLS OEWS May 2025) , so this metro runs about $3,050/yr below the state figure. See the full California page

  • 4,040 painters employed in this metro (BLS May 2025).
  • Job concentration: 1.81× the national average for this trade (more concentrated here).

About this data

Metro wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS metropolitan program (May 2025), the authoritative public source for occupational pay, reported here for the San Diego, CA metro area. We don't hold union scales or member submissions at metro level yet, so this page shows BLS metro data only; each figure is labeled with its source.

Painter pay in San Diego, CA: FAQ

What is the median painter salary in San Diego, CA?
The median painter wage in San Diego, CA is $55,970 a year, or about $26.91 an hour (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the pay range for painters in San Diego, CA?
In San Diego, CA, painters earn from $47,240 (25th percentile) to $66,480 (75th percentile) a year, with a median of $55,970 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Does San Diego, CA pay more than the California average for painters?
The San Diego, CA median of $55,970 runs about $3,050 a year below the California statewide median of $59,020 (BLS OEWS).
How much do painters make an hour in San Diego, CA?
The median painter in San Diego, CA earns about $26.91/hr, based on the $55,970/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025, at 2,080 hours a year). Overtime and union scale can run higher.
How much do painters make a month in San Diego, CA?
That is about $4,664/mo before taxes, from the $55,970/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Sources

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