How much does a painter make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $23.75 an hour or $4,117 a month.
- Hourly
- $23.75
- Average (mean)
- $55,420
- Jobs
- 225,190
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,440 | $18.00 | |
| 25th | $44,640 | $21.46 | |
| Median | $49,400 | $23.75 | |
| 75th | $61,660 | $29.64 | |
| 90th | $78,810 | $37.89 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Hawaii | $68,220 |
| Illinois | $61,260 |
| Alaska | $60,980 |
| Washington | $59,650 |
| New York | $59,570 |
| District of Columbia | $59,520 |
| Maine | $59,270 |
| New Jersey | $59,250 |
| California | $59,020 |
| Delaware | $58,530 |
| Connecticut | $58,480 |
| Montana | $58,290 |
| Massachusetts | $57,510 |
| Missouri | $57,510 |
| Minnesota | $57,270 |
| Nevada | $56,390 |
| North Dakota | $54,870 |
| Vermont | $53,120 |
| Colorado | $52,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,120 |
| Michigan | $50,650 |
| Indiana | $50,260 |
| Wisconsin | $50,090 |
| Iowa | $49,710 |
| New Hampshire | $49,670 |
| Ohio | $49,450 |
| Maryland | $49,120 |
| Oregon | $48,900 |
| Georgia | $48,340 |
| Arizona | $48,250 |
| South Dakota | $48,160 |
| Kentucky | $48,110 |
| Florida | $47,530 |
| Virginia | $47,470 |
| Nebraska | $47,280 |
| Wyoming | $47,220 |
| Louisiana | $46,410 |
| New Mexico | $46,240 |
| Utah | $46,050 |
| Kansas | $45,510 |
| Texas | $45,460 |
| Oklahoma | $44,900 |
| Idaho | $44,880 |
| Mississippi | $44,800 |
| West Virginia | $44,230 |
| North Carolina | $44,110 |
| Alabama | $43,930 |
| Tennessee | $43,230 |
| Rhode Island | $41,590 |
| South Carolina | $40,840 |
| Arkansas | $40,090 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Champaign, IL | $84,370 |
| Kahului, HI | $73,650 |
| Rockford, IL | $72,700 |
| Honolulu, HI | $66,160 |
| Bremerton, WA | $65,080 |
| Peoria, IL | $64,450 |
| Bay City, MI | $64,200 |
| Springfield, IL | $63,930 |
| Hanford, CA | $63,800 |
| San Francisco, CA | $63,600 |
| Saginaw, MI | $63,360 |
| Portland, ME | $63,120 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $62,790 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $62,400 |
| Vallejo, CA | $62,370 |
In other countries
Painter belongs to the international group "Painters and related workers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Electrician$63,190
- Glazier$57,080
- Insulation Worker$49,120
- Insulation Worker$58,340
- Paperhanger$52,140
- Pipelayer$49,000
- Plumber$63,800
- Plasterer and Stucco Mason$57,660
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker$58,970
- Roofer$55,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a painter make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $23.75 ($49,400 a year).
How much does a painter make a month?
About $4,117 a month before tax, based on a median of $49,400 a year.
How much does a painter make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,440 or less a year ($18.00 an hour); the top 10% make $78,810 or more.
Which state pays painters the most?
Hawaii, with a median of $68,220 a year, followed by Illinois ($61,260) and Alaska ($60,980).
Which city pays painters the most?
Champaign-Urbana, IL, with a median of $84,370 a year.
How many painters are there in the United States?
About 225,190 people work as painters.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.