How much does a painter make in Chicago?
$61,740a year
Median yearly pay for painters in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $29.68 an hour or $5,145 a month.
- Hourly
- $29.68
- Vs. national median
- +25%
- Rank among cities
- 17 of 361
- Jobs in the area
- 5,480
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $44,560Median: $61,740Highest 10%: $109,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,560 | $21.42 | |
| 25th | $48,970 | $23.54 | |
| Median | $61,740 | $29.68 | |
| 75th | $95,850 | $46.08 | |
| 90th | $109,800 | $52.80 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for painters.
| Champaign, IL | $84,370 |
| Rockford, IL | $72,700 |
| Peoria, IL | $64,450 |
| Springfield, IL | $63,930 |
| St. Louis, MO | $59,810 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $58,010 |
| Davenport, IA | $57,870 |
| Decatur, IL | $48,510 |
| Bloomington, IL | $46,570 |
| Paducah, KY | $45,390 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer | $146,600 |
| Taper | $113,200 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trade and Extraction Worker | $111,300 |
| Boilermaker | $109,600 |
| Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker | $105,600 |
| Insulation Worker | $103,700 |
| Plumber | $103,400 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $103,100 |
| Electrician | $102,400 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $102,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a painter make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $29.68 ($61,740 a year).
Do painters make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $61,740 against $49,400 nationally, 25% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $61,260, so Chicago pays 1% more.
Where does Chicago rank for painter pay?
17 of 361 metro areas with data.
How much does a painter make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $44,560 or less a year; the top 10% make $109,800 or more.
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.