How much does a painting make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $20.00 an hour or $3,467 a month.
- Hourly
- $20.00
- Average (mean)
- $45,210
- Jobs
- 7,940
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,470 | $15.13 | |
| 25th | $37,030 | $17.80 | |
| Median | $41,600 | $20.00 | |
| 75th | $50,360 | $24.21 | |
| 90th | $60,820 | $29.24 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Washington | $61,210 |
| Nevada | $60,190 |
| Colorado | $54,070 |
| Massachusetts | $54,070 |
| New Jersey | $52,160 |
| Connecticut | $50,720 |
| Ohio | $49,080 |
| Missouri | $48,560 |
| New York | $48,510 |
| Wisconsin | $48,330 |
| Maryland | $47,320 |
| Virginia | $47,090 |
| Iowa | $46,670 |
| Georgia | $46,310 |
| Idaho | $45,050 |
| South Carolina | $43,820 |
| Minnesota | $43,630 |
| North Carolina | $42,960 |
| Kentucky | $42,220 |
| Illinois | $41,960 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,660 |
| California | $41,600 |
| Indiana | $41,350 |
| Arkansas | $40,310 |
| Kansas | $39,470 |
| Michigan | $38,500 |
| Utah | $38,430 |
| Louisiana | $38,320 |
| Florida | $37,440 |
| Wyoming | $37,090 |
| Arizona | $37,030 |
| Oklahoma | $36,780 |
| Tennessee | $35,540 |
| Montana | $34,790 |
| Mississippi | $33,330 |
| Texas | $32,430 |
| South Dakota | $31,550 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| New York, NY | $72,610 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $60,190 |
| Seattle, WA | $59,170 |
| Denver, CO | $57,360 |
| Boston, MA | $57,000 |
| Washington, DC | $53,290 |
| Kansas City, MO | $50,160 |
| Sacramento, CA | $49,750 |
| Elkhart, IN | $49,610 |
| St. Louis, MO | $49,440 |
| Atlanta, GA | $48,850 |
| Richmond, VA | $48,570 |
| San Jose, CA | $48,470 |
| Charlotte, NC | $47,790 |
| Charleston, SC | $47,360 |
In other countries
Painting belongs to the international group "Sign writers, decorative painters, engravers and etchers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender$43,220
- Coating$48,250
- Semiconductor Processing Technician$51,430
- Photographic Process Worker and Processing Machine Operator$40,610
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer$68,120
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operator and Tender$46,460
- Cleaning$43,530
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender$41,330
- Etcher and Engraver$43,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a painting make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $20.00 ($41,600 a year).
How much does a painting make a month?
About $3,467 a month before tax, based on a median of $41,600 a year.
How much does a painting make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $31,470 or less a year ($15.13 an hour); the top 10% make $60,820 or more.
Which state pays paintings the most?
Washington, with a median of $61,210 a year, followed by Nevada ($60,190) and Colorado ($54,070).
Which city pays paintings the most?
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, with a median of $72,610 a year.
How many paintings are there in the United States?
About 7,940 people work as paintings.
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.