How much does a painter make?
a year · about $24 an hour
A typical painter in the United States makes $49,400 a year, about $24 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They read a work order, cover nearby surfaces, then sand rough spots or fill holes. They apply paint with brushes, rollers, or spray guns and clean up.
Did you know? Some U.S. painting jobs involve lead-paint abatement, and the EPA offers a special certification for it—so painting isn't always just adding color.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $37,440 and $78,810How do you become one?
In the United States, no formal schooling is usually required; most painters learn on the job, though some take technical-school courses or an apprenticeship. Some 3- or 4-year apprenticeships require a high-school diploma or equivalent and that applicants be at least 18.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience and skill, special certifications, and whether someone works for the government, a building company, or a painting contractor. Location, hours, seasonal outdoor work, travel, and self-employment can matter too.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Hawaii ($68,220), lowest in Arkansas ($40,090).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $37,440 | $49,400 | $78,810 | about 225,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $68,220 | about 2,000 |
| Illinois | $61,260 | about 7,000 |
| Washington | $59,650 | about 10,000 |
| New York | $59,570 | about 13,000 |
| District of Columbia | $59,520 | about 500 |
Official definition: Paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns. May remove old paint to prepare surface prior to painting. May mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency. Excludes “Paperhangers” (47-2142).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/OOH/construction-and-extraction/painters-construction-and-maintenanc
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2141.00
- www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/print/painters-construction-and-main
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY