How much does a painter make?
Answer: A typical painter in the United States makes $49,400 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 225,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Painter pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| 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 |
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.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a painter do?
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).
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
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.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Construction and Extraction jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
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