Painter Salary
Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls, buildings, and structures.
Painter Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level painters earn around $31,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $45,000. Senior-level painters can earn $66,000 or more.
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Earning $44,700? You may qualify for student loan refinancing rates as low as 4.49% — potentially saving $14,000+ over the life of your loan.
Check Your Rate — No Credit Impact →Salary Percentile Breakdown
The salary range for painters varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $30,000, while the top 10% earn $70,000.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $44,700 |
| 75th Percentile | $57,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $70,000 |
Painter Salary by State
Painter salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $79,566, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $37,101.
| State | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Hawaii | $79,566 | Details → |
| #2 California | $63,921 | Details → |
| #3 Massachusetts | $60,345 | Details → |
| #4 Alaska | $59,898 | Details → |
| #5 New York | $54,534 | Details → |
| #6 Washington | $53,193 | Details → |
| #7 New Jersey | $51,405 | Details → |
| #8 Oregon | $50,511 | Details → |
| #9 Connecticut | $50,064 | Details → |
| #10 Maryland | $49,170 | Details → |
| #11 Colorado | $47,829 | Details → |
| #12 New Hampshire | $46,935 | Details → |
| #13 Rhode Island | $46,935 | Details → |
| #14 Virginia | $46,488 | Details → |
| #15 Delaware | $45,147 | Details → |
| #16 Vermont | $45,147 | Details → |
| #17 Nevada | $44,700 | Details → |
| #18 Florida | $43,806 | Details → |
| #19 Maine | $43,806 | Details → |
| #20 Arizona | $43,359 | Details → |
| #21 Minnesota | $43,359 | Details → |
| #22 Montana | $43,359 | Details → |
| #23 Utah | $43,359 | Details → |
| #24 Louisiana | $42,912 | Details → |
| #25 Pennsylvania | $42,912 | Details → |
| #26 Texas | $42,912 | Details → |
| #27 Wyoming | $42,912 | Details → |
| #28 Illinois | $42,465 | Details → |
| #29 North Dakota | $42,465 | Details → |
| #30 Idaho | $42,018 | Details → |
| #31 Georgia | $41,571 | Details → |
| #32 New Mexico | $41,571 | Details → |
| #33 Indiana | $41,124 | Details → |
| #34 North Carolina | $41,124 | Details → |
| #35 Wisconsin | $41,124 | Details → |
| #36 Michigan | $40,230 | Details → |
| #37 Nebraska | $40,230 | Details → |
| #38 Ohio | $40,230 | Details → |
| #39 Iowa | $39,783 | Details → |
| #40 Oklahoma | $39,783 | Details → |
| #41 South Carolina | $39,783 | Details → |
| #42 Tennessee | $39,783 | Details → |
| #43 Missouri | $39,336 | Details → |
| #44 South Dakota | $39,336 | Details → |
| #45 Alabama | $38,889 | Details → |
| #46 Kansas | $38,889 | Details → |
| #47 Kentucky | $38,889 | Details → |
| #48 West Virginia | $38,442 | Details → |
| #49 Arkansas | $37,548 | Details → |
| #50 Mississippi | $37,101 | Details → |
Stand Out from the Competition
85% of recruiters say a professionally written resume increases interview rates by 40%. Stand out from 237,700 other Painters.
Get a Professional Resume →Key Responsibilities
- ● Prepare surfaces by sanding/priming
- ● Apply paint and coatings
- ● Mix paints for desired colors
- ● Protect surrounding areas
- ● Operate spray equipment
Top Skills
Education Required
High school diploma
Job Outlook
Faster than average — projected 5% growth over the next decade
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