The average salary for a painter in the United States is around $19,479 per year.
Avg Salary
Painters earn an average yearly salary of $19,479.
Wages typically start from $9,326 and go up to $40,688.
65% below national average Updated in 2023
Painter earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level painter earnings begin at:
$19.56 per hour
$40,688 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level painter earnings begin at:
$13.80 per hour
$28,704 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level painter earnings begin at:
$9.37 per hour
$19,479 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level painter earnings begin at:
$6.36 per hour
$13,220 per year
10th percentile
Starting level painter earnings begin at:
$4.48 per hour
$9,326 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Painter salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $60,000 |
| New York | $56,270 |
| New Jersey | $55,220 |
| Illinois | $53,240 |
| Missouri | $49,290 |
| Alaska | $48,860 |
| Minnesota | $48,580 |
| Washington | $48,530 |
| California | $48,260 |
| Connecticut | $47,820 |
| Massachusetts | $47,780 |
| Vermont | $47,430 |
| Rhode Island | $47,170 |
| Colorado | $46,910 |
| District of Columbia | $46,750 |
| Maryland | $46,420 |
| Wisconsin | $46,370 |
| Maine | $46,340 |
| New Hampshire | $46,280 |
| Ohio | $46,200 |
| Nevada | $45,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,690 |
| Indiana | $44,160 |
| Kansas | $43,000 |
| Iowa | $39,400 |
| Oklahoma | $38,670 |
| Virginia | $38,640 |
| Oregon | $38,570 |
| Utah | $38,570 |
| Arizona | $38,530 |
| Louisiana | $38,480 |
| Montana | $38,430 |
| Wyoming | $38,240 |
| Michigan | $38,180 |
| Nebraska | $37,840 |
| South Dakota | $37,720 |
| North Dakota | $37,670 |
| Delaware | $37,550 |
| New Mexico | $37,500 |
| South Carolina | $37,500 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $37,500 |
| Idaho | $37,470 |
| Florida | $37,400 |
| West Virginia | $37,330 |
| Alabama | $37,320 |
| Georgia | $37,220 |
| Texas | $37,050 |
| Arkansas | $36,990 |
| Kentucky | $36,990 |
| Guam | $36,930 |
| North Carolina | $36,930 |
| Tennessee | $36,830 |
| Mississippi | $36,540 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,360 |
How do painter salaries compare to similar careers?
Painters earn 16% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than engravers but more than photographers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Engraver salary | $40K |
| Art teacher salary | $45K |
| Multimedia animator salary | $33K |
| Potter salary | $28K |
| Artist salary | $10K |
| Painter salary | $19K |
| Jeweler salary | $21K |
| Illustrator salary | $15K |
| Photographer salary | $12K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)