The average salary for a painter in the United States is around $55,490 per year.
Avg Salary
Painters earn an average yearly salary of $55,490.
Wages typically start from $31,630 and go up to $144,210.
6% above national average Updated in 2025
Painter earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level painter earnings begin at:
$69.33 per hour
$144,210 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level painter earnings begin at:
$40.00 per hour
$83,200 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level painter earnings begin at:
$26.68 per hour
$55,490 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level painter earnings begin at:
$18.06 per hour
$37,560 per year
10th percentile
Starting level painter earnings begin at:
$15.21 per hour
$31,630 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Painter salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $98,540 |
| Nevada | $81,630 |
| New York | $78,870 |
| Washington | $72,430 |
| Connecticut | $71,210 |
| Maryland | $66,180 |
| Georgia | $65,010 |
| New Mexico | $63,090 |
| Minnesota | $61,730 |
| Hawaii | $60,000 |
| California | $58,240 |
| Utah | $57,270 |
| Arizona | $56,160 |
| New Jersey | $55,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,270 |
| Illinois | $53,850 |
| Wisconsin | $53,350 |
| Colorado | $51,910 |
| Florida | $50,360 |
| Missouri | $49,820 |
| Texas | $49,650 |
| Alaska | $48,860 |
| Kentucky | $48,050 |
| Virginia | $47,930 |
| Oklahoma | $47,830 |
| Massachusetts | $47,780 |
| Vermont | $47,430 |
| Rhode Island | $47,170 |
| District of Columbia | $46,750 |
| New Hampshire | $46,280 |
| Maine | $46,170 |
| Indiana | $44,160 |
| Louisiana | $40,700 |
| Nebraska | $39,800 |
| Iowa | $39,400 |
| Michigan | $38,650 |
| Montana | $38,430 |
| Wyoming | $38,240 |
| South Dakota | $37,720 |
| North Dakota | $37,670 |
| Delaware | $37,550 |
| South Carolina | $37,500 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $37,500 |
| Idaho | $37,470 |
| West Virginia | $37,330 |
| Alabama | $37,320 |
| Guam | $36,930 |
| North Carolina | $36,930 |
| Mississippi | $36,540 |
| Arkansas | $32,340 |
| Ohio | $31,780 |
| Tennessee | $30,720 |
| Kansas | $25,830 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,360 |
How do painter salaries compare to similar careers?
Painters earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than calligraphers but more than jewelers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Calligrapher salary | $71K |
| Sculptor salary | $55K |
| Painter salary | $55K |
| Illustrator salary | $55K |
| Art therapist salary | $62K |
| Jeweler salary | $53K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)