The average salary for a professional painter in the United States is around $49,400 per year.
Avg Salary
Professional painters earn an average yearly salary of $49,400.
Wages typically start from $37,440 and go up to $78,810.
19% below national average Updated in 2025
Professional painter earnings by seniority
Top-level professional painter earnings begin at:
$37.89 per hour
$78,810 per year
Senior-level professional painter earnings begin at:
$29.65 per hour
$61,660 per year
Mid-level professional painter earnings begin at:
$23.75 per hour
$49,400 per year
Junior-level professional painter earnings begin at:
$21.46 per hour
$44,640 per year
Starting level professional painter earnings begin at:
$18.00 per hour
$37,440 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Professional painter salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $68,220 |
| Illinois | $61,260 |
| Alaska | $60,980 |
| Washington | $59,650 |
| New York | $59,570 |
| District of Columbia | $59,520 |
| Maine | $59,270 |
| New Jersey | $59,250 |
| California | $59,020 |
| Delaware | $58,530 |
| Connecticut | $58,480 |
| Montana | $58,290 |
| Massachusetts | $57,510 |
| Missouri | $57,510 |
| Minnesota | $57,270 |
| Nevada | $56,390 |
| North Dakota | $54,870 |
| Vermont | $53,120 |
| Colorado | $52,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,120 |
| Michigan | $50,650 |
| Indiana | $50,260 |
| Wisconsin | $50,090 |
| Iowa | $49,710 |
| New Hampshire | $49,670 |
| Ohio | $49,450 |
| Maryland | $49,120 |
| Oregon | $48,900 |
| Georgia | $48,340 |
| Arizona | $48,250 |
| South Dakota | $48,160 |
| Kentucky | $48,110 |
| Florida | $47,530 |
| Virginia | $47,470 |
| Nebraska | $47,280 |
| Wyoming | $47,220 |
| Louisiana | $46,410 |
| New Mexico | $46,240 |
| Utah | $46,050 |
| Kansas | $45,510 |
| Texas | $45,460 |
| Oklahoma | $44,900 |
| Idaho | $44,880 |
| Mississippi | $44,800 |
| West Virginia | $44,230 |
| North Carolina | $44,110 |
| Alabama | $43,930 |
| Tennessee | $43,230 |
| Rhode Island | $41,590 |
| South Carolina | $40,840 |
| Arkansas | $40,090 |
| Puerto Rico | $19,230 |
How do professional painter salaries compare to similar careers?
Professional painters earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than fallers but more than highway maintenance workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Faller salary | $52K |
| Welder salary | $54K |
| Recreational vehicle service technician salary | $52K |
| Hazardous materials removal worker salary | $49K |
| Locksmith salary | $51K |
| Professional painter salary | $49K |
| Pipelayer salary | $49K |
| Metal caster salary | $52K |
| Maintenance worker salary | $50K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $50K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)