The average salary for a professional painter in California is around $59,020 per year.
Avg Salary
Professional painters earn an average yearly salary of $59,020.
Wages typically start from $42,130 and go up to $91,000.
23% below national average Updated in 2025
Professional painter earnings by seniority
Top-level professional painter earnings begin at:
$43.75 per hour
$91,000 per year
Senior-level professional painter earnings begin at:
$35.11 per hour
$73,040 per year
Mid-level professional painter earnings begin at:
$28.38 per hour
$59,020 per year
Junior-level professional painter earnings begin at:
$22.85 per hour
$47,520 per year
Starting level professional painter earnings begin at:
$20.26 per hour
$42,130 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 California. On average, they make less than recreational vehicle service technicians but more than opticians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreational vehicle service technician salary | $68K |
| Tile and marble setter salary | $59K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $60K |
| Faller salary | $60K |
| Embalmer salary | $60K |
| Professional painter salary | $59K |
| Gem worker salary | $61K |
| Jeweler salary | $61K |
| Welder salary | $58K |
| Optician salary | $58K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)