Painters, construction and maintenance salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Mean (average) | $55,420 | $26.64 |
| 90th percentile | $78,810 | $37.89 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Painters, construction and maintenance pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $43,930 | $34,190 | $57,490 | 1,570 | 0.51 |
| Alaska | $60,980 | $43,880 | $85,440 | 440 | 0.94 |
| Arizona | $48,250 | $40,180 | $63,640 | 5,210 | 1.11 |
| Arkansas | $40,090 | $31,150 | $54,610 | 890 | 0.47 |
| California | $59,020 | $42,130 | $91,000 | 38,430 | 1.46 |
| Colorado | $52,970 | $40,570 | $77,710 | 3,480 | 0.84 |
| Connecticut | $58,480 | $40,120 | $92,390 | 2,230 | 0.91 |
| Delaware | $58,530 | $35,070 | $70,350 | 480 | 0.68 |
| District of Columbia | $59,520 | $46,780 | $81,390 | 500 | 0.49 |
| Florida | $47,530 | $36,700 | $61,300 | 22,450 | 1.56 |
| Georgia | $48,340 | $36,690 | $68,060 | 2,760 | 0.39 |
| Guam | $32,960 | $30,850 | $42,320 | 330 | 3.39 |
| Hawaii | $68,220 | $47,090 | $90,830 | 1,900 | 2.09 |
| Idaho | $44,880 | $34,390 | $60,890 | 2,040 | 1.64 |
| Illinois | $61,260 | $40,820 | $105,350 | 6,820 | 0.77 |
| Indiana | $50,260 | $36,410 | $69,520 | 3,510 | 0.76 |
| Iowa | $49,710 | $37,080 | $67,010 | 1,770 | 0.78 |
| Kansas | $45,510 | $33,780 | $58,510 | 1,570 | 0.75 |
| Kentucky | $48,110 | $35,900 | $64,720 | 1,390 | 0.48 |
| Louisiana | $46,410 | $32,000 | $59,330 | 4,090 | 1.46 |
| Maine | $59,270 | $47,320 | $75,530 | 2,120 | 2.29 |
| Maryland | $49,120 | $40,560 | $78,050 | 3,750 | 0.94 |
| Massachusetts | $57,510 | $43,520 | $109,850 | 4,430 | 0.84 |
| Michigan | $50,650 | $37,440 | $75,670 | 4,920 | 0.77 |
| Minnesota | $57,270 | $36,460 | $87,970 | 3,810 | 0.89 |
| Mississippi | $44,800 | $34,530 | $64,720 | 1,060 | 0.63 |
| Missouri | $57,510 | $39,150 | $79,600 | 3,980 | 0.94 |
| Montana | $58,290 | $35,160 | $69,510 | 920 | 1.24 |
| Nebraska | $47,280 | $33,410 | $57,990 | 1,590 | 1.07 |
| Nevada | $56,390 | $41,430 | $98,190 | 4,120 | 1.84 |
| New Hampshire | $49,670 | $40,830 | $63,530 | 910 | 0.92 |
| New Jersey | $59,250 | $37,680 | $95,950 | 4,110 | 0.66 |
| New Mexico | $46,240 | $37,760 | $70,560 | 1,010 | 0.8 |
| New York | $59,570 | $45,660 | $111,550 | 13,040 | 0.93 |
| North Carolina | $44,110 | $33,410 | $58,300 | 5,220 | 0.73 |
| North Dakota | $54,870 | $36,840 | $78,290 | 420 | 0.68 |
| Ohio | $49,450 | $37,060 | $74,400 | 5,600 | 0.7 |
| Oklahoma | $44,900 | $30,650 | $67,410 | 1,880 | 0.76 |
| Oregon | $48,900 | $38,260 | $73,560 | 5,410 | 1.9 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,120 | $37,250 | $72,230 | 5,980 | 0.68 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,070 | $22,160 | $36,160 | 600 | 0.44 |
| Rhode Island | $41,590 | $31,200 | $64,410 | 1,160 | 1.6 |
| South Carolina | $40,840 | $27,240 | $57,520 | 2,080 | 0.62 |
| South Dakota | $48,160 | $35,900 | $59,560 | 670 | 1.01 |
| Tennessee | $43,230 | $35,110 | $61,030 | 3,040 | 0.64 |
| Texas | $45,460 | $35,870 | $58,910 | 18,330 | 0.9 |
| Utah | $46,050 | $36,220 | $65,780 | 3,510 | 1.4 |
| Vermont | $53,120 | $48,060 | $64,000 | 550 | 1.26 |
| Virgin Islands | $42,520 | $29,160 | $48,100 | 40 | 0.95 |
| Virginia | $47,470 | $36,400 | $63,310 | 5,930 | 1 |
| Washington | $59,650 | $45,450 | $80,330 | 9,510 | 1.85 |
| West Virginia | $44,230 | $29,200 | $63,640 | 720 | 0.7 |
| Wisconsin | $50,090 | $37,870 | $75,040 | 3,350 | 0.79 |
| Wyoming | $47,220 | $31,360 | $62,580 | 480 | 1.19 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for painters, construction and maintenance
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 24,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 31.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for painters, construction and maintenance
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Painting/Painter and Wall Coverer CIP 46.0408
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting.
- Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements.
- Apply paint, stain, varnish, enamel, or other finishes to equipment, buildings, bridges, or other structures, using brushes, spray guns, or rollers.
- Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.
- Smooth surfaces, using sandpaper, scrapers, brushes, steel wool, or sanding machines.
- Erect scaffolding or swing gates, or set up ladders, to work above ground level.
- Wash and treat surfaces with oil, turpentine, mildew remover, or other preparations, and sand rough spots to ensure that finishes will adhere properly.
- Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare wood or metal, for finish coats.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Act!
- Corel Paint Shop Pro
- Corel Painter
- Evergreen Technology Eagle Bid Estimating
- Evergreen Technology Total Faux
- Insight Direct ServiceCEO
- On Center Quick Bid
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
Transferable skills for career changers: Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Service Orientation, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Building Trades Painter, Commercial Painter, Facilities Painter, Highway Painter, House Painter, Industrial Painter, Maintenance Painter, Painter, Professional Painter, Texturer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do painters, construction and maintenance make?
The national median annual wage for painters, construction and maintenance was $49,400 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,440 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $78,810. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do painters, construction and maintenance need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is painters, construction and maintenance a growing career?
BLS projects employment of painters, construction and maintenance to change +3.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 24,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay painters, construction and maintenance the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Hawaii ($68,220), Illinois ($61,260), Alaska ($60,980). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.