Painters: licensing, jobs and pay in the United States
224,180 people work as painters in the United States, and the median pay is $48,660 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
The Census Bureau counts 38,280 painting and wall covering contractor businesses with employees, with 208,201 employees and a payroll of $11,485,346,000 a year (2023 County Business Patterns).
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 224,180
- Median pay, a year
- $48,660
- Businesses with employees
- 38,280
Painters by state
| State | Jobs | Median pay, a year | Businesses with employees | Businesses per 10,000 homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 37,780 | $57,450 | 4,880 | 3.3 |
| Florida | 20,910 | $46,060 | 4,421 | 4.3 |
| Texas | 18,700 | $44,160 | 1,468 | 1.2 |
| New York | 14,670 | $56,020 | 2,579 | 3.0 |
| Washington | 8,820 | $58,520 | 1,809 | 5.5 |
| Arizona | 6,780 | $47,290 | 691 | 2.2 |
| Illinois | 6,700 | $62,390 | 1,505 | 2.8 |
| Pennsylvania | 6,110 | $50,230 | 1,168 | 2.0 |
| Ohio | 6,050 | $53,650 | 972 | 1.8 |
| Virginia | 5,300 | $44,670 | 1,017 | 2.8 |
| Michigan | 4,930 | $49,360 | 969 | 2.1 |
| Massachusetts | 4,830 | $55,870 | 1,068 | 3.5 |
| Oregon | 4,780 | $48,880 | 1,091 | 5.9 |
| North Carolina | 4,340 | $43,890 | 1,083 | 2.2 |
| New Jersey | 4,230 | $60,290 | 1,046 | 2.8 |
| Missouri | 4,210 | $50,150 | 621 | 2.2 |
| Louisiana | 4,050 | $43,700 | 243 | 1.2 |
| Colorado | 3,700 | $50,650 | 1,010 | 3.9 |
| Tennessee | 3,630 | $40,710 | 406 | 1.3 |
| Indiana | 3,570 | $50,010 | 623 | 2.1 |
| Minnesota | 3,480 | $60,900 | 783 | 3.1 |
| Maryland | 3,440 | $49,060 | 681 | 2.7 |
| Nevada | 3,430 | $52,300 | 275 | 2.1 |
| Wisconsin | 3,430 | $50,020 | 710 | 2.6 |
| Utah | 3,350 | $45,900 | 645 | 5.3 |
| Georgia | 3,310 | $47,690 | 941 | 2.1 |
| South Carolina | 2,060 | $42,950 | 443 | 1.8 |
| Connecticut | 2,010 | $53,610 | 418 | 2.7 |
| Idaho | 2,000 | $46,490 | 536 | 6.7 |
| Maine | 1,950 | $56,270 | 267 | 3.6 |
| Oklahoma | 1,830 | $45,610 | 285 | 1.6 |
| Alabama | 1,750 | $45,690 | 287 | 1.2 |
| Iowa | 1,730 | $48,780 | 292 | 2.0 |
| Kansas | 1,680 | $44,890 | 369 | 2.9 |
| Hawaii | 1,630 | $67,620 | 155 | 2.7 |
| Nebraska | 1,580 | $45,020 | 320 | 3.7 |
| Kentucky | 1,450 | $45,630 | 293 | 1.4 |
| New Mexico | 1,280 | $45,910 | 149 | 1.6 |
| New Hampshire | 990 | $49,600 | 216 | 3.3 |
| Montana | 980 | $48,920 | 286 | 5.4 |
| Arkansas | 910 | $38,420 | 176 | 1.3 |
| Mississippi | 810 | $40,750 | 109 | 0.8 |
| West Virginia | 800 | $43,450 | 67 | 0.8 |
| Rhode Island | 780 | $51,420 | 192 | 4.0 |
| South Dakota | 670 | $46,600 | 128 | 3.1 |
| Vermont | 650 | $49,460 | 155 | 4.6 |
| Delaware | 530 | $55,770 | 116 | 2.5 |
| Wyoming | 530 | $45,820 | 94 | 3.4 |
| North Dakota | 460 | $57,390 | 102 | 2.7 |
| District of Columbia | 420 | $59,810 | 12 | 0.3 |
| Alaska | 400 | $65,610 | 108 | 3.3 |
The highest median pay is in Hawaii ($67,620), Alaska ($65,610), Illinois ($62,390).
The lowest is in Arkansas ($38,420), Tennessee ($40,710), Mississippi ($40,750).
What painters earn
| United States | |
|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $48,660 |
| Median pay, an hour | $23.40 |
| 10th percentile | $36,680 |
| 25th percentile | $42,510 |
| 75th percentile | $60,270 |
| 90th percentile | $76,550 |
| Average pay, a year | $53,710 |
Federal rules and model codes for painters
Work for pay that disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint inside, or 20 square feet outside, in a home or child-occupied facility built before 1978 must be done by an EPA- or state-certified firm, directed by a certified renovator and done with lead-safe work practices; replacing windows always counts (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).
A scaffold on a construction job must be designed, erected and inspected to OSHA’s scaffold standard, with fall protection above 10 feet (29 CFR part 1926, subpart L).
An employer whose workers use hazardous chemicals, cleaning products among them, must keep safety data sheets, label containers and train workers under OSHA’s hazard communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).
A model code becomes law only where a state or city adopts it; the building or licensing department says which edition applies.
- EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E)
- OSHA scaffolds (29 CFR part 1926, subpart L)
- OSHA hazard communication (29 CFR 1910.1200)
Licenses for painters
Licensing for this trade is set by each state, and often by the city or county as well; each state’s page links the official license lookup for it.
What you can do on Seayora
One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.
Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?
Get found by owners and renters, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.
Own or manage a rental?
List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for every town beside you.
Create a landlord account · See what landlords get
Looking for a place to rent?
Browse homes for rent, save the ones you like and apply online.
Questions about Painters
How much do painters make?
The median pay for painters in the United States is $48,660 a year, and half earn between $42,510 and $60,270 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many painters are there in the United States?
224,180 people work as painters, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
Where do painters earn the most?
The highest median pay is in Hawaii ($67,620), Alaska ($65,610), Illinois ($62,390).
Do painters need a license?
Licensing is set by each state, and often by the city or county as well; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists the licenses each state requires and the agency that issues each.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023
- US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop License Finder
- EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E)
- OSHA scaffolds (29 CFR part 1926, subpart L)
- OSHA hazard communication (29 CFR 1910.1200)
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them. Rules are summarized from their official text, which governs; this page is not legal advice, and a state or city may add requirements of its own.
Figures last updated on .