Painters in Colorado: licensing, jobs, pay and local data
3,700 people work as painters in Colorado, and the median pay is $50,650 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
The Census Bureau counts 1,010 painting and wall covering contractor businesses with employees in Colorado (2023 County Business Patterns).
That is 3.9 businesses per 10,000 homes, against 2.7 nationally.
Colorado ranks 18 of 51 states for median pay in this trade.
It ranks 9 of 51 for businesses per 10,000 homes.
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 3,700
- Median pay, a year
- $50,650
- Businesses with employees
- 1,010
Painters in Colorado: businesses and jobs
| Colorado | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses with employees | 1,010 | 38,280 |
| Their employees | 3,662 | 208,201 |
| Annual payroll | $210,747,000 | $11,485,346,000 |
| Payroll per employee | $57,550 | $55,165 |
| Businesses per 10,000 homes | 3.9 | 2.7 |
| Jobs | 3,700 | 224,180 |
| Jobs per 1,000 jobs | 1.28 | — |
| Location quotient (1.00 = the national share) | 0.88 | 1.00 |
A location quotient above 1 means the trade’s share of all jobs is larger here than nationally.
What painters earn in Colorado
| Colorado | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $50,650 | $48,660 |
| Median pay, an hour | $24.35 | $23.40 |
| 10th percentile | $39,200 | $36,680 |
| 25th percentile | $47,620 | $42,510 |
| 75th percentile | $59,110 | $60,270 |
| 90th percentile | $65,430 | $76,550 |
| Average pay, a year | $53,580 | $53,710 |
Painters by county in Colorado
| County | Businesses with employees | Their employees | Businesses per 10,000 homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arapahoe County | 129 | 529 | 4.8 |
| Jefferson County | 123 | 440 | 4.9 |
| Denver County | 94 | 417 | 2.6 |
| El Paso County | 92 | 287 | 3.0 |
| Larimer County | 70 | 329 | 4.3 |
| Adams County | 69 | 273 | 3.5 |
| Boulder County | 59 | 173 | 4.1 |
| Eagle County | 59 | 234 | 17.4 |
| Weld County | 51 | 183 | 3.9 |
| Douglas County | 43 | 120 | 3.0 |
| Garfield County | 32 | 144 | 12.8 |
| Routt County | 23 | 54 | 13.4 |
| Summit County | 20 | 44 | 6.2 |
| Mesa County | 18 | 88 | 2.6 |
| Pueblo County | 17 | 52 | 2.3 |
| La Plata County | 16 | 46 | 5.5 |
| Pitkin County | 12 | 27 | 8.9 |
| Gunnison County | 11 | 67 | 8.8 |
| Montrose County | 9 | 30 | 4.6 |
| Broomfield County | 8 | 19 | 2.4 |
| Park County | 8 | 4 | 5.7 |
| San Miguel County | 7 | 20 | 10.5 |
| Chaffee County | 6 | 6 | 5.2 |
| Grand County | 5 | 13 | 2.9 |
| Archuleta County | 3 | 12 | 3.0 |
| Elbert County | 3 | 6 | 2.9 |
| Lake County | 3 | 3 | 7.5 |
The homes behind the work in Colorado
| Colorado | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes built before 1940 | 7.0% (±0.1 points) | 11.7% |
| Homes built in the 1950s | 6.7% (±0.1 points) | 9.5% |
| Homes built in the 1960s | 7.6% (±0.1 points) | 9.9% |
| Homes built in the 1970s | 16.1% (±0.2 points) | 14.2% |
Licenses for painters in Colorado
Colorado sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license Colorado requires and the agency that issues it.
Before work starts, the local building department says which permits the job needs and which license the person pulling them must hold.
Federal rules and model codes for painters
These federal rules apply to this work in every state, and the model codes below are adopted state by state; each is linked to its official text.
- 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)
Business counts are establishments: a company with offices in two counties is counted in each.
Jobs and pay are for the occupation in every industry, so they include people employed by builders, property managers and governments as well as by contractors.
What you can do on Seayora in Colorado
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 near Colorado, 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 Colorado beside you.
Create a landlord account · See what landlords get
Looking for a place to rent?
Browse homes for rent near Colorado, save the ones you like and apply online.
Questions about Colorado
How much do painters make in Colorado?
The median pay for painters in Colorado is $50,650 a year, against $48,660 nationally (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many painters work in Colorado?
3,700 people work as painters in Colorado, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
How many painting and wall covering contractor businesses are in Colorado?
The Census Bureau counts 1,010 painting and wall covering contractor businesses with employees in Colorado (2023 County Business Patterns).
Do painters need a license in Colorado?
Colorado sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license Colorado requires and the agency that issues it.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023
- License Finder: painters in Colorado (US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop)
- 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 .