The median pay for Painters, Construction and Maintenance is $49,400 a year ($23.75/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.0% through 2035, with about 24,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- Commonly called: House Painter
- SOC 47-2141
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Painter, Construction and Maintenance in four numbers
- Median pay
- $49,400a year, or $23.75/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $79K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.0%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 24,900326,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025326.9K
- Projected 2035336.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 326.9K Projected 2035 336.7K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school16.3%
- High school48.7%
- Certificate33.1%
- Post-doctoral training1.9%
Highest education held by painters, construction and maintenance Segment Value Less than high school 16.3% High school 48.7% Certificate 33.1% Post-doctoral training 1.9%
Also advertised as: Building Trades Painter, Commercial Painter, Facilities Painter, Highway Painter, House Painter, Industrial Painter.
Pay
How much do house painters make?
Painters, Construction and Maintenance earn a median of $49,400 a year ($23.75 an hour, or about $4,120 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $37,440 and the top 10% more than $78,810 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is Hawaii, with a median of $68,220. See House painter salary in Hawaii and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Kahului ($76,170 average): salary in every city.
Every painter, construction and maintenance in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$49,400
Middle half earn $44,640 to $61,660
- 10th
- $37,440
- 25th
- $44,640
- 75th
- $61,660
- 90th
- $78,810
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $37,440 |
| 25th | $44,640 |
| Median | $49,400 |
| 75th | $61,660 |
| 90th | $78,810 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $49,400
- Median hourly wage
- $23.75/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $55,420
- People employed
- 225,190
Versus all US occupations
At $49,400, Painters, Construction and Maintenance earn 3% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $1,580 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 18% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $78,810 or more while the bottom 10% earn $37,440, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 20% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Hawaii posts the highest raw median ($68,220), but once local prices are taken into account Missouri leads at $63,325 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay house painters the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hawaii | $68,220 | $62,046 | 1,900 |
| 2Illinois | $61,260 | $61,286 | 6,820 |
| 3Alaska | $60,980 | $59,575 | 440 |
| 4Washington | $59,650 | $55,741 | 9,510 |
| 5New York | $59,570 | $55,198 | 13,040 |
| 6District of Columbia | $59,520 | $54,158 | 500 |
| 7Maine | $59,270 | $61,072 | 2,120 |
| 8New Jersey | $59,250 | $54,455 | 4,110 |
| 9California | $59,020 | $53,306 | 38,430 |
| 10Delaware | $58,530 | $58,643 | 480 |
Job outlook
Is house painter a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | +3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Painters, Construction and Maintenance to change 3.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 9,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 24,900 openings are projected each year, 7.6% of the 326,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The expected increase in new construction will continue to create a need for painters. Investors who sell or lease properties also will require painters’ services. However, many homeowners choose to do painting themselves rather than hire workers for it, which will temper employment growth for painters.
AI exposure: low
BLS places this occupation in its low relative AI exposure category, among the occupations least exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become a house painter
Painters typically learn their trade on the job. No formal education is typically required to enter the occupation.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as painters, construction and maintenance.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)48.7%
- Post-Secondary Certificate33.1%
- Less than a High School Diploma16.3%
- Post-Doctoral Training1.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 48.7% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 33.1% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 16.3% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 1.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a house painter do?
Paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns. May remove old paint to prepare surface prior to painting. May mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency.
Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, large machinery and equipment, and bridges and other structures.
Day-to-day tasks
- Cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting.
- 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.
- Apply primers or sealers to prepare new surfaces, such as bare wood or metal, for finish coats.
- Fill cracks, holes, or joints with caulk, putty, plaster, or other fillers, using caulking guns or putty knives.
- Remove fixtures such as pictures, door knobs, lamps, or electric switch covers prior to painting.
- Read work orders or receive instructions from supervisors or homeowners to determine work requirements.
- Remove old finishes by stripping, sanding, wire brushing, burning, or using water or abrasive blasting.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Fatal injury rate: 6.6 per 100,000 workers (2.0x the 3.3 average)
BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2024, for the group “Painters and paperhangers”: 32 deaths that year.
Most painters work full time. Self-employed painters may be able to set their own schedules. Industrial painters may be required to travel for work. Painting jobs that are outdoors may be seasonal.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where painters, construction and maintenance work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Painting and wall covering contractors42%
- Self-employed workers31%
- Residential building construction5%
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals2%
- Nonresidential building construction2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Painting and wall covering contractors | 42% |
| Self-employed workers | 31% |
| Residential building construction | 5% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 2% |
| Nonresidential building construction | 2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Speaking2.4
- Writing2.0
- Mathematics2.0
- Active Learning2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Speaking | 2.4 |
| Writing | 2.0 |
| Mathematics | 2.0 |
| Active Learning | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Time Management3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Coordination2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.8
- Service Orientation2.4
- Persuasion2.0
- Instructing2.0
- Operations Monitoring2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.8 |
| Service Orientation | 2.4 |
| Persuasion | 2.0 |
| Instructing | 2.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a house painter?
Women make up 11.1% of painters, construction and maintenance, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation.
24.7% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 43.1 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 11.1%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 43.1All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 24.7%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 485,000Painters and paperhangers · BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of painters, construction and maintenance | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 11.1% | 47.1% |
| White | 87.5% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 4.7% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 2.0% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 58.2% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 24.7% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 10.5% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%. CPS reports this occupation only within the wider Census group “Painters and paperhangers”, so these figures are for that group.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a house painter?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Painter, Construction and Maintenance |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.5
- Artistic2.5
- Investigative1.5
- Social1.3
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Painter, Construction and Maintenance
O*NET related occupations
- Production
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Worker
$41,600median a year
Most earn $31K to $61K
+1.3%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
Helpers--Painter, Paperhanger, Plasterer, and Stucco Mason
$40,470median a year
Most earn $31K to $52K
+1.5%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
- Production
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
$48,250median a year
Most earn $36K to $75K
+2.5%High school - Production
- Construction and Extraction
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with painters, construction and maintenance highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Roofer$55,440
- Painter, Construction and Maintenance$49,400
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Painter, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Painter, Construction and Maintenance appears on
Questions
Painter, Construction and Maintenance: frequently asked questions
How much do house painters make?
Painters, Construction and Maintenance earn a median of $49,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 3% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.75/hr. The middle half earn between $44,640 and $61,660. The top 10% earn $78,810 or more.
How much do house painters make an hour?
The median hourly wage for painters, construction and maintenance is $23.75 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $49,400 annual median works out to about $4,120 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a house painter?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of painters, construction and maintenance earn less than $37,440 a year and the bottom quarter less than $44,640 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do house painters make $100k?
Rarely. Even the 90th percentile is $78,810, so fewer than 10% of painters, construction and maintenance earn $100,000 or more (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No state's median reaches $100,000; the highest is Hawaii at $68,220.
Which states pay house painters the most?
The highest state medians for Painters, Construction and Maintenance are Hawaii ($68,220), Illinois ($61,260), Alaska ($60,980) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Missouri moves to the top at $63,325.
What kind of house painter earns the most?
BLS does not split painters, construction and maintenance' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $78,810, against a median of $49,400 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are Hawaii ($68,220), Illinois ($61,260), Alaska ($60,980).
Do you need a degree to become a house painter?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Painters, Construction and Maintenance, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 48.7% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a house painter?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for house painters is no formal educational credential. Once hired, BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing some preparation.
Is house painter a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.0% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 24,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a house painter do?
Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, large machinery and equipment, and bridges and other structures. A core O*NET task: cover surfaces with dropcloths or masking tape and paper to protect surfaces during painting. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Operating system software, Spreadsheet software.
What personality type suits a house painter?
O*NET scores Painters, Construction and Maintenance highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of house painters are women?
Women make up 11.1% of painters, construction and maintenance, against 47.1% of all employed people: a heavily male-dominated occupation. 24.7% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 43.1 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages, for the Census group "Painters and paperhangers".