Painter salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A painter earns a median of $49,400 a year ($23.75 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $55,420. About 225,190 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $49,400
- Gross pay
- $1,900.00
- Federal income tax
- −$144.15
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$117.80
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$27.55
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,610.50
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $49,400
- Federal
- $3,748
- FICA
- $3,779
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $41,873
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Painter salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $68,220 | $71,310 | 1,900 |
| Illinois | $61,260 | $69,630 | 6,820 |
| Alaska | $60,980 | $64,220 | 440 |
| Washington | $59,650 | $60,910 | 9,510 |
| New York | $59,570 | $68,070 | 13,040 |
| District of Columbia | $59,520 | $62,240 | 500 |
| Maine | $59,270 | $60,230 | 2,120 |
| New Jersey | $59,250 | $61,000 | 4,110 |
| California | $59,020 | $62,460 | 38,430 |
| Delaware | $58,530 | $56,890 | 480 |
| Connecticut | $58,480 | $63,500 | 2,230 |
| Montana | $58,290 | $54,700 | 920 |
| Massachusetts | $57,510 | $64,080 | 4,430 |
| Missouri | $57,510 | $59,450 | 3,980 |
| Minnesota | $57,270 | $58,170 | 3,810 |
| Nevada | $56,390 | $59,610 | 4,120 |
| North Dakota | $54,870 | $55,960 | 420 |
| Vermont | $53,120 | $54,890 | 550 |
| Colorado | $52,970 | $56,370 | 3,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,120 | $54,230 | 5,980 |
| Michigan | $50,650 | $55,920 | 4,920 |
| Indiana | $50,260 | $53,000 | 3,510 |
| Wisconsin | $50,090 | $54,170 | 3,350 |
| Iowa | $49,710 | $52,070 | 1,770 |
| New Hampshire | $49,670 | $52,730 | 910 |
| Ohio | $49,450 | $54,510 | 5,600 |
| Maryland | $49,120 | $55,650 | 3,750 |
| Oregon | $48,900 | $53,570 | 5,410 |
| Georgia | $48,340 | $50,550 | 2,760 |
| Arizona | $48,250 | $52,480 | 5,210 |
| South Dakota | $48,160 | $47,710 | 670 |
| Kentucky | $48,110 | $51,420 | 1,390 |
| Florida | $47,530 | $48,440 | 22,450 |
| Virginia | $47,470 | $49,110 | 5,930 |
| Nebraska | $47,280 | $46,590 | 1,590 |
| Wyoming | $47,220 | $47,620 | 480 |
| Louisiana | $46,410 | $46,030 | 4,090 |
| New Mexico | $46,240 | $49,380 | 1,010 |
| Utah | $46,050 | $47,690 | 3,510 |
| Kansas | $45,510 | $45,450 | 1,570 |
| Texas | $45,460 | $46,020 | 18,330 |
| Oklahoma | $44,900 | $45,450 | 1,880 |
| Idaho | $44,880 | $45,490 | 2,040 |
| Mississippi | $44,800 | $46,450 | 1,060 |
| West Virginia | $44,230 | $44,770 | 720 |
| North Carolina | $44,110 | $44,900 | 5,220 |
| Alabama | $43,930 | $44,720 | 1,570 |
| Tennessee | $43,230 | $44,590 | 3,040 |
| Rhode Island | $41,590 | $48,150 | 1,160 |
| South Carolina | $40,840 | $42,050 | 2,080 |
| Arkansas | $40,090 | $42,180 | 890 |
Similar jobs
- Hazardous Materials Removal Worker: $49,450
- Insulation Worker: $49,120
- Pipelayer: $49,000
- Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner: $49,880
- Miscellaneous Construction and Related Worker: $49,910
- Rock Splitter: $48,740
- Highway Maintenance Worker: $50,260
- Carpet Installer: $50,340
BLS occupation: Painters, Construction and Maintenance. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 47-2141). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a painter make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $23.75; the average is $26.64.
Which state pays painters the most?
Hawaii ($68,220 median), followed by Illinois and Alaska.
What is the salary range for a painter?
The bottom 10% earn under $37,440 and the top 10% earn over $78,810 a year.
How much is $49,400 after taxes?
About $41,873 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $40,227 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.