Best Value Cities for Painters — 2026
Akron, Ohio ranks first with an average Painter salary of $59,400 per year ($28.56/hr). Full ranking of 100 cities below, updated August 2026.
Methodology: Wage figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release data vintage (survey reference period May 2025), mapped from SOC occupation 47-2141 Painters, Construction and Maintenance to the job title "Painter". Values are measured survey estimates for the metropolitan metropolitan statistical area (MSA) — not modeled or interpolated. Year-over-year comparisons use the May 2024 OEWS release. The year shown in page titles is the publication and update year, not the data vintage.
Ranked Cities
| City | State | Average Annual Salary | Hourly Rate | Entry Level | Senior Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | Ohio | $59,400 | $28.56/hr | $37,720 | $74,410 |
| St Louis | Missouri | $62,710 | $30.15/hr | $40,430 | $83,380 |
| Chicago | Illinois | $70,720 | $34.00/hr | $44,560 | $109,820 |
| Buffalo | New York | $58,670 | $28.21/hr | $39,040 | $95,930 |
| Detroit | Michigan | $59,230 | $28.48/hr | $39,370 | $76,070 |
| Bakersfield | California | $64,380 | $30.95/hr | $38,650 | $90,860 |
| Syracuse | New York | $55,220 | $26.55/hr | $39,370 | $78,140 |
| Cleveland | Ohio | $55,590 | $26.73/hr | $37,460 | $75,700 |
| Toledo | Ohio | $52,050 | $25.02/hr | $36,430 | $68,950 |
| Des Moines | Iowa | $55,610 | $26.73/hr | $38,550 | $70,190 |
| Jackson | Mississippi | $50,100 | $24.09/hr | $36,920 | $71,950 |
| Hartford | Connecticut | $68,050 | $32.72/hr | $38,480 | $120,820 |
| Rochester | New York | $53,530 | $25.74/hr | $39,970 | $66,680 |
| Columbus | Ohio | $56,980 | $27.39/hr | $38,270 | $77,110 |
| Louisville | Kentucky | $53,620 | $25.78/hr | $37,980 | $64,880 |
| Kansas City | Missouri | $55,910 | $26.88/hr | $37,400 | $75,970 |
| Dayton | Ohio | $51,730 | $24.87/hr | $36,710 | $70,090 |
| Fort Wayne | Indiana | $50,700 | $24.37/hr | $36,070 | $67,930 |
| Spokane | Washington | $55,870 | $26.86/hr | $43,570 | $70,010 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | $53,450 | $25.70/hr | $36,250 | $69,520 |
| Fresno | California | $56,360 | $27.10/hr | $37,630 | $77,010 |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | $60,350 | $29.01/hr | $37,240 | $92,990 |
| Cincinnati | Ohio | $55,030 | $26.46/hr | $38,060 | $71,340 |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin | $56,030 | $26.94/hr | $39,390 | $75,100 |
| Scranton | Pennsylvania | $50,770 | $24.41/hr | $35,460 | $63,670 |
| Grand Rapids | Michigan | $53,030 | $25.50/hr | $34,770 | $72,320 |
| Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | $53,730 | $25.83/hr | $37,730 | $68,160 |
| Madison | Wisconsin | $57,610 | $27.70/hr | $39,470 | $79,750 |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | $53,370 | $25.66/hr | $36,040 | $70,640 |
| York | Pennsylvania | $52,190 | $25.09/hr | $38,890 | $59,700 |
| Baton Rouge | Louisiana | $49,940 | $24.01/hr | $35,640 | $59,330 |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | $48,600 | $23.36/hr | $30,650 | $67,410 |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | $61,110 | $29.38/hr | $41,430 | $101,090 |
| Chattanooga | Tennessee | $48,880 | $23.50/hr | $36,070 | $62,660 |
| Denver | Colorado | $59,700 | $28.70/hr | $46,430 | $80,970 |
| McAllen | Texas | $43,060 | $20.70/hr | $32,440 | $58,150 |
| Mobile | Alabama | $45,260 | $21.76/hr | $35,000 | $57,140 |
| Modesto | California | $55,630 | $26.74/hr | $39,670 | $77,050 |
| Birmingham | Alabama | $46,060 | $22.15/hr | $34,700 | $59,010 |
| Lancaster | Pennsylvania | $51,810 | $24.91/hr | $37,490 | $62,350 |
| Jacksonville | Florida | $49,410 | $23.76/hr | $37,290 | $58,760 |
| Albuquerque | New Mexico | $48,870 | $23.50/hr | $38,180 | $63,440 |
| Palm Bay | Florida | $50,970 | $24.51/hr | $37,810 | $66,200 |
| Phoenix | Arizona | $54,030 | $25.98/hr | $40,780 | $64,610 |
| Ogden | Utah | $51,890 | $24.95/hr | $36,940 | $73,090 |
| Memphis | Tennessee | $45,500 | $21.87/hr | $36,640 | $63,240 |
| Allentown | Pennsylvania | $53,890 | $25.91/hr | $37,440 | $69,350 |
| Worcester | Massachusetts | $57,930 | $27.85/hr | $43,390 | $83,960 |
| Wichita | Kansas | $43,490 | $20.91/hr | $30,630 | $55,380 |
| Omaha | Nebraska | $47,640 | $22.91/hr | $35,610 | $59,640 |
| Colorado Springs | Colorado | $52,650 | $25.31/hr | $38,040 | $75,290 |
| Tucson | Arizona | $48,960 | $23.54/hr | $38,050 | $63,360 |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | $57,810 | $27.79/hr | $37,520 | $76,960 |
| Atlanta | Georgia | $50,460 | $24.26/hr | $37,900 | $59,030 |
| Charleston | South Carolina | $47,780 | $22.97/hr | $35,730 | $68,640 |
| Pensacola | Florida | $45,890 | $22.06/hr | $36,450 | $57,510 |
| Little Rock | Arkansas | $43,240 | $20.79/hr | $29,310 | $54,610 |
| Richmond | Virginia | $47,810 | $22.99/hr | $36,790 | $59,280 |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma | $42,470 | $20.42/hr | $26,140 | $53,110 |
| New Orleans | Louisiana | $46,860 | $22.53/hr | $34,790 | $59,470 |
| Sacramento | California | $62,900 | $30.24/hr | $42,110 | $93,550 |
| Lakeland | Florida | $45,760 | $22.00/hr | $35,100 | $57,430 |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia | $50,180 | $24.13/hr | $34,850 | $72,050 |
| Bridgeport | Connecticut | $62,020 | $29.82/hr | $43,900 | $79,190 |
| Durham | North Carolina | $47,630 | $22.90/hr | $37,690 | $60,070 |
| Houston | Texas | $47,070 | $22.63/hr | $37,460 | $58,390 |
| Riverside | California | $56,890 | $27.35/hr | $38,050 | $82,330 |
| San Antonio | Texas | $44,480 | $21.39/hr | $34,880 | $57,580 |
| Augusta | Georgia | $42,880 | $20.62/hr | $32,000 | $54,570 |
| Columbia | South Carolina | $44,730 | $21.51/hr | $34,810 | $57,770 |
| Salt Lake City | Utah | $50,260 | $24.16/hr | $38,400 | $65,780 |
| Knoxville | Tennessee | $43,370 | $20.85/hr | $34,700 | $59,130 |
| Dallas | Texas | $46,740 | $22.47/hr | $36,300 | $60,370 |
| Cape Coral | Florida | $47,140 | $22.66/hr | $37,310 | $60,090 |
| Stockton | California | $55,630 | $26.75/hr | $38,370 | $76,990 |
| Anchorage | Alaska | $63,040 | $30.31/hr | $43,880 | $81,140 |
| Boston | Massachusetts | $64,910 | $31.21/hr | $45,650 | $109,840 |
| Austin | Texas | $46,990 | $22.59/hr | $39,160 | $59,970 |
| Greensboro | North Carolina | $43,020 | $20.68/hr | $29,390 | $56,410 |
| El Paso | Texas | $38,840 | $18.67/hr | $29,980 | $48,690 |
| Victoria | Texas | $41,820 | $20.11/hr | $36,020 | $57,780 |
| Baltimore | Maryland | $55,410 | $26.64/hr | $39,970 | $80,560 |
| Greenville | South Carolina | $41,790 | $20.09/hr | $29,000 | $56,270 |
| Raleigh | North Carolina | $45,990 | $22.11/hr | $36,830 | $57,920 |
| Nashville | Tennessee | $46,380 | $22.30/hr | $37,100 | $62,140 |
| Charlotte | North Carolina | $45,410 | $21.83/hr | $34,730 | $57,940 |
| Tampa | Florida | $48,180 | $23.16/hr | $36,870 | $58,870 |
| Boise | Idaho | $46,210 | $22.21/hr | $35,150 | $61,860 |
| Portland | Oregon | $56,330 | $27.08/hr | $38,990 | $73,860 |
| Orlando | Florida | $45,980 | $22.11/hr | $35,240 | $61,150 |
| Provo | Utah | $43,610 | $20.97/hr | $31,280 | $58,120 |
| Miami | Florida | $50,610 | $24.33/hr | $37,830 | $65,630 |
| Providence | Rhode Island | $49,870 | $23.97/hr | $31,200 | $75,710 |
| Urban Honolulu | Hawaii | $70,560 | $33.92/hr | $46,770 | $90,270 |
| Seattle | Washington | $62,400 | $30.00/hr | $47,400 | $79,280 |
| Washington | District of Columbia | $55,590 | $26.73/hr | $41,600 | $74,040 |
| New York | New York | $69,930 | $33.62/hr | $45,400 | $111,550 |
| San Diego | California | $59,820 | $28.76/hr | $44,370 | $83,530 |
| Los Angeles | California | $61,800 | $29.71/hr | $42,130 | $85,130 |
| San Francisco | California | $70,530 | $33.91/hr | $48,060 | $100,550 |