Entry-Level Opportunities for Painters — 2026
San Francisco, California ranks first with an average Painter salary of $70,530 per year ($33.91/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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | California | $70,530 | $33.91/hr | $48,060 | $100,550 |
| Seattle | Washington | $62,400 | $30.00/hr | $47,400 | $79,280 |
| Urban Honolulu | Hawaii | $70,560 | $33.92/hr | $46,770 | $90,270 |
| Denver | Colorado | $59,700 | $28.70/hr | $46,430 | $80,970 |
| Boston | Massachusetts | $64,910 | $31.21/hr | $45,650 | $109,840 |
| New York | New York | $69,930 | $33.62/hr | $45,400 | $111,550 |
| Chicago | Illinois | $70,720 | $34.00/hr | $44,560 | $109,820 |
| San Diego | California | $59,820 | $28.76/hr | $44,370 | $83,530 |
| Bridgeport | Connecticut | $62,020 | $29.82/hr | $43,900 | $79,190 |
| Anchorage | Alaska | $63,040 | $30.31/hr | $43,880 | $81,140 |
| Spokane | Washington | $55,870 | $26.86/hr | $43,570 | $70,010 |
| Worcester | Massachusetts | $57,930 | $27.85/hr | $43,390 | $83,960 |
| Los Angeles | California | $61,800 | $29.71/hr | $42,130 | $85,130 |
| Sacramento | California | $62,900 | $30.24/hr | $42,110 | $93,550 |
| Washington | District of Columbia | $55,590 | $26.73/hr | $41,600 | $74,040 |
| Las Vegas | Nevada | $61,110 | $29.38/hr | $41,430 | $101,090 |
| Phoenix | Arizona | $54,030 | $25.98/hr | $40,780 | $64,610 |
| St Louis | Missouri | $62,710 | $30.15/hr | $40,430 | $83,380 |
| Baltimore | Maryland | $55,410 | $26.64/hr | $39,970 | $80,560 |
| Rochester | New York | $53,530 | $25.74/hr | $39,970 | $66,680 |
| Modesto | California | $55,630 | $26.74/hr | $39,670 | $77,050 |
| Madison | Wisconsin | $57,610 | $27.70/hr | $39,470 | $79,750 |
| Milwaukee | Wisconsin | $56,030 | $26.94/hr | $39,390 | $75,100 |
| Detroit | Michigan | $59,230 | $28.48/hr | $39,370 | $76,070 |
| Syracuse | New York | $55,220 | $26.55/hr | $39,370 | $78,140 |
| Austin | Texas | $46,990 | $22.59/hr | $39,160 | $59,970 |
| Buffalo | New York | $58,670 | $28.21/hr | $39,040 | $95,930 |
| Portland | Oregon | $56,330 | $27.08/hr | $38,990 | $73,860 |
| York | Pennsylvania | $52,190 | $25.09/hr | $38,890 | $59,700 |
| Bakersfield | California | $64,380 | $30.95/hr | $38,650 | $90,860 |
| Des Moines | Iowa | $55,610 | $26.73/hr | $38,550 | $70,190 |
| Hartford | Connecticut | $68,050 | $32.72/hr | $38,480 | $120,820 |
| Salt Lake City | Utah | $50,260 | $24.16/hr | $38,400 | $65,780 |
| Stockton | California | $55,630 | $26.75/hr | $38,370 | $76,990 |
| Columbus | Ohio | $56,980 | $27.39/hr | $38,270 | $77,110 |
| Albuquerque | New Mexico | $48,870 | $23.50/hr | $38,180 | $63,440 |
| Cincinnati | Ohio | $55,030 | $26.46/hr | $38,060 | $71,340 |
| Riverside | California | $56,890 | $27.35/hr | $38,050 | $82,330 |
| Tucson | Arizona | $48,960 | $23.54/hr | $38,050 | $63,360 |
| Colorado Springs | Colorado | $52,650 | $25.31/hr | $38,040 | $75,290 |
| Louisville | Kentucky | $53,620 | $25.78/hr | $37,980 | $64,880 |
| Atlanta | Georgia | $50,460 | $24.26/hr | $37,900 | $59,030 |
| Miami | Florida | $50,610 | $24.33/hr | $37,830 | $65,630 |
| Palm Bay | Florida | $50,970 | $24.51/hr | $37,810 | $66,200 |
| Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | $53,730 | $25.83/hr | $37,730 | $68,160 |
| Akron | Ohio | $59,400 | $28.56/hr | $37,720 | $74,410 |
| Durham | North Carolina | $47,630 | $22.90/hr | $37,690 | $60,070 |
| Fresno | California | $56,360 | $27.10/hr | $37,630 | $77,010 |
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | $57,810 | $27.79/hr | $37,520 | $76,960 |
| Lancaster | Pennsylvania | $51,810 | $24.91/hr | $37,490 | $62,350 |
| Cleveland | Ohio | $55,590 | $26.73/hr | $37,460 | $75,700 |
| Houston | Texas | $47,070 | $22.63/hr | $37,460 | $58,390 |
| Allentown | Pennsylvania | $53,890 | $25.91/hr | $37,440 | $69,350 |
| Kansas City | Missouri | $55,910 | $26.88/hr | $37,400 | $75,970 |
| Cape Coral | Florida | $47,140 | $22.66/hr | $37,310 | $60,090 |
| Jacksonville | Florida | $49,410 | $23.76/hr | $37,290 | $58,760 |
| Minneapolis | Minnesota | $60,350 | $29.01/hr | $37,240 | $92,990 |
| Nashville | Tennessee | $46,380 | $22.30/hr | $37,100 | $62,140 |
| Ogden | Utah | $51,890 | $24.95/hr | $36,940 | $73,090 |
| Jackson | Mississippi | $50,100 | $24.09/hr | $36,920 | $71,950 |
| Tampa | Florida | $48,180 | $23.16/hr | $36,870 | $58,870 |
| Raleigh | North Carolina | $45,990 | $22.11/hr | $36,830 | $57,920 |
| Richmond | Virginia | $47,810 | $22.99/hr | $36,790 | $59,280 |
| Dayton | Ohio | $51,730 | $24.87/hr | $36,710 | $70,090 |
| Memphis | Tennessee | $45,500 | $21.87/hr | $36,640 | $63,240 |
| Pensacola | Florida | $45,890 | $22.06/hr | $36,450 | $57,510 |
| Toledo | Ohio | $52,050 | $25.02/hr | $36,430 | $68,950 |
| Dallas | Texas | $46,740 | $22.47/hr | $36,300 | $60,370 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | $53,450 | $25.70/hr | $36,250 | $69,520 |
| Chattanooga | Tennessee | $48,880 | $23.50/hr | $36,070 | $62,660 |
| Fort Wayne | Indiana | $50,700 | $24.37/hr | $36,070 | $67,930 |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | $53,370 | $25.66/hr | $36,040 | $70,640 |
| Victoria | Texas | $41,820 | $20.11/hr | $36,020 | $57,780 |
| Charleston | South Carolina | $47,780 | $22.97/hr | $35,730 | $68,640 |
| Baton Rouge | Louisiana | $49,940 | $24.01/hr | $35,640 | $59,330 |
| Omaha | Nebraska | $47,640 | $22.91/hr | $35,610 | $59,640 |
| Scranton | Pennsylvania | $50,770 | $24.41/hr | $35,460 | $63,670 |
| Orlando | Florida | $45,980 | $22.11/hr | $35,240 | $61,150 |
| Boise | Idaho | $46,210 | $22.21/hr | $35,150 | $61,860 |
| Lakeland | Florida | $45,760 | $22.00/hr | $35,100 | $57,430 |
| Mobile | Alabama | $45,260 | $21.76/hr | $35,000 | $57,140 |
| San Antonio | Texas | $44,480 | $21.39/hr | $34,880 | $57,580 |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia | $50,180 | $24.13/hr | $34,850 | $72,050 |
| Columbia | South Carolina | $44,730 | $21.51/hr | $34,810 | $57,770 |
| New Orleans | Louisiana | $46,860 | $22.53/hr | $34,790 | $59,470 |
| Grand Rapids | Michigan | $53,030 | $25.50/hr | $34,770 | $72,320 |
| Charlotte | North Carolina | $45,410 | $21.83/hr | $34,730 | $57,940 |
| Birmingham | Alabama | $46,060 | $22.15/hr | $34,700 | $59,010 |
| Knoxville | Tennessee | $43,370 | $20.85/hr | $34,700 | $59,130 |
| McAllen | Texas | $43,060 | $20.70/hr | $32,440 | $58,150 |
| Augusta | Georgia | $42,880 | $20.62/hr | $32,000 | $54,570 |
| Provo | Utah | $43,610 | $20.97/hr | $31,280 | $58,120 |
| Providence | Rhode Island | $49,870 | $23.97/hr | $31,200 | $75,710 |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | $48,600 | $23.36/hr | $30,650 | $67,410 |
| Wichita | Kansas | $43,490 | $20.91/hr | $30,630 | $55,380 |
| El Paso | Texas | $38,840 | $18.67/hr | $29,980 | $48,690 |
| Greensboro | North Carolina | $43,020 | $20.68/hr | $29,390 | $56,410 |
| Little Rock | Arkansas | $43,240 | $20.79/hr | $29,310 | $54,610 |
| Greenville | South Carolina | $41,790 | $20.09/hr | $29,000 | $56,270 |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma | $42,470 | $20.42/hr | $26,140 | $53,110 |