Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Painters, construction and maintenance (SOC 47-2141) employed 225,190 people in May 2025. The median pay is $49,400 a year ($23.75 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,440 and the highest-paid 10% more than $78,810. BLS projects its employment to change by +3.0% between 2025 and 2035 (about 24,900 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: No formal educational credential.
Highest median pay: Hawaii ($68,220), Illinois ($61,260), Alaska ($60,980). Most jobs: California (38,430), Florida (22,450), Texas (18,330).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| 25th percentile | $44,640 | $21.46 |
| Median | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Mean | $55,420 | $26.64 |
| 75th percentile | $61,660 | $29.64 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $78,810 | $37.89 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 326,900 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 336,700 |
| Change in jobs | 9,800 |
| Percent change | +3.0% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 24,900 |
| Self-employed share | 31.3% |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,570 | 0.51 | $43,930 | $34,190 | $57,490 | -11% | 29% |
| Alaska | 440 | 0.94 | $60,980 | $43,880 | $85,440 | +23% | 28% |
| Arizona | 5,210 | 1.11 | $48,250 | $40,180 | $63,640 | -2% | 42% |
| Arkansas | 890 | 0.47 | $40,090 | $31,150 | $54,610 | -19% | 29% |
| California | 38,430 | 1.46 | $59,020 | $42,130 | $91,000 | +19% | 43% |
| Colorado | 3,480 | 0.84 | $52,970 | $40,570 | $77,710 | +7% | 41% |
| Connecticut | 2,230 | 0.91 | $58,480 | $40,120 | $92,390 | +18% | 32% |
| Delaware | 480 | 0.68 | $58,530 | $35,070 | $70,350 | +18% | 31% |
| District of Columbia | 500 | 0.49 | $59,520 | $46,780 | $81,390 | +20% | 39% |
| Florida | 22,450 | 1.56 | $47,530 | $36,700 | $61,300 | -4% | 46% |
| Georgia | 2,760 | 0.39 | $48,340 | $36,690 | $68,060 | -2% | 37% |
| Hawaii | 1,900 | 2.09 | $68,220 | $47,090 | $90,830 | +38% | 34% |
| Idaho | 2,040 | 1.64 | $44,880 | $34,390 | $60,890 | -9% | 37% |
| Illinois | 6,820 | 0.77 | $61,260 | $40,820 | $105,350 | +24% | 26% |
| Indiana | 3,510 | 0.76 | $50,260 | $36,410 | $69,520 | +2% | 26% |
| Iowa | 1,770 | 0.78 | $49,710 | $37,080 | $67,010 | +1% | 24% |
| Kansas | 1,570 | 0.75 | $45,510 | $33,780 | $58,510 | -8% | 28% |
| Kentucky | 1,390 | 0.48 | $48,110 | $35,900 | $64,720 | -3% | 25% |
| Louisiana | 4,090 | 1.46 | $46,410 | $32,000 | $59,330 | -6% | 28% |
| Maine | 2,120 | 2.29 | $59,270 | $47,320 | $75,530 | +20% | 24% |
| Maryland | 3,750 | 0.94 | $49,120 | $40,560 | $78,050 | -1% | 42% |
| Massachusetts | 4,430 | 0.84 | $57,510 | $43,520 | $109,850 | +16% | 39% |
| Michigan | 4,920 | 0.77 | $50,650 | $37,440 | $75,670 | +3% | 28% |
| Minnesota | 3,810 | 0.89 | $57,270 | $36,460 | $87,970 | +16% | 27% |
| Mississippi | 1,060 | 0.63 | $44,800 | $34,530 | $64,720 | -9% | 27% |
| Missouri | 3,980 | 0.94 | $57,510 | $39,150 | $79,600 | +16% | 22% |
| Montana | 920 | 1.24 | $58,290 | $35,160 | $69,510 | +18% | 24% |
| Nebraska | 1,590 | 1.07 | $47,280 | $33,410 | $57,990 | -4% | 28% |
| Nevada | 4,120 | 1.84 | $56,390 | $41,430 | $98,190 | +14% | 36% |
| New Hampshire | 910 | 0.92 | $49,670 | $40,830 | $63,530 | +1% | 38% |
| New Jersey | 4,110 | 0.66 | $59,250 | $37,680 | $95,950 | +20% | 36% |
| New Mexico | 1,010 | 0.80 | $46,240 | $37,760 | $70,560 | -6% | 29% |
| New York | 13,040 | 0.93 | $59,570 | $45,660 | $111,550 | +21% | 33% |
| North Carolina | 5,220 | 0.73 | $44,110 | $33,410 | $58,300 | -11% | 36% |
| North Dakota | 420 | 0.68 | $54,870 | $36,840 | $78,290 | +11% | 21% |
| Ohio | 5,600 | 0.70 | $49,450 | $37,060 | $74,400 | +0% | 26% |
| Oklahoma | 1,880 | 0.76 | $44,900 | $30,650 | $67,410 | -9% | 28% |
| Oregon | 5,410 | 1.90 | $48,900 | $38,260 | $73,560 | -1% | 39% |
| Pennsylvania | 5,980 | 0.68 | $52,120 | $37,250 | $72,230 | +6% | 29% |
| Rhode Island | 1,160 | 1.60 | $41,590 | $31,200 | $64,410 | -16% | 41% |
| South Carolina | 2,080 | 0.62 | $40,840 | $27,240 | $57,520 | -17% | 37% |
| South Dakota | 670 | 1.01 | $48,160 | $35,900 | $59,560 | -3% | 25% |
| Tennessee | 3,040 | 0.64 | $43,230 | $35,110 | $61,030 | -12% | 36% |
| Texas | 18,330 | 0.90 | $45,460 | $35,870 | $58,910 | -8% | 39% |
| Utah | 3,510 | 1.40 | $46,050 | $36,220 | $65,780 | -7% | 42% |
| Vermont | 550 | 1.26 | $53,120 | $48,060 | $64,000 | +8% | 30% |
| Virginia | 5,930 | 1.00 | $47,470 | $36,400 | $63,310 | -4% | 42% |
| Washington | 9,510 | 1.85 | $59,650 | $45,450 | $80,330 | +21% | 37% |
| West Virginia | 720 | 0.70 | $44,230 | $29,200 | $63,640 | -10% | 24% |
| Wisconsin | 3,350 | 0.79 | $50,090 | $37,870 | $75,040 | +1% | 27% |
| Wyoming | 480 | 1.19 | $47,220 | $31,360 | $62,580 | -4% | 25% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,390 | $66,160 | $46,770 | $90,270 | 2.14 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 810 | $65,080 | $49,450 | $92,330 | 5.94 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,310 | $63,600 | $48,060 | $100,550 | 1.54 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,550 | $63,120 | $49,450 | $75,530 | 3.70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 730 | $62,790 | $47,070 | $94,970 | 2.46 |
| Vallejo, CA | 410 | $62,370 | $47,960 | $99,170 | 1.95 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,410 | $61,970 | $48,700 | $96,690 | 1.47 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 5,480 | $61,740 | $44,560 | $109,820 | 0.84 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 11,930 | $61,420 | $45,400 | $111,550 | 0.87 |
| Salinas, CA | 520 | $60,860 | $42,350 | $78,500 | 1.93 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,710 | $60,850 | $37,240 | $92,990 | 0.96 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 5,140 | $60,440 | $47,400 | $79,280 | 1.70 |
| Anchorage, AK | 330 | $60,360 | $43,880 | $81,140 | 1.28 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 2,350 | $59,810 | $40,430 | $83,380 | 1.21 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 480 | $59,590 | $43,900 | $79,190 | 0.82 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 2,410 | $59,510 | $42,110 | $93,550 | 1.54 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 400 | $59,120 | $38,870 | $102,200 | 2.25 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 12,100 | $59,080 | $42,130 | $85,130 | 1.33 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 520 | $58,990 | $38,740 | $93,410 | 2.77 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 420 | $58,730 | $43,390 | $79,000 | 2.30 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 520 | $58,540 | $38,650 | $90,860 | 1.05 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 630 | $58,520 | $38,480 | $120,820 | 0.73 |
| New Haven, CT | 340 | $58,490 | $38,980 | $80,960 | 0.85 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,670 | $58,070 | $46,430 | $80,970 | 0.72 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,220 | $57,820 | $45,650 | $109,840 | 0.82 |
| Akron, OH | 460 | $57,560 | $37,720 | $74,410 | 0.99 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 620 | $57,410 | $38,550 | $70,190 | 1.05 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,360 | $57,410 | $37,520 | $76,960 | 0.80 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 3,030 | $57,360 | $41,430 | $101,090 | 1.84 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 700 | $57,050 | $43,570 | $70,010 | 1.90 |
| Madison, WI | 520 | $56,490 | $39,470 | $79,750 | 0.88 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 870 | $56,420 | $40,420 | $78,150 | 3.00 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,920 | $56,330 | $39,370 | $76,070 | 0.70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 4,040 | $55,970 | $44,370 | $83,530 | 1.81 |
| Worcester, MA | 300 | $54,240 | $43,390 | $83,960 | 0.60 |
| Reno, NV | 910 | $54,060 | $43,760 | $71,210 | 2.28 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 950 | $53,460 | $38,560 | $78,450 | 2.02 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 750 | $53,340 | $39,040 | $95,930 | 0.97 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,540 | $53,280 | $38,990 | $73,860 | 2.02 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 460 | $52,940 | $34,210 | $85,330 | 1.89 |
| Fresno, CA | 680 | $52,700 | $37,630 | $77,010 | 0.98 |
| Columbus, OH | 980 | $51,810 | $38,270 | $77,110 | 0.61 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 480 | $51,650 | $42,280 | $76,760 | 0.74 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 1,250 | $50,900 | $36,250 | $69,520 | 0.78 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 310 | $50,880 | $37,440 | $69,350 | 0.57 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,140 | $50,620 | $39,390 | $75,100 | 0.96 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,380 | $50,560 | $41,600 | $74,040 | 0.96 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 310 | $50,420 | $39,660 | $78,500 | 0.81 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 590 | $50,290 | $38,370 | $76,990 | 1.42 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 890 | $50,170 | $38,060 | $71,340 | 0.56 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 1,330 | $50,070 | $37,400 | $75,970 | 0.84 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,110 | $49,590 | $37,460 | $75,700 | 0.74 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,340 | $49,570 | $37,900 | $59,030 | 0.32 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,260 | $49,490 | $36,040 | $70,640 | 0.78 |
| Lancaster, PA | 430 | $49,430 | $37,490 | $62,350 | 1.19 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 400 | $49,400 | $35,560 | $72,230 | 1.72 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 1,110 | $49,130 | $35,640 | $59,330 | 1.88 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 460 | $49,100 | $37,810 | $66,200 | 1.30 |
| Modesto, CA | 480 | $48,960 | $39,670 | $77,050 | 1.71 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 590 | $48,920 | $37,980 | $64,880 | 0.59 |
The median is $49,400 a year ($23.75 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,440 and the highest-paid tenth over $78,810 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
225,190 in May 2025, and BLS projects +3.0% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: No formal educational credential (BLS).
Hawaii, with a median of $68,220 (among states with published figures).