Research Summary. In 2026, the Zippia data science team conducted thorough research to present the current painter salaries by state across the United States:
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New Jersey offers the highest average salary for painters at $56,758.
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Alaska has the lowest average salary for painters at $30,989.
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The national average salary for painters stands at $42,339.
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The national hourly wage for painters is $20.36.
For more details, visit our methodology page.
Background
Salary remains a primary concern for job seekers, consistently ranking as the most important factor in job satisfaction. Painters often ask, “What can I expect to earn in my area?” While individual salaries may vary, our data provides a reliable overview of average painter salaries by state, accounting for factors like experience and location. The state with the highest average salary for painters is New Jersey.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for painter salaries in 2026:
Let’s explore how we arrived at these figures and see the full ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Painters By State
| Rank | State | Average Painter Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $56,758 | $38,000 | $83,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $55,761 | $38,000 | $79,000 |
| 3 | California | $54,515 | $35,000 | $83,000 |
| 4 | New York | $51,997 | $35,000 | $76,000 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $50,311 | $34,000 | $72,000 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $48,733 | $33,000 | $70,000 |
| 7 | Illinois | $48,696 | $34,000 | $68,000 |
| 8 | Vermont | $47,352 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $47,150 | $34,000 | $64,000 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $46,070 | $31,000 | $67,000 |
| 11 | Delaware | $45,718 | $30,000 | $67,000 |
| 12 | Missouri | $45,336 | $32,000 | $63,000 |
| 13 | Washington | $44,456 | $31,000 | $63,000 |
| 14 | Maryland | $44,323 | $29,000 | $65,000 |
| 15 | Virginia | $44,242 | $29,000 | $65,000 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $44,115 | $31,000 | $61,000 |
| 17 | Maine | $43,804 | $31,000 | $60,000 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $43,435 | $31,000 | $59,000 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $43,289 | $32,000 | $58,000 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $42,521 | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| 21 | Nevada | $41,706 | $27,000 | $62,000 |
| 22 | Ohio | $41,665 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 23 | Michigan | $41,473 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 24 | Alabama | $41,228 | $28,000 | $59,000 |
| 25 | Arizona | $41,019 | $28,000 | $59,000 |
| 26 | Georgia | $40,879 | $28,000 | $58,000 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $40,770 | $28,000 | $58,000 |
| 28 | Oregon | $40,219 | $27,000 | $58,000 |
| 29 | Colorado | $39,939 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $39,464 | $26,000 | $58,000 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $39,426 | $27,000 | $57,000 |
| 32 | Indiana | $39,198 | $27,000 | $55,000 |
| 33 | Utah | $38,949 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $38,561 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $38,557 | $26,000 | $56,000 |
| 36 | Iowa | $37,878 | $27,000 | $52,000 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $37,670 | $26,000 | $53,000 |
| 38 | Montana | $37,567 | $27,000 | $50,000 |
| 39 | Florida | $37,498 | $25,000 | $55,000 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $37,471 | $26,000 | $53,000 |
| 41 | Texas | $36,885 | $24,000 | $54,000 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $36,704 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 43 | Kansas | $36,368 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $36,344 | $26,000 | $49,000 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $35,656 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $35,279 | $24,000 | $50,000 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $35,231 | $24,000 | $50,000 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $34,924 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 49 | Idaho | $32,873 | $23,000 | $46,000 |
| 50 | Alaska | $30,989 | $26,000 | $36,000 |
Methodology: Painter Salary By State
To assess painter salaries by state, Zippia compiled data from various reliable sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We also incorporated actual salaries from job postings. Our data science team then calculated a weighted average to determine the average pay for painters in each state.
Using this average annual salary data, we ranked the states based on the highest average salary for painters.
Painter Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for painters?
The highest-paid state for painters remains New Jersey, with an average salary of $56,758 per year.
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What city pays painters the most?
Sacramento, CA continues to lead in painter salaries, offering an average of $58,537 per year.
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What is the worst state for painters?
The state with the lowest average pay for painters is Alaska, averaging $30,989 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
