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This question is about what a painter does and painter.
No, painters do not get paid well overall. There are painters as laborers, and there are painters as artists. Either way, their pay varies significantly.
The highest-paid painters as artists can earn millions on a single piece. According to a report by NBC News, a piece by social activist and artist Banksy sold in 2018 for $1.4M. After the artwork failed to self-destroy after being purchased, an act of social commentary by Banksy, the half-destroyed art sold again but this time for over $25M.
Banksy is not the norm. The vast majority of painters as artists make little to nothing for their work. The trend is similar among painters as laborers paint structures, fixtures, and furniture.
This may come as a surprise considering how much it can cost to paint a single room in a house. Painters are usually contractors who work for others and make low wages compared to the overall cost of a paint job.
The average annual salary for all painters as laborers is $31,503, which falls far below what is required to meet the cost of living standards in any state. The highest-paid painters as laborers work for themselves.

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