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The average industrial painter salary in the United States is around $40,076 per year. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, experience level, and specific industry sectors. For instance, industrial painters in states like California and Texas often earn higher wages due to increased demand.
Entry-level industrial painters typically start at lower salary ranges, around $30,000 annually, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $50,000 or more. Specialized skills, such as knowledge of specific coatings and surface preparation techniques, can significantly enhance earning potential.
As industries continue to grow, the demand for skilled industrial painters is expected to rise. Opportunities can be found in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and automotive. Job seekers should consider applying through platforms like Zippia, which provide access to a wide range of listings tailored to their skills and location.
Let Zippia find your next industrial painter job
Let Zippia find your next industrial painter job
The highest-paying states for industrial painters are New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. The lowest average industrial painter salary states are Hawaii, South Dakota, and Mississippi.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $56,189 | $27.01 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $43,487 | $20.91 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $47,923 | $23.04 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $48,247 | $23.20 |
| 5 | Ohio | $41,281 | $19.85 |
| 6 | Vermont | $44,981 | $21.63 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $47,956 | $23.06 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $56,031 | $26.94 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $46,214 | $22.22 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $41,743 | $20.07 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $53,663 | $25.80 |
| 12 | Maine | $41,611 | $20.01 |
| 13 | Missouri | $41,437 | $19.92 |
| 14 | Illinois | $45,028 | $21.65 |
| 15 | Delaware | $44,876 | $21.57 |
| 16 | Michigan | $40,272 | $19.36 |
| 17 | Indiana | $38,336 | $18.43 |
| 18 | New York | $47,338 | $22.76 |
| 19 | Virginia | $43,914 | $21.11 |
| 20 | Washington | $42,764 | $20.56 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $39,416 | $18.95 |
| 22 | Iowa | $36,626 | $17.61 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $38,143 | $18.34 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $40,275 | $19.36 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $40,524 | $19.48 |
| 26 | South Carolina | $35,462 | $17.05 |
| 27 | Utah | $35,250 | $16.95 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $34,088 | $16.39 |
| 29 | Arizona | $38,441 | $18.48 |
| 30 | California | $41,854 | $20.12 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $36,581 | $17.59 |
| 32 | Maryland | $42,725 | $20.54 |
| 33 | Colorado | $39,968 | $19.22 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $34,298 | $16.49 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $34,496 | $16.58 |
| 36 | Montana | $36,518 | $17.56 |
| 37 | Georgia | $34,991 | $16.82 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $34,742 | $16.70 |
| 39 | Alabama | $33,497 | $16.10 |
| 40 | Alaska | $35,141 | $16.89 |
| 41 | Florida | $36,178 | $17.39 |
| 42 | Kansas | $34,276 | $16.48 |
| 43 | Oregon | $38,072 | $18.30 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $33,842 | $16.27 |
| 45 | Idaho | $32,912 | $15.82 |
| 46 | Nevada | $35,530 | $17.08 |
| 47 | Texas | $35,092 | $16.87 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $34,262 | $16.47 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $31,560 | $15.17 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $34,243 | $16.46 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $34,152 | $16.42 |
The highest-paying cities for industrial painters are Newark, NJ, Lancaster, PA, and Mankato, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, NJ | $55,940 | $26.89 |
| 2 | Lancaster, PA | $48,328 | $23.23 |
| 3 | Mankato, MN | $45,774 | $22.01 |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $43,737 | $21.03 |
| 5 | Euclid, OH | $42,928 | $20.64 |
| 6 | Redmond, WA | $42,750 | $20.55 |
| 7 | Quincy, IL | $42,331 | $20.35 |
| 8 | Saint Louis, MO | $42,196 | $20.29 |
| 9 | Roanoke, VA | $40,588 | $19.51 |
| 10 | Broomfield, CO | $39,898 | $19.18 |
| 11 | Fort Wayne, IN | $39,418 | $18.95 |
| 12 | Eugene, OR | $38,756 | $18.63 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $37,080 | $17.83 |
| 14 | Burlington, IA | $36,837 | $17.71 |
| 15 | Rock Hill, SC | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| 16 | Houston, TX | $35,554 | $17.09 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $35,242 | $16.94 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $34,930 | $16.79 |
| 19 | Oklahoma City, OK | $34,826 | $16.74 |
| 20 | Chattanooga, TN | $34,482 | $16.58 |
An industrial painter's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $64,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| Average | $40,076 | $3,340 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
The highest paying types of industrial painters are painter foreman, interior decorator, painting, and auto customize painter.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painter Apprentice | $37,030 | $3,086 | $17.80 | 9,612 |
| Painter Helper | $32,449 | $2,704 | $15.60 | 17,183 |
| Journeyman Painter | $40,885 | $3,407 | $19.66 | 8,020 |
| Painter | $42,339 | $3,528 | $20.36 | 4,482 |
| Lead Painter | $40,823 | $3,402 | $19.63 | 5,163 |
| Blaster/Painter | $41,168 | $3,431 | $19.79 | 4,146 |
Top companies hiring industrial painters now:
Industrial painter salaries at Jacobs Engineering Group and Elma Electronic are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average industrial painter salary at companies like Covanta and Johnson Controls are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $72,154 | $34.69 |
| 2 | Elma Electronic | $67,129 | $32.27 |
| 3 | Covanta | $53,300 | $25.63 |
| 4 | Johnson Controls | $49,991 | $24.03 |
| 5 | Great Basin College | $48,688 | $23.41 |
| 6 | GOJO Industries | $48,344 | $23.24 |
| 7 | EMCOR Group | $47,248 | $22.72 |
| 8 | AAON | $46,695 | $22.45 |
| 9 | Watco | $46,675 | $22.44 |
| 10 | Textron | $46,658 | $22.43 |
| 11 | Conductix-Wampfler | $46,154 | $22.19 |
| 12 | Barry-Wehmiller | $45,202 | $21.73 |
| 13 | Tenneco | $45,059 | $21.66 |
| 14 | BAE Systems | $44,503 | $21.40 |
| 15 | CTG | $44,337 | $21.32 |
| 16 | Oshkosh | $43,907 | $21.11 |
| 17 | Steffes | $43,575 | $20.95 |
| 18 | Stanley Black & Decker | $42,397 | $20.38 |
| 19 | Plasser American | $42,129 | $20.25 |
| 20 | Eaton | $42,127 | $20.25 |
The average industrial painter salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $42,021 | $20.20 |
| 2 | Energy | $40,775 | $19.60 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $40,071 | $19.26 |
| 4 | Construction | $37,766 | $18.16 |
| 5 | Real Estate | $34,745 | $16.70 |
The average industrial painter salary has risen by $6,373 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average industrial painter earned $33,703 annually, but today, they earn $40,076 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for industrial painters over the last decade.
Compare industrial painter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare industrial painter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,100 | $19.27 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $38,300 | $18.42 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $37,000 | $17.81 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | $36,100 | $17.36 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | $35,700 | $17.18 | +2.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donaldson Company | Industrial Painter-2Nd Shift | Nicholasville, KY | 06/30/2025 | $45,142 |
| Maintainer Corp of Iowa | Industrial Painter | Sheldon, IA | 06/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| Aerotek | Industrial Painter | Cherry Valley, IL | 06/28/2025 | $56,662 |
| Aerotek | Industrial Painter Needed-Urjently-Paying . | McConnellsburg, PA | 06/28/2025 | $47,320 |
| Pierce Manufacturing | Industrial Painter, 1St. Shift | Riceville, IA | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Pierce Manufacturing | Industrial Painter, 1St. Shift | Dodge Center, MN | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. | 2Nd Shift Industrial Painter-Pay Starts at | Berea, OH | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aerotek | Industrial Painter | Saint Paul, MN | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aerotek | Industrial Painter | Snyder, NE | 06/26/2025 | $49,920 |
| Aerotek | Industrial Painter | Jacksonville, FL | 06/26/2025 | $37,566 |
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