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The average salary for a painter apprentice is approximately $37,030 per year, which translates to about $18 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors including geographic location, level of experience, and the specific industry of employment.
As a painter apprentice, earnings can vary significantly. Entry-level positions typically start at lower salaries while experienced apprentices can command higher wages, especially in states with a higher demand for skilled labor.
States such as California, New York, and Texas often offer higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living. For instance, apprentices in urban areas may see salaries that exceed the national average.
Various salary estimates indicate that a painter apprentice's earnings can be influenced by certification and specialized training. Local unions and trade schools often provide resources to help apprentices improve their skills and increase their earning potential.
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The average painter apprentice salary in California, New Jersey, and Minnesota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average painter apprentice salary states are Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | $40,850 | $19.64 |
| 2 | Maine | $39,671 | $19.07 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $44,666 | $21.47 |
| 4 | Vermont | $42,520 | $20.44 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $41,306 | $19.86 |
| 6 | Missouri | $39,038 | $18.77 |
| 7 | California | $48,379 | $23.26 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $45,116 | $21.69 |
| 9 | Montana | $37,472 | $18.02 |
| 10 | Washington | $40,867 | $19.65 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $42,382 | $20.38 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $39,707 | $19.09 |
| 13 | Ohio | $36,849 | $17.72 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $43,733 | $21.03 |
| 15 | New York | $42,688 | $20.52 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $47,266 | $22.72 |
| 17 | Iowa | $35,173 | $16.91 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $39,275 | $18.88 |
| 19 | Virginia | $38,589 | $18.55 |
| 20 | Indiana | $34,959 | $16.81 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $39,848 | $19.16 |
| 22 | Colorado | $38,674 | $18.59 |
| 23 | Illinois | $40,678 | $19.56 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $33,190 | $15.96 |
| 25 | Utah | $34,283 | $16.48 |
| 26 | Oregon | $35,991 | $17.30 |
| 27 | Michigan | $36,579 | $17.59 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $37,083 | $17.83 |
| 29 | Nevada | $34,134 | $16.41 |
| 30 | Idaho | $32,959 | $15.85 |
| 31 | Alaska | $33,573 | $16.14 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $32,676 | $15.71 |
| 33 | Delaware | $37,391 | $17.98 |
| 34 | Maryland | $38,119 | $18.33 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $34,565 | $16.62 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $31,750 | $15.26 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $32,413 | $15.58 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $32,062 | $15.41 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $30,662 | $14.74 |
| 40 | Kansas | $32,674 | $15.71 |
| 41 | Arizona | $31,604 | $15.19 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $31,621 | $15.20 |
| 43 | Texas | $31,166 | $14.98 |
| 44 | Georgia | $32,072 | $15.42 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $31,479 | $15.13 |
| 46 | Florida | $31,977 | $15.37 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $27,814 | $13.37 |
| 48 | Alabama | $30,651 | $14.74 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $28,129 | $13.52 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $29,375 | $14.12 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $28,140 | $13.53 |
The highest-paying cities for painter apprentices are Santa Rosa, CA, Atlantic City, NJ, and Barnstable Town, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $49,734 | $23.91 |
| 2 | Atlantic City, NJ | $44,995 | $21.63 |
| 3 | Barnstable Town, MA | $43,979 | $21.14 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $42,755 | $20.56 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $40,921 | $19.67 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $39,955 | $19.21 |
| 7 | Farmington, CT | $39,758 | $19.11 |
| 8 | Normal, IL | $39,545 | $19.01 |
| 9 | Fort Collins, CO | $38,720 | $18.62 |
| 10 | Bozeman, MT | $37,268 | $17.92 |
| 11 | Salem, OR | $36,048 | $17.33 |
| 12 | West Valley City, UT | $34,264 | $16.47 |
| 13 | Twin Falls, ID | $32,839 | $15.79 |
| 14 | Knoxville, TN | $32,392 | $15.57 |
| 15 | Doral, FL | $32,379 | $15.57 |
| 16 | Tempe, AZ | $31,629 | $15.21 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $31,245 | $15.02 |
A painter apprentice's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $47,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $37,030 | $3,086 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
The highest paying types of painter apprentices are painter foreman, mason, and painter.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason | $43,974 | $3,664 | $21.14 | 15,057 |
| Tile Setter | $40,363 | $3,364 | $19.41 | 6,365 |
| Industrial Painter | $40,076 | $3,340 | $19.27 | 12,353 |
| Journeyman Painter | $40,885 | $3,407 | $19.66 | 8,020 |
| Blaster/Painter | $41,168 | $3,431 | $19.79 | 4,146 |
| Spray Painter | $40,155 | $3,346 | $19.31 | 4,325 |
Top companies hiring painter apprentices now:
Painter apprentice salaries at Comtech Telecommunications and Abel Construction are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average painter apprentice salary at companies like Prospec Limited and Colossal Media are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comtech Telecommunications | $44,662 | $21.47 |
| 2 | Abel Construction | $39,146 | $18.82 |
| 3 | Prospec Limited | $38,925 | $18.71 |
| 4 | Colossal Media | $37,669 | $18.11 |
| 5 | Tradesmen International | $37,034 | $17.80 |
| 6 | CIT Trucks | $35,936 | $17.28 |
| 7 | Sunset Honda | $34,060 | $16.38 |
| 8 | Six Flags | $27,256 | $13.10 |
The average painter apprentice salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $37,857 | $18.20 |
| 2 | Energy | $37,518 | $18.04 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $36,637 | $17.61 |
| 4 | Media | $35,892 | $17.26 |
| 5 | Hospitality | $35,091 | $16.87 |
| 6 | Education | $33,338 | $16.03 |
The average painter apprentice salary has risen by $5,889 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average painter apprentice earned $31,141 annually, but today, they earn $37,030 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for painter apprentices over the last decade.
Compare painter apprentice salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare painter apprentice salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $37,000 | $17.80 | +4.4% |
| 2025 | $35,400 | $17.02 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $34,200 | $16.45 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $33,400 | $16.04 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | $33,000 | $15.88 | +2.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen Square Management | Painter Apprentice | Naples, FL | 06/24/2025 | $41,740 |
| Webfoot Painting Co | Painters and Apprentices | Bend, OR | 06/23/2025 | $39,653 |
| Pearl Painters | Painter Apprentice | Portland, OR | 06/21/2025 | $35,479 |
| Sts Construction | Apprentice Painters | Seattle, WA | 06/20/2025 | $45,914 |
| Nolan Painting | Painter Apprentice | Southampton, PA | 06/03/2025 | $35,479 |
| Kennedy Painting | Painter Apprentice | Saint Louis, MO | 05/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Nolan Painting | Painter Apprentice | Lansdale, PA | 05/04/2025 | $35,479 |
| The Juilliard School | Production Apprentice, Scenic Paints | New York, NY | 04/28/2025 | $27,128 |
| Lyons Painting & Design, LLC | Painter Apprentice | Poulsbo, WA | 04/26/2025 | $34,436 |
| Stewart Painting | Painter Apprentice | Hingham, MA | 04/18/2025 | $35,479 |
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