Painter demographics and statistics in the US
Painter demographics research summary. Zippia estimates painter demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our painter estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about painters after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 206,202 painters currently employed in the United States.
- 13.8% of all painters are women, while 86.2% are men.
- The average painter age is 42 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of painters is White (54.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (28.6%), Black or African American (9.2%) and Unknown (4.6%).
- Painters are most in-demand in Houston, TX.
- The energy industry is the highest-paying for painters.
- Sacramento, CA pays an annual average wage of $58,537, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women painters earned 93% of what men earned.
- 5% of all painters are LGBT.
- New Jersey is the best state for painters to live.
- Painters are 71% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Painter demographics by:
Painter gender statistics
13.8% of painters are women and 86.2% of painters are men.
- Male, 86.2%
- Female, 13.8%
Painter gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 86.2% |
| Female | 13.8% |
Painter gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$42,801
Female income
$39,956
Painter gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in painter positions over time. Currently, 13.8% of painters are female.
Painter gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 90.13% | 9.87% |
| 2011 | 90.66% | 9.34% |
| 2012 | 90.81% | 9.19% |
| 2013 | 91.37% | 8.63% |
| 2014 | 89.81% | 10.19% |
| 2015 | 91.01% | 8.99% |
| 2016 | 89.98% | 10.02% |
| 2017 | 89.23% | 10.77% |
| 2018 | 88.42% | 11.58% |
| 2019 | 86.74% | 13.26% |
| 2020 | 88.39% | 11.61% |
| 2021 | 86.19% | 13.81% |
Painter related jobs gender ratio
We compared painters with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, water softener installer and insulation worker have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Composition Floor Setter | 34% | 66% |
| Painter | 86% | 14% |
| Gas Fitter | 97% | 3% |
| Insulation Worker | 97% | 2% |
| Water Softener Installer | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Painter demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among painters is White, which makes up 54.6% of all painters. Comparatively, 28.6% of painters are Hispanic or Latino and 9.2% of painters are Black or African American.
- White, 54.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 28.6%
- Black or African American, 9.2%
- Unknown, 4.6%
- Asian, 2.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Painter race
| Painter race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 54.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 28.6% |
| Black or African American | 9.2% |
| Unknown | 4.6% |
| Asian | 2.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Painter race and ethnicity over time
See how painter racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Painter race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 65.87% | 10.65% | 2.01% | 19.14% |
| 2011 | 65.59% | 11.65% | 1.97% | 18.51% |
| 2012 | 65.87% | 11.28% | 1.97% | 18.19% |
| 2013 | 65.32% | 10.78% | 1.89% | 19.63% |
| 2014 | 64.36% | 10.15% | 2.21% | 20.93% |
| 2015 | 62.87% | 9.87% | 1.73% | 23.23% |
| 2016 | 62.13% | 9.78% | 1.97% | 22.88% |
| 2017 | 63.41% | 8.98% | 1.78% | 22.87% |
| 2018 | 62.82% | 9.08% | 1.92% | 23.76% |
| 2019 | 61.29% | 10.06% | 1.92% | 24.27% |
| 2020 | 60.70% | 9.59% | 2.05% | 22.62% |
| 2021 | 54.58% | 9.23% | 2.10% | 28.59% |
Painter wage gap by race
According to our data, asian painters have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino painters have the lowest average salary at $41,491.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $42,835 |
| White | $44,068 |
| Black or African American | $41,527 |
| Asian | $44,167 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $41,491 |
Average painter age
See how the average age of painters varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Painter age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 50 | |
| Unknown | 38 | |
| Asian | 51 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 40.5 | 36 |
| White | 45 | 43.5 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 35 |
Painter age breakdown
The average age of painters is 40+ years years old, representing 57% of the painter population.
Painter age breakdown
| Painter Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 57% |
| 30-40 years | 25% |
| 20-30 years | 17% |
Painter educational attainment
The most common degree for painters is high school diploma, with 49% of painters earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 18% and bachelor's degree degree at 14%.
- High School Diploma, 49%
- Bachelor's, 18%
- Associate, 14%
- Diploma, 12%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Painters by degree level
| Painter degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 49% |
| Bachelor's | 18% |
| Associate | 14% |
| Diploma | 12% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Painter jobs you might like
Painter wage gap by degree level
According to the data, painters with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $43,620 annually. With a High School Diploma degree, painters earn a median annual income of $43,542 compared to $43,450 for painters with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $43,542 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,450 |
| No Education | $41,268 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $43,620 |
Painter employment statistics
Most painters work for a private in the professional industry.
Company size where painters work
Below, you can see the size of companies where painters work.
Painter jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 19% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 17% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 26% |
| > 10,000 employees | 21% |
Painter jobs by company type
Employees with the painter job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most painters prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Painter jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 4% |
| Public | 23% |
| Private | 71% |
| Government | 1% |
Painter jobs by industry
The most common industries for painters are professional, manufacturing and construction.
Painter industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 15% |
| Professional | 15% |
| Construction | 12% |
| Fortune 500 | 9% |
| Technology | 8% |
| Transportation | 6% |
| Automotive | 4% |
| Education | 4% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Energy | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Painter turnover and employment statistics
Painter unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for painters between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Painter unemployment rate by year
| Year | Painter unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 20.78% |
| 2011 | 19.00% |
| 2012 | 16.53% |
| 2013 | 14.04% |
| 2014 | 11.65% |
| 2015 | 10.22% |
| 2016 | 8.94% |
| 2017 | 8.43% |
| 2018 | 7.07% |
| 2019 | 6.48% |
| 2020 | 10.42% |
| 2021 | 8.86% |
Average painter tenure
The average painter stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 71,809 painters resumes in Zippia's database.
Painter tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 30% |
| 1-2 years | 29% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 9% |
Painter LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of painters that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Setter | 1.40% | 1,927 |
| Wall Taper | 1.75% | 58 |
| Demolition Specialist | 2.24% | 7,950 |
| Chief Electrician | 2.76% | 27,170 |
| Rubber Block Layer | 3.39% | 279 |
| Sheet Metal Welder | 4.07% | 9,780 |
| Painter | 4.71% | - |
Similar painter jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Setter | 1.40% | 1,927 |
| Wall Taper | 1.75% | 58 |
| Demolition Specialist | 2.24% | 7,950 |
| Chief Electrician | 2.76% | 27,170 |
| Rubber Block Layer | 3.39% | 279 |
| Sheet Metal Welder | 4.07% | 9,780 |
Foreign languages spoken by painters
The most common foreign language among painters is Spanish at 74.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 5.5% and Polish is the third-most popular at 3.2%.
- Spanish, 74.0%
- French, 5.5%
- Polish, 3.2%
- German, 3.0%
- Portuguese, 2.0%
- Other, 12.3%
Painter languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 74.0% |
| French | 5.5% |
| Polish | 3.2% |
| German | 3.0% |
| Portuguese | 2.0% |
| Other | 12.3% |
