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Transportation equipment painter salary
Average transportation equipment painter salary
$47,240
Average Transportation Equipment Painter Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Transportation Equipment Painter in the United States is $47,240 per year. This position typically involves painting and finishing a variety of transportation equipment, including vehicles, aircraft, and marine vessels. The hourly wage averages around $23, but can vary.
How Salary Varies by Location
Salary levels for transportation equipment painters can differ significantly based on geographic location. For instance, painters in states like California and New York often see higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for skilled labor. Cities such as Los Angeles and New York City frequently offer the highest pay rates.
Job Outlook and Opportunities
The demand for skilled transportation equipment painters is expected to remain steady as industries continue to invest in maintenance and upgrades of vehicles and machinery. Obtaining additional certifications in painting techniques or materials can enhance job prospects and salary potential.
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Where can a Transportation Equipment Painter earn more?
Average transportation equipment painter salary by state
The average transportation equipment painter salary in New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average transportation equipment painter salary states are Alabama, Arkansas, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for transportation equipment painters
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | $50,002 | $24.04 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $46,701 | $22.45 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $50,212 | $24.14 |
| 4 | Vermont | $48,589 | $23.36 |
| 5 | Kansas | $47,467 | $22.82 |
| 6 | New York | $56,282 | $27.06 |
| 7 | Ohio | $47,691 | $22.93 |
| 8 | Illinois | $51,589 | $24.80 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $45,215 | $21.74 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $44,113 | $21.21 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $52,055 | $25.03 |
| 12 | Montana | $44,307 | $21.30 |
| 13 | Alaska | $46,788 | $22.49 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $51,447 | $24.73 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $44,851 | $21.56 |
| 16 | Delaware | $49,375 | $23.74 |
| 17 | Utah | $43,890 | $21.10 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $43,760 | $21.04 |
| 19 | Nevada | $45,027 | $21.65 |
| 20 | Indiana | $44,689 | $21.49 |
| 21 | Arizona | $44,103 | $21.20 |
| 22 | Idaho | $43,230 | $20.78 |
| 23 | Oregon | $46,174 | $22.20 |
| 24 | Maryland | $50,753 | $24.40 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $42,683 | $20.52 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $42,021 | $20.20 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $45,459 | $21.86 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $43,521 | $20.92 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $44,674 | $21.48 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $46,012 | $22.12 |
| 31 | California | $48,442 | $23.29 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $42,067 | $20.22 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $42,514 | $20.44 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $46,933 | $22.56 |
| 35 | Washington | $44,758 | $21.52 |
| 36 | Michigan | $41,715 | $20.06 |
| 37 | Virginia | $46,382 | $22.30 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $42,345 | $20.36 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $49,047 | $23.58 |
| 40 | Missouri | $43,191 | $20.76 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $41,863 | $20.13 |
| 42 | Maine | $40,799 | $19.61 |
| 43 | Texas | $41,859 | $20.12 |
| 44 | Colorado | $41,387 | $19.90 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $40,059 | $19.26 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $43,186 | $20.76 |
| 47 | Alabama | $40,792 | $19.61 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $36,609 | $17.60 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $36,384 | $17.49 |
| 50 | Florida | $39,179 | $18.84 |
| 51 | Georgia | $35,988 | $17.30 |
Highest paying cities for transportation equipment painters
The highest-paying cities for transportation equipment painters are Mamaroneck, NY, West Orange, NJ, and Bridgeport, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mamaroneck, NY | $56,189 | $27.01 |
| 2 | West Orange, NJ | $51,244 | $24.64 |
| 3 | Bridgeport, CT | $47,463 | $22.82 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $44,581 | $21.43 |
| 5 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $44,169 | $21.24 |
| 6 | North Little Rock, AR | $39,969 | $19.22 |
| 7 | Riverview, FL | $39,478 | $18.98 |
Transportation equipment painter salary details
A transportation equipment painter's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $64,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a transportation equipment painter's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| Average | $47,240 | $3,937 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying transportation equipment painter jobs
The highest paying types of transportation equipment painters are aircraft painter apprentice, hand painter, and sign painter.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painter | $42,339 | $3,528 | $20.36 | 4,482 |
| Auto Body Painter | $36,508 | $3,042 | $17.55 | 11,600 |
| Aircraft Painter | $40,227 | $3,352 | $19.34 | 6,791 |
Top companies hiring transportation equipment painters now:
Which companies pay transportation equipment painters the most?
Transportation equipment painter salaries at Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County and Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average transportation equipment painter salary at companies like Ring Power Cat and Alamo Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County | $53,543 | $25.74 |
| 2 | Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers | $52,277 | $25.13 |
| 3 | Ring Power Cat | $49,606 | $23.85 |
| 4 | Alamo Group | $46,243 | $22.23 |
| 5 | Derecktor Shipyards | $44,733 | $21.51 |
| 6 | Viking Yacht | $44,390 | $21.34 |
| 7 | Empire Cat | $43,660 | $20.99 |
| 8 | Johnson Health Center | $42,068 | $20.23 |
| 9 | Athens Services | $41,680 | $20.04 |
| 10 | Menzies Aviation | $40,325 | $19.39 |
| 11 | Sandman | $40,161 | $19.31 |
| 12 | LKQ | $35,312 | $16.98 |
| 13 | Balance Staffing | $33,244 | $15.98 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Transportation equipment painter salary trends
The average transportation equipment painter salary has risen by $6,777 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average transportation equipment painter earned $40,463 annually, but today, they earn $47,240 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for transportation equipment painters over the last decade.
Compare transportation equipment painter salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average transportation equipment painter salary over time
Compare transportation equipment painter salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Transportation equipment painter salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $47,200 | $22.71 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $45,200 | $21.72 | +4.4% |
| 2023 | $43,200 | $20.77 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | $42,800 | $20.56 | -0.7% |
| 2021 | $43,100 | $20.71 | +2.4% |
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