Painters, Construction and Maintenance Salary in Washington, DC
Painters, Construction and Maintenance in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $50,560 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,937 take-home, or $3,411 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median painters, construction and maintenance salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,887
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,135
- Medicare (1.45%)$733
- District of Columbia income tax$1,868
- Take-home pay$40,937
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Painters, Construction and Maintenance pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,600 | $20.00 | $34,276 | $2,856 |
| 25th percentile | $47,520 | $22.85 | $38,677 | $3,223 |
| Median (50th) | $50,560 | $24.31 | $40,937 | $3,411 |
| 75th percentile | $59,140 | $28.43 | $47,301 | $3,942 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,040 | $35.60 | $57,551 | $4,796 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,560 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median painters, construction and maintenance's $40,937 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,597 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Painters, Construction and Maintenance jobs are about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for painters, construction and maintenance, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #20 of 22 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis, MO | $59,810 | $48,364 | $50,862 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $57,360 | $48,269 | $48,165 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $61,740 | $48,877 | $47,181 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $60,850 | $48,459 | $46,229 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $60,440 | $50,744 | $45,660 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $57,410 | $46,546 | $45,387 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $61,970 | $49,400 | $44,737 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $59,510 | $47,603 | $44,626 |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $50,560 | $40,937 | $37,597 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 22 metros →
About the job: painters, construction and maintenance
Paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns. May remove old paint to prepare surface prior to painting. May mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.0% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a painters, construction and maintenance make in Washington, DC?
The median painters, construction and maintenance salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $50,560 a year, or about $24.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,520 and $59,140.
What is a painters, construction and maintenance’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $50,560 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $40,937 a year ($3,411 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,868 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a painters, construction and maintenance?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $49,400. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,597 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #20 of 22 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a painters, construction and maintenance afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median painters, construction and maintenance’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $83,540
- Construction and Building Inspector — $80,150
- Electrician — $75,930
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $71,860
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $61,660
- Carpenter — $60,800
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $58,350
- Construction Laborer — $47,430