Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers Salary
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers earn a median $41,600 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$41,600
$20.00 per hour
Range
$31,470 – $60,820
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
7,940
across the U.S.
▲1.8%
Pay trend: The median for painting, coating, and decorating workers in the U.S. rose from $40,860 (May 2024) to $41,600 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.6%.
What painting, coating, and decorating workers do
Paint, coat, or decorate articles, such as furniture, glass, plateware, pottery, jewelry, toys, books, or leather.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.3% (slower than average)
- Openings per year
- 700
- Self-employed
- 4%
Employment of painting, coating, and decorating workers is projected to grow 1.3% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 700 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$35,606
per year · effective tax rate 14.4%
$2,967Monthly
$1,484Twice a month
$1,369Every 2 weeks
$17.12Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,812
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,579
- Medicare (1.45%)$603
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$35,606
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,470 | $15.13 | $27,466 |
| 25th percentile | $37,030 | $17.80 | $31,934 |
| Median (50th) | $41,600 | $20.00 | $35,606 |
| 75th percentile | $50,360 | $24.21 | $42,644 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,820 | $29.24 | $51,049 |
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $61,210 | −0.1% | $51,362 | $45,560 – $96,600 | 90 |
| Nevada | $60,190 | — | $50,543 | $47,270 – $70,280 | — |
| Colorado | $54,070 | +22.6% | $43,955 | $39,750 – $64,530 | 170 |
| Massachusetts | $54,070 | +3.3% | $43,142 | $42,220 – $59,210 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $52,160 | +2.9% | $42,756 | $42,270 – $71,880 | 90 |
| Connecticut | $50,720 | +40.1% | $41,576 | $36,240 – $59,820 | 50 |
| Ohio | $49,080 | +10.6% | $41,048 | $32,350 – $58,140 | 230 |
| Missouri | $48,560 | +7.6% | $39,853 | $39,120 – $56,420 | 140 |
| New York | $48,510 | −28.8% | $39,135 | $37,630 – $81,170 | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $48,330 | +21.0% | $39,668 | $41,270 – $51,520 | 230 |
| Maryland | $47,320 | +3.1% | $38,318 | $34,340 – $62,680 | 50 |
| Virginia | $47,090 | +1.9% | $38,123 | $36,640 – $62,640 | 290 |
| Iowa | $46,670 | +2.8% | $38,558 | $35,040 – $61,170 | 100 |
| Georgia | $46,310 | −5.4% | $37,609 | $31,210 – $65,400 | 60 |
| Idaho | $45,050 | — | $37,098 | $36,960 – $47,080 | — |
| South Carolina | $43,820 | −0.2% | $35,917 | $26,120 – $53,800 | 140 |
| Minnesota | $43,630 | +12.9% | $35,721 | $32,210 – $58,400 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $42,960 | −4.7% | $35,493 | $36,100 – $59,910 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $42,220 | −11.4% | $34,744 | $34,640 – $60,050 | 200 |
| Illinois | $41,960 | −18.2% | $33,963 | $31,200 – $59,500 | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,660 | +0.1% | $34,375 | $32,400 – $55,220 | 180 |
| California | $41,600 | −6.3% | $34,411 | $38,270 – $57,090 | — |
| Indiana | $41,350 | −7.6% | $34,214 | $27,160 – $58,140 | 490 |
| Arkansas | $40,310 | +4.5% | $33,210 | $30,860 – $52,670 | 50 |
| Kansas | $39,470 | −12.6% | $32,491 | $30,140 – $53,960 | 90 |
| Michigan | $38,500 | +2.5% | $31,729 | $28,880 – $49,550 | 140 |
| Utah | $38,430 | −8.5% | $32,295 | $28,560 – $59,590 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $38,320 | +3.2% | $32,207 | $23,310 – $62,400 | 50 |
| Florida | $37,440 | +4.8% | $32,263 | $31,250 – $55,590 | 720 |
| Wyoming | $37,090 | — | $31,982 | $25,000 – $39,250 | 60 |
| Arizona | $37,030 | +3.5% | $31,217 | $34,410 – $46,830 | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $36,780 | −4.0% | $30,623 | $33,240 – $50,080 | 100 |
| Tennessee | $35,540 | −0.2% | $30,736 | $31,470 – $53,220 | 200 |
| Montana | $34,790 | — | $29,255 | $30,360 – $65,260 | 40 |
| Mississippi | $33,330 | −6.7% | $28,359 | $29,530 – $50,740 | 70 |
| Texas | $32,430 | +13.5% | $28,238 | $23,400 – $52,800 | 550 |
| South Dakota | $31,550 | −14.3% | $27,530 | $30,200 – $42,950 | 40 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,250 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.5% |
| Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operator and Tender | $41,330 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.9% |
| Photographic Process Worker and Processing Machine Operator | $40,610 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.6% |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | $42,660 | No formal educational credential | -19.2% |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,110 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.8% |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender | $43,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.1% |
| Etcher and Engraver | $43,310 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.7% |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | $43,530 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.4% |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician | $39,460 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.2% |
| Helpers--Production Worker | $39,070 | High school diploma or equivalent | -8.2% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a painting, coating, and decorating workers make?
The national median salary for painting, coating, and decorating workers is $41,600 a year ($20.00 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,470 and the top 10% earn over $60,820. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays painting, coating, and decorating workers the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $61,210.
How many painting, coating, and decorating workers are there in the U.S.?
About 7,940 people work as painting, coating, and decorating workers nationwide.