The average wage for a professional painter in California is around $18.63 per hour.
Avg Wage
Professional painters earn an average hourly wage of $18.63.
Salaries typically start from $14.48 per hour and go up to $28.42 per hour.
45% below national average Updated in 2021
Professional painter earnings by seniority
Top-level professional painter earnings begin at:
$28.42 per hour
$59,110 per year
Senior-level professional painter earnings begin at:
$23.62 per hour
$49,130 per year
Mid-level professional painter earnings begin at:
$18.63 per hour
$38,740 per year
Junior-level professional painter earnings begin at:
$17.52 per hour
$36,440 per year
Starting level professional painter earnings begin at:
$14.48 per hour
$30,120 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Professional painter salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $74,270 |
| District of Columbia | $60,560 |
| Nevada | $47,250 |
| Mississippi | $47,150 |
| Georgia | $41,270 |
| Kansas | $39,150 |
| California | $38,740 |
| New Hampshire | $38,580 |
| Washington | $38,580 |
| Minnesota | $38,370 |
| Montana | $38,370 |
| New Jersey | $37,920 |
| New York | $37,800 |
| Ohio | $37,630 |
| Tennessee | $37,630 |
| Virginia | $37,630 |
| South Dakota | $37,620 |
| Arizona | $37,550 |
| Iowa | $37,550 |
| Massachusetts | $37,550 |
| Missouri | $37,550 |
| Illinois | $37,460 |
| Oregon | $37,460 |
| North Carolina | $37,270 |
| Oklahoma | $37,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,270 |
| Indiana | $36,360 |
| Nebraska | $36,360 |
| Wisconsin | $36,360 |
| Kentucky | $36,260 |
| Colorado | $35,910 |
| South Carolina | $35,870 |
| Utah | $35,300 |
| Maine | $35,270 |
| Alabama | $34,510 |
| Vermont | $34,450 |
| Maryland | $32,850 |
| Connecticut | $32,140 |
| Rhode Island | $31,410 |
| Idaho | $30,690 |
| Florida | $30,680 |
| Michigan | $30,310 |
| Arkansas | $30,070 |
| Hawaii | $29,470 |
| Texas | $28,990 |
| West Virginia | $28,990 |
| North Dakota | $24,000 |
| New Mexico | $23,960 |
| Louisiana | $23,930 |
| Puerto Rico | $19,230 |
How do professional painter salaries compare to similar careers?
Professional painters earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than stone cutters but more than metal casters.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Stone cutter salary | $44K |
| Printing worker salary | $39K |
| Exterminator salary | $38K |
| Forklift operator salary | $39K |
| Professional painter salary | $39K |
| Shoemaker salary | $38K |
| Furniture finisher salary | $38K |
| Engraver salary | $37K |
| Upholsterer salary | $38K |
| Metal caster salary | $37K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)