How Much Do Painters Make? 2025 Salary Guide
If you’re a painter or thinking about becoming one, you’ve probably wondered, “How much do painters actually make?” Whether you’re just starting out, building your skills, or running your own painting business, knowing what painters earn can help you set clear goals and plan your next steps.
Painting is a steady and rewarding profession with opportunities in everything from freshening up homes to tackling big industrial projects. Most painters earn between $35,000 and $60,000 a year, but how much you make can depend a lot on where you work, how experienced you are, and what kind of jobs you take on.
With over 206,000 painters currently employed across the United States, there’s plenty of room to grow in this industry. Now’s the perfect time to explore what painters earn and find ways to maximize your income.
In this guide, we’ll break down how much painters make each year, what factors can impact salaries, and share real-world examples of what professionals are earning right now. Whether you work for a company or run your own business, you’ll find helpful tips to turn painting into a successful career.
Table of Contents
The Basics: How Much Do Painters Make a Year?
Painters typically earn between $35,000 and $60,000 per year, depending on factors like experience, specialization, and location.
Entry-level painters often start closer to $30,000, while seasoned professionals can make up to $70,000 or more. Self-employed painters and business owners often earn significantly more, with many bringing in $70,000 to over $100,000 annually.
Take Maria, for example. She started as a painter earning $40,000 a year while working for a company in Denver. After launching her own business and streamlining her operations with tools like our Estimate Generator and Client Portal features, she scaled her income to $95,000 a year within just three years.
If you’re also curious about hourly rates and how they compare across regions or experience levels, check out our detailed article on How Much Do Painters Charge?
It covers everything you need to know about how much painters charge per hour and provides tips for setting competitive rates.
Salaries Across Different Painting Specializations
What you specialize in as a painter can make a big difference in how much you earn. Focusing on a specific type of painting often lets professionals charge higher rates, which can really boost yearly income.
If you’re a residential painter, you can expect to make anywhere from $35,000 to $55,000 a year, depending on the jobs you take on. Painters working on high-end homes or custom finishes can make even more, especially if they offer unique services like color consultations or decorative painting.
Commercial painters tend to earn more, with salaries ranging from $50,000 to $70,000 a year. These projects are often larger and more complex, such as painting office buildings, schools, or retail spaces.
For industrial painters, the earning potential is even higher. Taking on challenging jobs like painting factories, bridges, or large machinery can bring in $60,000 to $80,000 or more annually. These projects often require specialized skills and certifications, which allow painters to charge premium rates.
Specializing in a specific area not only increases your earning potential but can also help you stand out in the competitive painting market.
How Location Affects Painter Salaries
Where you work as a painter can make a big difference in how much you earn.
Highest paying states for painters
States like Massachusetts, California, and New York are known for higher pay, with painters in these areas making between $60,000 and $80,000 a year on average. If you’re in cities like Boston or Los Angeles and focus on upscale residential or commercial projects, you can earn even more.
Take Lisa, for example. She’s a residential painter in Boston who earned $75,000 last year by targeting high-end neighborhoods and offering custom color consultations. Her specialized services helped her stand out and charge premium rates.
Lowest paying states for painters
In states like Alabama or Kansas, where the cost of living is lower, painters usually make between $30,000 and $45,000 annually. While the pay might be less, the lower expenses often mean painters can still live comfortably.
Your location not only impacts how much you can charge but also the kind of projects available. If you’re in a high-demand area, consider specializing to maximize your earnings, and in lower-cost regions, focus on offering value that attracts steady clients.
Painter Salaries Over Time
Your experience level plays a huge role in how much you can earn as a painter. If you’re just starting out, expect to make between $30,000 and $40,000 a year as an entry-level painter. However, as you gain experience and refine your skills, your earning potential increases.
Painters with five to ten years of experience often earn $50,000 to $65,000 annually, especially if they take on more complex projects or work in high-demand areas. For late-career painters who have built a strong reputation or specialized in high-paying niches, salaries can climb to $70,000 or more per year.
Take David, for example. When he started his painting career in Chicago, he earned $32,000 a year as an entry-level painter. Over ten years, he honed his skills, built strong client relationships, and invested in tools like Invoice Maker to streamline his business.
Today, David earns $85,000 a year, a testament to the value of experience and efficiency.
The Role of Specialization
If you’re a painter aiming to boost your income, specializing in a niche area can be a game-changer. Muralists and decorative painters, for example, often earn $70,000 or more annually by charging premium rates for custom designs and high-end finishes.
These services are especially sought after in urban areas with affluent clients willing to pay top dollar for unique, artistic work.
Take a painter in New York City who specializes in murals. Last year, they earned over $75,000, largely due to the growing demand for custom artwork in luxury apartments and offices. Their ability to offer personalized, one-of-a-kind designs allowed them to stand out and command higher fees.
Another lucrative niche is cabinet refinishing. Painters in this field typically earn $2,000 to $6,000 per project, depending on the size and complexity of the job. Refinishing cabinets requires precision and attention to detail, but the payoff can be substantial.
For painters who enjoy intricate work, this specialization can significantly increase annual earnings while providing a steady stream of clients.
Specialization not only boosts your earning potential but also helps you establish a strong reputation in your chosen niche. Whether it’s murals, decorative finishes, or cabinet work, focusing on a specific area can set you apart in a competitive market.
Painter Business Owner Salaries
Starting your own painting business can be one of the best ways to significantly increase your income. Painter business owners often earn $70,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on the size of their operation and how efficiently they manage their projects.
Running your own business gives you the flexibility to set your rates, choose your clients, and scale your work as you grow.
Take Mark, for example. He started out in Texas as a solo house painter, earning $40,000 annually. Over time, he built a small team and streamlined his operations with tools like our Receipt Scanner to keep track of expenses.
This allowed him to handle more projects without losing control of his finances. Today, Mark earns $120,000 a year and credits his success to both taking on more work and managing his business efficiently.
If you’ve been thinking about starting your own painting business but aren’t sure where to begin, check out our How to Start a Painting Business article. It’s packed with practical advice on everything from creating a business plan to finding your first clients and growing your operation.
If you’re already running your own business, having the right tools can make all the difference.
Our Estimate Generator feature helps you create accurate and competitive quotes, ensuring you don’t undercharge or leave money on the table.
Using our Online Payments tool ensures you get paid quickly, improving cash flow and keeping your business running smoothly.
The Future of Painter Salaries
The painting industry is growing, and demand for skilled painters is expected to remain strong for years to come. More homeowners are investing in renovations, and commercial development is creating opportunities for larger-scale painting projects.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for painters is expected to grow by 5% through 2030. This steady demand means there’s plenty of room for painters to increase their earnings, especially if they focus on high-value services like decorative finishes, industrial painting, or eco-friendly coatings.
Sarah, a painter in Ohio, started out earning $35,000 a year working on standard residential projects. After gaining certifications in color design and expanding her services to include custom finishes, she increased her salary to $55,000 a year within five years.
Final Thoughts
Understanding how much painters make is key to planning your next steps, whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow your business.
With average salaries ranging from $35,000 to $60,000, painting provides a steady and rewarding income for many professionals. And if you’re willing to go the extra mile—specializing in high-demand services or starting your own painting business—you can earn $70,000 to $100,000 or more.
Painting isn’t just about rolling on a fresh coat of color; it’s about running a smart, efficient operation and delivering quality results that keep clients coming back.
By focusing on improving your skills, delivering excellent service, and using tools like our Painting Contractor Software, you can take your career or business to the next level. The software simplifies everything from estimating and invoicing to expense tracking, giving you more time to focus on growing your income.
Ready to boost your earnings?
Download Invoice Fly today!
