Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers salary by state
What Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workerss do
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
Apply coatings, such as paint, ink, or lacquer, to protect or decorate workpiece surfaces, using spray guns, pens, or brushes.
Examine finished surfaces of workpieces to verify conformance to specifications and retouch any defective areas.
Clean and maintain tools and equipment, using solvents, brushes, and rags.
Read job orders and inspect workpieces to determine work procedures and materials required.
Select and mix ingredients to prepare coating substances according to specifications, using paddles or mechanical mixers.
Top skills:Social PerceptivenessMonitoringCoordinationActive ListeningSpeakingReading Comprehension
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers pay by experience level
Entry level$32,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$38,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$43,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$52,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$63,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
800
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers salary by industry
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
1,020 workers
$47,500
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
980 workers
$47,500
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
750 workers
$48,000
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
500 workers
$49,000
Food Manufacturing
450 workers
$37,000
Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing
450 workers
$37,000
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
420 workers
$52,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
360 workers
$50,500
Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities
350 workers
$45,000
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing
330 workers
$45,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers pays 16% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
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