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Entry Painter Salary in the United States

How much does an Entry Painter make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Painter in the United States is $45,660 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

However, an Entry Painter's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $53,951
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $41,760 to $50,000
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,209
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Entry Painter Salaries

An Entry Painter's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Entry Painter Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Entry Painters. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $50,550.
  • California: $50,360.
  • Massachusetts: $49,690.

Top Paying Cities for Entry Painters

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $57,590
  • San Francisco: $56,960
  • Oakland: $55,760

What Skills Can Increase an Entry Painter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Attention to Detail (Mentioned in 3.73% Job Postings): Executing and completing a task with a high level of accuracy.
  • Carpentry (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenters traditionally worked with natural wood and did the rougher work such as framing, but today many other materials are also used and sometimes the finer trades of cabinetmaking and furniture building are considered carpentry. In the United States, 98.5% of carpenters are male, and it was the fourth most male-dominated occupation in the country in 1999. In 2006 in the United States, there were about 1.5 million carpentry positions. Carpenters are usually the first tradesmen on a job and the last to leave. Carpenters normally framed post-and-beam buildings until the end of the 19th century; now this old fashioned carpentry is called timber framing. Carpenters learn this trade by being employed through an apprenticeship training—normally 4 years—and qualify by successfully completing that country's competence test in places such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa. It is also common that the skill can be learned by gaining work experience other than a formal training program, which may be the case in many places.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 0.83% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
Skills Demand Percentage
Attention to Detail 3.73%
Carpentry 1.32%
Installation 0.83%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Entry Painter's salary.

  • Plumbing: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Troubleshooting: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Creativity: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Plumbing $52,509
15%
Troubleshooting $51,596
13%
Creativity $50,683
11%
Get Latest Data

Entry Painter Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Entry Painter salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $51,027. While startup companies pay approximate $43,164.

Entry Painter Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $43,164
Growth Stage 51~500 $45,650
Established 501~5000 $49,273
Enterprise 5000+ $51,027

Entry Painter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Entry Painter roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 68% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Entry Painter positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Entry Painter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Entry Painter

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$57,075$27.025%
Software & Networking$57,075$27.025%
Energy & Utilities$54,792$26.020%
Pharmaceuticals$54,792$26.020%
Insurance$52,509$25.015%

How Education impacts an Entry Painter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Entry Painters enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Entry Painter with a No Diploma is between $41,220 and $44,430).

Entry Painter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Entry Painter
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 8.8%
High School 67.6%
Associates 2.9%
Bachelors 17.6%
Masters 2.9%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Entry Painter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Entry Painter's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$41,760
Average $45,660/year
$50,000
$3,480
Average $3,805/month
$4,167
$803
Average $878/week
$962
$20
Average $22/hour
$24
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $50,000 $4,167 $962 $24
Average $45,660 $3,805 $878 $22
25th Percentile $41,760 $3,480 $803 $20

Entry Painter Salary Growth & Career Path

Entry Painter

Next Role

Advancement

For an Entry Painter, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Brush Painter II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $52,300 - a projected growth of 15% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Entry Painter

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Entry Painter

Here are companies hiring for Entry Painter and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Entry Painter

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Entry Painter?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Entry Painter roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

2. What painters make the most money?

Painters can earn varying salaries based on their roles and experience. Entry-level painters typically earn between $42,590 and $53,690 annually, with a mid-salary of $48,150. Higher-paying positions include Painting Supervisors, who can make $57,500 to $77,000, and Lead Painters, earning $46,000 to $55,000.

3. How much should I pay a painter by the hour?

You should expect to pay an entry-level painter between approximately $20.50 and $25.80 per hour, based on an annual salary range of $42,590 to $53,690. Rates may vary depending on the painter's experience and the complexity of the project, with more skilled painters commanding higher rates.

4. How to become a painter with no experience?

To become a painter with no experience, you don't need formal education, but technical schools offer certificates, and apprenticeship programs are available. Most painters learn on the job, mastering skills like surface preparation, coating application, wall covering installation, and color matching. Entry-level painters can expect salaries ranging from $42,590 to $53,690, with a median salary of $48,150.

5. How much do new painters make?

New painters typically earn between $42,590 and $53,690 annually, with a mid-salary of around $48,150. This range reflects the national average, which varies by state and experience level. For instance, entry-level positions may start lower, while those with more experience can earn significantly more.

6. What trade makes the most money?

While many trades offer competitive salaries, entry-level painters earn between $42,590 and $53,690, with a median salary of $48,150. Other high-paying trades include construction managers and elevator installers, but entry painters can still find a solid income in the skilled trades sector.

7. How much is a painter paid in USA?

In the USA, an entry-level painter typically earns between $42,590 and $53,690 annually. The average salary for this position is around $48,150. This translates to a monthly pay range of approximately $3,549 to $4,474, depending on experience and skill level.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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