Aviation Painter Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aviation Painter in the United States is $56,732 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $65,469
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,774 to $61,305
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,350

Key Factors That Influence Aviation Painter Salaries

An Aviation 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.

Top Paying Cities for Aviation 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: $71,557
  • San Francisco: $70,773
  • Oakland: $69,282

What Skills Can Increase an Aviation Painter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 3.42% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 4.56% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
  • Lean (Mentioned in 2.85% Job Postings): Lean manufacturing, or lean production, is a system of techniques and activities for running a manufacturing or service operation.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 3.42%
Continuous Improvement 4.56%
Lean 2.85%

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 Aviation Painter's salary.

  • Quality Orientation: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Critical Thinking: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Customer Service: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Quality Orientation $62,406
10%
Critical Thinking $61,838
9%
Customer Service $61,838
9%

Aviation Painter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Aviation Painter roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Aerospace & Defense, offers compensation 50% above the average. Conversely, Aviation Painter positions in Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Aviation Painter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Aviation Painter

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$85,099$41.050%

How Education impacts an Aviation Painter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aviation Painters enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Aviation Painter with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $53,216 and $57,231).

Aviation Painter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Aviation Painter
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 77.8%
High School 77.8%
Associates 22.2%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%

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

Understanding how an Aviation 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 October 01, 2026
$50,774
Average $56,732/year
$61,305
$4,231
Average $4,728/month
$5,109
$976
Average $1,091/week
$1,179
$24
Average $27/hour
$29
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $61,305 $5,109 $1,179 $29
Average $56,732 $4,728 $1,091 $27
25th Percentile $50,774 $4,231 $976 $24

Most common benefits for Aviation Painter

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

Common company salaries for Aviation Painter

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

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FAQ about Aviation Painter

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

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Aviation Painter roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

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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