Apartment Painter Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Apartment Painter in the United States is $53,069 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $59,821
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,121 to $56,603
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,707

Key Factors That Influence Apartment Painter Salaries

An Apartment 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 Apartment 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 Apartment Painters. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $58,758.
  • California: $58,535.
  • Massachusetts: $57,755.

Top Paying Cities for Apartment 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: $66,936
  • San Francisco: $66,203
  • Oakland: $64,807

What Skills Can Increase an Apartment Painter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Attention to Detail (Mentioned in 3.64% Job Postings): Executing and completing a task with a high level of accuracy.
  • Surface Preparation (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): Treating the surface of a substance prior to application to increase its adhesion to coatings.
  • Material Handling (Mentioned in 0.76% Job Postings): Material handling involves short-distance movement within the confines of a building or between a building and a transportation vehicle. It uses a wide range of manual, semi-automated, and automated equipment and includes consideration of the protection, storage, and control of materials throughout their manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, consumption, and disposal. Material handling can be used to create time and place utility through the handling, storage, and control of material, as distinct from manufacturing, which creates form utility by changing the shape, form, and makeup of material.
Skills Demand Percentage
Attention to Detail 3.64%
Surface Preparation 1.32%
Material Handling 0.76%

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 Apartment Painter's salary.

  • Confidentiality: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Confidentiality $56,784
7%
Leadership $55,722
5%
Collaboration $55,191
4%

Apartment Painter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Apartment Painter roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Apartment Painter positions in MFG Nondurable or Energy & Utilities typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Apartment Painter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Apartment Painter

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$63,682$31.020%
Financial Services$61,029$29.015%
Telecom$61,029$29.015%
Biotechnology$58,376$28.010%
MFG Durable$58,376$28.010%

How Education impacts an Apartment Painter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Apartment 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 Apartment Painter with a No Diploma is between $51,112 and $55,364).

Apartment Painter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Apartment Painter
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 10.7%
High School 57.1%
Associates 17.9%
Bachelors 14.3%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%

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

Understanding how an Apartment 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
$47,121
Average $53,069/year
$56,603
$3,927
Average $4,422/month
$4,717
$906
Average $1,021/week
$1,089
$23
Average $26/hour
$27
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $56,603 $4,717 $1,089 $27
Average $53,069 $4,422 $1,021 $26
25th Percentile $47,121 $3,927 $906 $23

Most common benefits for Apartment Painter

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

Common company salaries for Apartment Painter

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

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FAQ about Apartment Painter

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

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Apartment Painter roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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