Best States for Painters (Construction & Maintenance)

Ranked by median salary, with cost-of-living adjustments. Find where painters (construction & maintenance) earn the most and have the best purchasing power.

+5.5% projected growth

Faster than average (national avg: +4%, +1.5pp)

State Rankings

Rank	State	Median	COL-Adjusted	Employment
1	HawaiiHI	$67,620	$56,681	1,630
2	AlaskaAK	$65,610	$62,249	400
3	IllinoisIL	$62,390	$63,020	6,700
4	MinnesotaMN	$60,900	$61,640	3,480
5	New JerseyNJ	$60,290	$53,307	4,230
6	District of ColumbiaDC	$59,810	$51,032	420
7	WashingtonWA	$58,520	$54,539	8,820
8	CaliforniaCA	$57,450	$50,751	37,780
9	North DakotaND	$57,390	$61,843	460
10	MaineME	$56,270	$56,781	1,950
11	New YorkNY	$56,020	$48,460	14,670
12	MassachusettsMA	$55,870	$50,561	4,830
13	DelawareDE	$55,770	$54,784	530
14	OhioOH	$53,650	$59,086	6,050
15	ConnecticutCT	$53,610	$49,916	2,010
16	NevadaNV	$52,300	$52,196	3,430
17	Rhode IslandRI	$51,420	$51,063	780
18	ColoradoCO	$50,650	$48,238	3,700
19	PennsylvaniaPA	$50,230	$51,360	6,110
20	MissouriMO	$50,150	$56,222	4,210
21	WisconsinWI	$50,020	$53,670	3,430
22	IndianaIN	$50,010	$54,836	3,570
23	New HampshireNH	$49,600	$46,399	990
24	VermontVT	$49,460	$47,880	650
25	MichiganMI	$49,360	$53,018	4,930
26	MarylandMD	$49,060	$44,722	3,440
27	MontanaMT	$48,920	$50,694	980
28	OregonOR	$48,880	$48,348	4,780
29	IowaIA	$48,780	$54,321	1,730
30	GeorgiaGA	$47,690	$51,224	3,310
31	ArizonaAZ	$47,290	$48,403	6,780
32	South DakotaSD	$46,600	$50,929	670
33	IdahoID	$46,490	$48,077	2,000
34	FloridaFL	$46,060	$46,060	20,910
35	New MexicoNM	$45,910	$48,892	1,280
36	UtahUT	$45,900	$46,789	3,350
37	WyomingWY	$45,820	$47,829	530
38	AlabamaAL	$45,690	$51,980	1,750
39	KentuckyKY	$45,630	$51,270	1,450
40	OklahomaOK	$45,610	$51,190	1,830
41	NebraskaNE	$45,020	$49,473	1,580
42	KansasKS	$44,890	$49,657	1,680
43	VirginiaVA	$44,670	$43,159	5,300
44	TexasTX	$44,160	$45,762	18,700
45	North CarolinaNC	$43,890	$46,991	4,340
46	LouisianaLA	$43,700	$48,022	4,050
47	West VirginiaWV	$43,450	$49,600	800
48	South CarolinaSC	$42,950	$47,198	2,060
49	MississippiMS	$40,750	$47,773	810
50	TennesseeTN	$40,710	$44,492	3,630
51	ArkansasAR	$38,420	$44,212	910

Analysis

The top three states for painters (construction & maintenance) by median salary are Hawaii, Alaska, and Illinois. However, when adjusted for cost of living, the rankings may shift — states with lower living costs can offer greater real purchasing power even with lower nominal salaries.

Explore by State

Click any state to see detailed salary data, metro breakdowns, and career information.