Statewide pay Government data
Painters in Kentucky earn a statewide median of $48,110 a year, 1% above the typical U.S. metro, ranking #32 of 50 states and DC. About 1,390 people work in the trade statewide.
Statewide pay range
States ranked near Kentucky
See all states on the painters nationwide.
Pay by city Government data
| Metro | Median pay | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson CountyKENTUCKY · KY | $48,920 | $52,560 | 590 |
| LexingtonKENTUCKY · KY | $47,730 | $51,384 | 240 |
| OwensboroKENTUCKY · KY | $45,590 | $51,450 | 50 |
| PaducahKENTUCKY · KY | $45,390 | $52,728 | 50 |
| Bowling GreenKENTUCKY · KY | $40,600 | $45,022 | 50 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Pay outside the cities Government data
BLS also reports pay for Kentucky's rural (nonmetropolitan) regions.
BLS OEWS nonmetropolitan areas, May 2025.
The job (national)
Paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns. May remove old paint to prepare surface prior to painting. May mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency.
Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 3.0% from 2025 to 2035, with about 24,900 openings a year. Typical training: moderate-term on-the-job training.
Nationally, painters have 124 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 1.4× the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is overexertion and repetitive strain.
What the work is like Government data
How often painters deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
Getting started usually takes some preparation (high school plus months of training).
O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.
Licensing in Kentucky Official source
The main state licensing office in Kentucky is the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction. The state licenses electrical, plumbing and HVAC; general contractors are licensed locally. It can point you to the right license for painters.
Official Kentucky licensing site ↗
Requirements for painters vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Cities in Kentucky
All trades in Kentucky.