Statewide pay Government data
Painters in New York earn a statewide median of $59,570 a year, 25% above the typical U.S. metro, ranking #5 of 50 states and DC. About 13,040 people work in the trade statewide.
Statewide pay range
States ranked near New York
See all states on the painter overview.
Pay by city Government data
| Metro | Median pay | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New YorkNEW YORK · NY | $61,420 | $54,565 | 11,930 |
| ElmiraNEW YORK · NY | $59,490 | $63,020 | 90 |
| IthacaNEW YORK · NY | $59,110 | $57,212 | 40 |
| BuffaloNEW YORK · NY | $53,340 | $55,653 | 750 |
| BinghamtonNEW YORK · NY | $53,190 | $57,278 | 100 |
| AlbanyNEW YORK · NY | $51,650 | $51,875 | 480 |
| UticaNEW YORK · NY | $50,650 | $54,652 | 70 |
| Kiryas JoelNEW YORK · NY | $50,420 | $46,078 | 310 |
| KingstonNEW YORK · NY | $49,570 | $49,221 | 100 |
| SyracuseNEW YORK · NY | $48,600 | $50,761 | 310 |
| Glens FallsNEW YORK · NY | $47,690 | $50,271 | 80 |
| WatertownNEW YORK · NY | $47,240 | $53,872 | 50 |
| RochesterNEW YORK · NY | $47,230 | $48,673 | 590 |
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 New York'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 New York Official source
New York licenses most trades at the city or county level (e.g. New York City). Check with the building or licensing office where you plan to work.
Requirements for painters vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Cities in New York
All trades in New York.