{
  "title": "Painter Wages & Labor Statistics 2026",
  "publisher": "Carolina Renew Painting & Finishes",
  "url": "https://carolinarenew.com/painter-wages-statistics-2026/",
  "verifiedOn": "2026-09-09",
  "license": "Cite with attribution and a link to the dataset URL.",
  "rows": [
    {
      "id": "painters-natl-employment-2025",
      "metric": "National employment, Painters Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141)",
      "value": "225,190 employed",
      "entity": "United States (national)",
      "source": "BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Table 1 (Economic News Release), May 2025",
      "sourceDate": "May 2025 survey reference period",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.t01.htm",
      "quote": "Painters, construction and maintenance........................... 225,190 26.64 55,420 23.75",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "National, U.S., SOC 47-2141"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-natl-wages-2025",
      "metric": "National mean and median wage, Painters Construction and Maintenance",
      "value": "Mean $26.64/hr ($55,420/yr); median $23.75/hr",
      "entity": "United States (national)",
      "source": "BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Table 1 (Economic News Release), May 2025",
      "sourceDate": "May 2025 survey reference period",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.t01.htm",
      "quote": "Painters, construction and maintenance........................... 225,190 26.64 55,420 23.75",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "National, U.S., SOC 47-2141"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-natl-pct-annual-2025",
      "metric": "National percentile annual wages (10th/25th/50th/75th/90th)",
      "value": "$37,440 / $44,640 / $49,400 / $61,660 / $78,810",
      "entity": "United States (national)",
      "source": "O*NET OnLine, Local Wages: 47-2141.00, citing BLS 2025 wage data",
      "sourceDate": "2025 (BLS OEWS wage data; page updated 2026)",
      "url": "https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/47-2141.00?zip=28202",
      "quote": "United States | $37,440 | $44,640 | $49,400 | $61,660 | $78,810",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "National, U.S., SOC 47-2141, annual wage percentiles"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-natl-pct-hourly-2025",
      "metric": "National percentile hourly wages (10th/25th/50th/75th/90th)",
      "value": "$18.00 / $21.46 / $23.75 / $29.65 / $37.89",
      "entity": "United States (national)",
      "source": "O*NET OnLine, Local Wages: 47-2141.00, citing BLS 2025 wage data",
      "sourceDate": "2025 (BLS OEWS wage data; page updated 2026)",
      "url": "https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/47-2141.00?zip=28202",
      "quote": "United States | $18.00 | $21.46 | $23.75 | $29.65 | $37.89",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "National, U.S., SOC 47-2141, hourly wage percentiles"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-nc-pct-annual-2025",
      "metric": "North Carolina statewide percentile annual wages (10th/25th/50th/75th/90th)",
      "value": "$33,410 / $37,090 / $44,110 / $49,150 / $58,300",
      "entity": "North Carolina (statewide)",
      "source": "O*NET OnLine, Local Wages: 47-2141.00, citing BLS 2025 wage data",
      "sourceDate": "2025 (BLS OEWS wage data; page updated 2026)",
      "url": "https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/47-2141.00?zip=28202",
      "quote": "North Carolina | $33,410 | $37,090 | $44,110 | $49,150 | $58,300",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "North Carolina statewide, SOC 47-2141, annual wage percentiles"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-nc-pct-hourly-2025",
      "metric": "North Carolina statewide percentile hourly wages (10th/25th/50th/75th/90th)",
      "value": "$16.06 / $17.83 / $21.21 / $23.63 / $28.03",
      "entity": "North Carolina (statewide)",
      "source": "O*NET OnLine, Local Wages: 47-2141.00, citing BLS 2025 wage data",
      "sourceDate": "2025 (BLS OEWS wage data; page updated 2026)",
      "url": "https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/47-2141.00?zip=28202",
      "quote": "North Carolina | $16.06 | $17.83 | $21.21 | $23.63 | $28.03",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "North Carolina statewide, SOC 47-2141, hourly wage percentiles"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-charlotte-pct-annual-2025",
      "metric": "Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia NC-SC metro percentile annual wages (10th/25th/50th/75th/90th)",
      "value": "$34,730 / $37,920 / $44,900 / $49,780 / $57,940",
      "entity": "Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area",
      "source": "O*NET OnLine, Local Wages: 47-2141.00, citing BLS 2025 wage data",
      "sourceDate": "2025 (BLS OEWS wage data; page updated 2026)",
      "url": "https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/47-2141.00?zip=28202",
      "quote": "Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,730 | $37,920 | $44,900 | $49,780 | $57,940",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia NC-SC metro, SOC 47-2141, annual wage percentiles"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-charlotte-pct-hourly-2025",
      "metric": "Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia NC-SC metro percentile hourly wages (10th/25th/50th/75th/90th)",
      "value": "$16.70 / $18.23 / $21.59 / $23.93 / $27.86",
      "entity": "Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area",
      "source": "O*NET OnLine, Local Wages: 47-2141.00, citing BLS 2025 wage data",
      "sourceDate": "2025 (BLS OEWS wage data; page updated 2026)",
      "url": "https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/47-2141.00?zip=28202",
      "quote": "Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $16.70 | $18.23 | $21.59 | $23.93 | $27.86",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia NC-SC metro, SOC 47-2141, hourly wage percentiles"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-ooh-median-pay-2024",
      "metric": "Median pay, Painters Construction and Maintenance",
      "value": "$49,400/yr; $23.75/hr",
      "entity": "United States (national)",
      "source": "BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Painters, Construction and Maintenance",
      "sourceDate": "May 2025 wage data; page last modified August 27, 2026",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/painters-construction-and-maintenance.htm",
      "quote": "The median annual wage for painters, construction and maintenance was $49,400 in May 2025.",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "National, U.S., SOC 47-2141"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-ooh-jobs-2024",
      "metric": "Number of jobs, Painters Construction and Maintenance",
      "value": "326,900 jobs (2025)",
      "entity": "United States (national)",
      "source": "BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Painters, Construction and Maintenance",
      "sourceDate": "2025; page last modified August 27, 2026",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/painters-construction-and-maintenance.htm",
      "quote": "Number of Jobs, 2025 | 326,900",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "National, U.S., SOC 47-2141"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-ooh-outlook-2024-34",
      "metric": "Projected employment growth, Painters Construction and Maintenance",
      "value": "3% growth, +9,800 jobs, 2025-2035",
      "entity": "United States (national)",
      "source": "BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Painters, Construction and Maintenance",
      "sourceDate": "2025-2035 projections; page last modified August 27, 2026",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/painters-construction-and-maintenance.htm",
      "quote": "Job Outlook, 2025–35 | 3% (As fast as average); Employment Change, 2025–35 | 9,800",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "National, U.S., SOC 47-2141"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-ooh-openings-2024",
      "metric": "Projected annual job openings, Painters Construction and Maintenance",
      "value": "24,900 openings/year (average, 2025-2035)",
      "entity": "United States (national)",
      "source": "BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Painters, Construction and Maintenance",
      "sourceDate": "2025-2035 projections; page last modified August 27, 2026",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/painters-construction-and-maintenance.htm",
      "quote": "About 24,900 openings for painters, construction and maintenance are projected each year, on average, over the decade.",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "National, U.S., SOC 47-2141"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-ooh-education-training",
      "metric": "Typical entry-level education and on-the-job training, Painters Construction and Maintenance",
      "value": "No formal educational credential; Moderate-term on-the-job training (unchanged)",
      "entity": "United States (national)",
      "source": "BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Painters, Construction and Maintenance",
      "sourceDate": "page last modified August 27, 2026",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/painters-construction-and-maintenance.htm",
      "quote": "Typical Entry-Level Education | No formal educational credential ... On-the-job Training | Moderate-term on-the-job training",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "National, U.S., SOC 47-2141"
    },
    {
      "id": "nc-gc-license-threshold",
      "metric": "North Carolina general-contractor license threshold — required for projects costing $40,000 or more (N.C. Gen. Stat. §87-1)",
      "value": "$40,000 or more",
      "entity": "North Carolina",
      "source": "NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, 2025 Laws and Regulations Book (N.C. Gen. Stat. §87-1)",
      "sourceDate": "2025 edition",
      "url": "https://nclbgc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-Laws-And-Regulations-Book.pdf",
      "quote": "construction of any building, highway, public utilities, grading or any improvement or structure where the cost of the undertaking is forty thousand dollars ($40,000) or more ... shall be deemed to be a \"general contractor\"",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Regional (NC)"
    },
    {
      "id": "construction-union-membership-2025",
      "metric": "Union membership in construction, all trades (not painter-isolated) — 1,124,000 of 6,850,000 employed wage and salary workers",
      "value": "16.4% of employed wage/salary workers are union members (1,124,000 of 6,850,000)",
      "entity": "United States (national)",
      "source": "BLS Union Members news release, Table 3, 2024-2025 annual averages",
      "sourceDate": "2025 annual average; released February 18, 2026",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.t03.htm",
      "quote": "Construction and extraction occupations | 6,850 | 1,124 | 16.4 | 1,195 | 17.4",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Context-only"
    },
    {
      "id": "osha-construction-fall-fatalities-2024",
      "metric": "Construction fatalities, all trades (not painter-isolated) — 389 of 1,034 deaths in 2024 were falls to a lower level",
      "value": "389 fatal falls to a lower level out of 1,034 construction fatalities (2024)",
      "entity": "United States (national)",
      "source": "OSHA Fall Prevention Campaign (Stop Falls)",
      "sourceDate": "2024 data (BLS-sourced), current OSHA page",
      "url": "https://www.osha.gov/stop-falls",
      "quote": "FALLS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN CONSTRUCTION. In 2024, there were 389 fatal falls to a lower level out of 1,034 construction fatalities (BLS data).",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Context-only"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-top-paying-states-2023",
      "metric": "Top-paying states for painters — Hawaii $33.08/hr ($68,810/yr), Alaska $32.82/hr, Illinois $32.08/hr (May 2023 profile, the most recent state table reachable as a static page)",
      "value": "Hawaii: $33.08/hr, $68,810/yr (highest); also Alaska $32.82/hr $68,270/yr, Illinois $32.08/hr $66,720/yr",
      "entity": "Hawaii (and other top states)",
      "source": "BLS OEWS Occupational Profile, oes472141.htm, May 2023",
      "sourceDate": "May 2023",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes472141.htm",
      "quote": "Top paying states for Painters, Construction and Maintenance: Hawaii | 1,770 | 2.86 | 2.01 | $33.08 | $68,810",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Context (May 2023)"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-highest-employment-states-2023",
      "metric": "States with the most painters — California 34,080 ($29.34/hr), Florida 19,930, Texas 16,110, New York 14,820, Washington 9,230 (May 2023 profile)",
      "value": "California: 34,080 employed ($29.34/hr, $61,020/yr); Florida 19,930; Texas 16,110; New York 14,820; Washington 9,230",
      "entity": "California (and other top states)",
      "source": "BLS OEWS Occupational Profile, oes472141.htm, May 2023",
      "sourceDate": "May 2023",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes472141.htm",
      "quote": "States with the highest employment level in Painters, Construction and Maintenance: California | 34,080 | 1.90 | 1.34 | $29.34 | $61,020",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Context (May 2023)"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-top-paying-metro-2023",
      "metric": "Top-paying metro areas — Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI $35.11/hr ($73,030/yr); San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA $33.54/hr (May 2023 profile)",
      "value": "Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI: $35.11/hr, $73,030/yr (highest); San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA $33.54/hr $69,750/yr",
      "entity": "Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI (and other top metros)",
      "source": "BLS OEWS Occupational Profile, oes472141.htm, May 2023",
      "sourceDate": "May 2023",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes472141.htm",
      "quote": "Top paying metropolitan areas for Painters, Construction and Maintenance: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI | 150 | 2.00 | 1.41 | $35.11 | $73,030",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Context (May 2023)"
    },
    {
      "id": "painters-highest-employment-metro-2023",
      "metric": "Metro area with the most painters — New York-Newark-Jersey City 13,990 employed ($29.54/hr, $61,430/yr) (May 2023 profile)",
      "value": "New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: 13,990 employed ($29.54/hr, $61,430/yr)",
      "entity": "New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA",
      "source": "BLS OEWS Occupational Profile, oes472141.htm, May 2023",
      "sourceDate": "May 2023",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes472141.htm",
      "quote": "Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Painters, Construction and Maintenance: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 13,990 | 1.47 | 1.04 | $29.54 | $61,430",
      "confidence": "High",
      "scope": "Context (May 2023)"
    }
  ],
  "gaps": [
    {
      "metric": "Current-year (May 2025) top-paying states, highest-employment states, top-paying metros, and highest-employment metros isolated to SOC 47-2141",
      "why": "BLS discontinued static per-occupation HTML OES profile pages starting with the May 2024/2025 data cycle, replacing them with a JavaScript 'Occupational Profile' web application that WebFetch/curl cannot render (confirmed: bls.gov/oes/2024/may/oes472141.htm and bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oes472141.htm both redirect to the generic OES homepage). The most recent fetchable static table with this state/metro breakdown is May 2023."
    },
    {
      "metric": "North Carolina statewide and Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro total employment count and mean wage (not just percentile wages)",
      "why": "Same JS-application blocker as above prevented fetching BLS's own state/metro OES occupational profile page; only percentile wage figures were recoverable, via O*NET's Local Wages tool, which does not publish an employment count or mean wage alongside the percentiles."
    },
    {
      "metric": "Painter-specific (not broad 'construction and extraction occupations') union membership rate",
      "why": "BLS's Union Members annual news release (Table 3) only breaks out union affiliation to the broad Census occupational group level (\"Construction and extraction occupations\"); it does not publish a union membership rate isolated to SOC 47-2141 Painters."
    },
    {
      "metric": "Painter-specific OSHA fall-protection facts (fatality counts, standards) isolated from other construction trades",
      "why": "OSHA's primary fall-protection pages (osha.gov/fall-protection/construction, osha.gov/stop-falls) present fall statistics and standards (29 CFR 1926 Subpart M) for the construction industry as a whole; no primary OSHA page was found that isolates fall fatality or citation data specifically to painters."
    },
    {
      "metric": "2025–2035 employment projections (vs. the 2024–2034 figures available)",
      "why": "As of this research (Sept 2026), the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook page for this occupation was last modified August 28, 2025, and still presents May 2024 wage data with 2024–2034 projections; the next OOH refresh cycle (typically Aug/Sept, using May 2025 wage data and 2025–2035 projections) had not yet published on the fetched page."
    }
  ]
}