What is an average hourly wage for a painter?

The average hourly wage for a painter was $18.89 as of May 2013, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ten percent of painters earned up to $11.22 per hour, while the top 10 percent earned $29.94 per hour or higher.

In the building finishing contractors sector, painters averaged $18.43 per hour as of May 2013. In residential building projects, the average pay was $17.74. In non-residential building construction, pay was $17.92 per hour. Among states, painters in Illinois had the highest average wage at $25.48 per hour. Hawaii was second at $25.15, followed by New York at $24.84 per hour.