What are the main factors that influence a Paint Operator's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Paint Operator's salary?

A Paint Operator's salary grows with experience: a Painter I (0-1 years)earns $45,931, a Paint Operator (1-3 years)earns $52,590, a Painter III (3-5 years)earns $58,953,

What are the highest paying states for a Paint Operator?

Paint Operator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Paint Operator roles are District of Columbia $64,700, California $64,455, Massachusetts $63,596. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Paint Operator roles make?

Salaries for Paint Operator level roles vary by specialization: Paint Engineer: $111,855; Paint Manager: $104,446; Paint Inspector: $83,943; Paint Estimator: $61,472; Paint Supervisor: $57,759.

How do different companies affect a Paint Operator's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Paint Operator roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Paint Operator Salary in the United States

How much does a Paint Operator make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Paint Operator in the United States is $58,436 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

However, a Paint Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,092
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,850 to $67,154
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,943

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Paint Operator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$67,154	$5,596	$1,291	$32
Average	$58,436	$4,870	$1,124	$28
25th Percentile	$50,850	$4,237	$978	$24

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Key Factors That Influence Paint Operator Salaries

A Paint Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Paint Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Paint Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $64,700.
California: $64,455.
Massachusetts: $63,596.

District of Columbia $64,700

California $64,455

Massachusetts $63,596

Washington $63,362

New Jersey $63,338

Alaska $63,257

Connecticut $62,450

New York $62,123

Hawaii $61,077

Rhode Island $60,586

Maryland $60,253

Minnesota $59,797

Colorado $59,622

Illinois $59,563

Oregon $59,341

Delaware $59,178

New Hampshire $59,075

Virginia $58,845

Pennsylvania $58,173

Nevada $57,834

North Dakota $57,723

Michigan $57,547

Wisconsin $57,483

Vermont $57,355

Texas $56,998

Maine $56,975

Arizona $56,940

Ohio $56,899

Georgia $56,361

Indiana $56,092

Wyoming $56,040

Utah $55,958

Iowa $55,923

Kansas $55,642

Louisiana $55,561

North Carolina $55,531

Missouri $55,520

Florida $55,292

Montana $55,169

Nebraska $55,052

Kentucky $54,988

South Carolina $54,754

Tennessee $54,608

Idaho $54,550

New Mexico $54,123

Oklahoma $54,030

Alabama $53,685

South Dakota $53,106

Arkansas $52,791

West Virginia $52,621

Mississippi $52,113

Top Paying Cities for Paint Operators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $73,705
San Francisco: $72,980
Oakland: $71,362

San Jose, CA $73,705

San Francisco, CA $72,980

Oakland, CA $71,362

New York, NY $67,721

Queens Village, NY $67,283

Paramus, NJ $66,815

Passaic, NJ $66,757

Bergenfield, NJ $66,698

Stamford, CT $66,611

Huntington, NY $66,552

Newark, NJ $66,173

Bridgeport, CT $66,056

New Brunswick, NJ $65,863

Vallejo, CA $65,740

Middlesex, NJ $65,705

Somerset, NJ $65,652

Petaluma, CA $65,518

Santa Cruz, CA $65,290

Boston, MA $65,173

Monterey, CA $64,881

Fairbanks, AK $64,840

Los Angeles, CA $64,729

Washington, DC $64,700

Seattle, WA $64,595

Santa Rosa, CA $64,583

Juneau, AK $64,414

Orange, CA $64,221

Anchorage, AK $64,116

Anaheim, CA $64,075

Santa Ana, CA $63,987

Nassau, NY $63,952

Long Beach, CA $63,929

Danbury, CT $63,911

Santa Maria, CA $63,712

Everett, WA $63,701

Bremerton, WA $63,414

Trenton, NJ $63,303

Sacramento, CA $63,280

San Diego, CA $63,251

Brockton, MA $63,227

Tacoma, WA $63,204

Santa Barbara, CA $63,122

Lowell, MA $62,888

New Suffolk, NY $62,865

Nashua, NH $62,795

Lompoc, CA $62,701

Ventura, CA $62,643

Stockton, CA $62,626

New Haven, CT $62,509

Atlantic City, NJ $62,357

Hartford, CT $62,228

Modesto, CA $62,199

Poughkeepsie, NY $62,070

New Britain, CT $62,041

Kennewick, WA $61,959

Olympia, WA $61,959

New London, CT $61,948

Norwich, CT $61,930

Lawrence, MA $61,901

Bakersfield, CA $61,737

New Bedford, MA $61,655

Riverside, CA $61,655

Richland, WA $61,597

Portsmouth, NH $61,550

Vineland, NJ $61,539

San Bernardino, CA $61,492

Boulder, CO $61,328

Worcester, MA $61,281

Portland, OR $61,229

Saint Paul, MN $61,159

Minneapolis, MN $61,159

Philadelphia, PA $61,077

Honolulu, HI $60,767

Springfield, MA $60,563

Providence, RI $60,557

Chicago, IL $60,387

Bellingham, WA $60,317

Baltimore, MD $60,253

Chico, CA $60,107

Wilmington, DE $60,008

Pittsfield, MA $59,949

Manchester, NH $59,838

Spokane, WA $59,581

Denver, CO $59,575

Albany, NY $59,301

Troy, NY $59,277

Schenectady, NY $59,154

Burlington, VT $59,026

Portland, ME $58,821

Salem, OR $58,775

Yakima, WA $58,763

Ann Arbor, MI $58,745

Rochester, MN $58,582

Reno, NV $58,553

Fresno, CA $58,553

Milwaukee, WI $58,500

Detroit, MI $58,442

Allentown, PA $58,424

Carson City, NV $58,418

Houston, TX $58,330

Colorado Springs, CO $58,325

Syracuse, NY $58,295

Eugene, OR $58,184

Gary, IN $58,114

Bismarck, ND $58,114

Galveston, TX $58,114

Springfield, OR $58,068

Medford, OR $57,927

Fort Collins, CO $57,904

Austin, TX $57,857

Mesa, AZ $57,734

Phoenix, AZ $57,723

Dallas, TX $57,705

Reading, PA $57,670

Saint Cloud, MN $57,647

Concord, NH $57,594

Madison, WI $57,571

Utica, NY $57,413

Raleigh, NC $57,366

Las Vegas, NV $57,360

Rochester, NY $57,320

Des Moines, IA $57,314

Atlanta, GA $57,220

Battle Creek, MI $57,203

Salt Lake City, UT $57,185

Lancaster, PA $57,097

Champaign, IL $57,086

Harrisburg, PA $57,016

Durham, NC $56,963

Kansas City, MO $56,957

Kansas City, KS $56,946

Fort Worth, TX $56,940

Boca Raton, FL $56,916

Cleveland, OH $56,910

Columbus, OH $56,899

Pittsburgh, PA $56,893

Richmond, VA $56,870

Indianapolis, IN $56,858

Cincinnati, OH $56,782

Petersburg, VA $56,694

Lansing, MI $56,566

Billings, MT $56,566

Huntsville, AL $56,566

Lebanon, PA $56,560

Pueblo, CO $56,554

Dayton, OH $56,554

Appleton, WI $56,537

Buffalo, NY $56,513

Racine, WI $56,484

Charlotte, NC $56,478

Saint Louis, MO $56,461

Springfield, IL $56,437

York, PA $56,425

Elkhart, IN $56,425

Gastonia, NC $56,420

Benton Harbor, MI $56,420

Beaumont, TX $56,385

Lorain, OH $56,373

Toledo, OH $56,350

Binghamton, NY $56,320

Rock Hill, SC $56,314

Rockford, IL $56,285

Elyria, OH $56,256

Fargo, ND $56,256

Flagstaff, AZ $56,215

Fort Lauderdale, FL $56,180

Miami, FL $56,145

Duluth, MN $56,051

Bangor, ME $55,976

Cedar Rapids, IA $55,911

Louisville, KY $55,882

Grand Rapids, MI $55,870

Hialeah, FL $55,864

Casper, WY $55,783

Scranton, PA $55,713

New Orleans, LA $55,695

Virginia Beach, VA $55,689

Akron, OH $55,660

Peoria, IL $55,584

Sarasota, FL $55,572

Green Bay, WI $55,531

Baton Rouge, LA $55,502

Charleston, SC $55,491

Nashville, TN $55,473

Jamestown, NY $55,461

Davenport, IA $55,461

Tucson, AZ $55,432

Cheyenne, WY $55,415

Saint Petersburg, FL $55,397

Tampa, FL $55,385

Omaha, NE $55,374

Evansville, IN $55,350

Port Arthur, TX $55,350

Bradenton, FL $55,327

Santa Fe, NM $55,222

Orlando, FL $55,163

Clearwater, FL $55,099

La Crosse, WI $54,976

Canton, OH $54,976

Grand Forks, ND $54,959

Tulsa, OK $54,941

Albuquerque, NM $54,941

Newport News, VA $54,935

High Point, NC $54,918

Ogden, UT $54,894

Corpus Christi, TX $54,848

Laramie, WY $54,813

Norfolk, VA $54,813

Rock Island, IL $54,778

Saginaw, MI $54,766

Jacksonville, FL $54,760

Salisbury, NC $54,748

Memphis, TN $54,737

Moline, IL $54,707

Fort Myers, FL $54,690

Waterloo, IA $54,614

Spartanburg, SC $54,556

Lincoln, NE $54,526

Fort Wayne, IN $54,515

Birmingham, AL $54,450

Cedar Falls, IA $54,439

Provo, UT $54,433

Springfield, OH $54,427

San Antonio, TX $54,415

Greensboro, NC $54,392

South Bend, IN $54,386

Winston Salem, NC $54,380

Boise, ID $54,363

Savannah, GA $54,322

Muskegon, MI $54,217

Lima, OH $54,146

Lake Charles, LA $54,123

Anderson, IN $54,111

Lexington, KY $54,094

Augusta, GA $54,076

Greenville, SC $54,076

Wichita, KS $54,024

Tuscaloosa, AL $54,024

Columbia, SC $53,971

Bloomington, IN $53,825

Roanoke, VA $53,790

Asheville, NC $53,714

Knoxville, TN $53,615

Shreveport, LA $53,609

Wilmington, NC $53,533

Frankfort, KY $53,422

Oklahoma City, OK $53,381

Chillicothe, OH $53,358

Longview, TX $53,352

Topeka, KS $53,334

Mobile, AL $53,247

Terre Haute, IN $53,223

Erie, PA $53,217

Altoona, PA $53,188

Melbourne, FL $53,171

Amarillo, TX $53,147

Killeen, TX $53,130

Fayetteville, AR $53,083

Sioux Falls, SD $53,042

Chattanooga, TN $53,007

Idaho Falls, ID $53,001

Gainesville, FL $52,878

Portsmouth, OH $52,849

Little Rock, AR $52,838

Lynchburg, VA $52,838

Youngstown, OH $52,814

Lafayette, LA $52,814

Temple, TX $52,791

Daytona Beach, FL $52,779

Clarksville, TN $52,773

Pensacola, FL $52,767

Hopkinsville, KY $52,592

Charleston, WV $52,586

Florence, SC $52,557

Sioux City, IA $52,522

Macon, GA $52,353

Tallahassee, FL $52,347

Fayetteville, NC $52,335

Wichita Falls, TX $52,323

Waco, TX $52,323

Pine Bluff, AR $52,300

Vincennes, IN $52,189

Lubbock, TX $52,166

Great Falls, MT $52,130

Alamogordo, NM $52,125

Abilene, TX $52,078

Rapid City, SD $52,002

Monroe, LA $52,002

Albany, GA $51,967

Huntington, WV $51,961

Jackson, MS $51,955

Greenville, MS $51,949

Parkersburg, WV $51,891

Montgomery, AL $51,879

Johnstown, PA $51,868

Springfield, MO $51,821

Biloxi, MS $51,792

Sumter, SC $51,669

Columbus, GA $51,663

Twin Falls, ID $51,628

Pascagoula, MS $51,552

Kingsport, TN $51,400

Gulfport, MS $51,382

Alexandria, LA $51,190

Fort Smith, AR $51,044

El Paso, TX $50,886

Helena, MT $50,810

Las Cruces, NM $50,623

Harlingen, TX $50,459

Pocatello, ID $50,407

Florence, AL $50,389

Brownsville, TX $50,377

Dothan, AL $50,284

Mcallen, TX $50,255

Columbus, MS $49,822

Altus, OK $49,553

Lawton, OK $49,442

Pierre, SD $49,232

What Skills Can Increase a Paint Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Attention to Detail (Mentioned in 3.64% Job Postings): Executing and completing a task with a high level of accuracy.
Surface Preparation (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): Treating the surface of a substance prior to application to increase its adhesion to coatings.
Material Handling (Mentioned in 0.76% Job Postings): Material handling involves short-distance movement within the confines of a building or between a building and a transportation vehicle. It uses a wide range of manual, semi-automated, and automated equipment and includes consideration of the protection, storage, and control of materials throughout their manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, consumption, and disposal. Material handling can be used to create time and place utility through the handling, storage, and control of material, as distinct from manufacturing, which creates form utility by changing the shape, form, and makeup of material.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Attention to Detail	3.64%
Surface Preparation	1.32%
Material Handling	0.76%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Paint Operator's salary.

Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Plumbing: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Leadership	$61,357	5%
Plumbing	$60,773	4%
Scheduling	$60,773	4%
OEM	$60,189	3%
Customer Service	$60,189	3%
Innovation	$60,189	3%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Paint Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Paint Operators enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Paint Operator with a No Diploma is between $51,112 and $55,364).

Paint Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Paint Operator

No Diploma 10.7%

High School 57.1%

Associates 17.9%

Bachelors 14.3%

Masters 0.0%

Doctorate 0.0%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	10.7%
High School	57.1%
Associates	17.9%
Bachelors	14.3%
Masters	0.0%
Doctorate	0.0%

view as graph

Paint Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Paint Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 18, 2021

$50,850

Average $58,436/year

$67,154

$4,237

Average $4,870/month

$5,596

$978

Average $1,124/week

$1,291

$24

Average $28/hour

$32

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$67,154	$5,596	$1,291	$32
Average	$58,436	$4,870	$1,124	$28
25th Percentile	$50,850	$4,237	$978	$24

Salaries of jobs related to Paint Operator

Salary Trends for Paint Operator

Salaries for a Paint Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $50,991 in 2023 to around $50,891 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Paint Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Paint Operator Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$50,991

2024

$51,109

2025

$50,891

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$50,991
2024	$51,109
2025	$50,891
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Paint Operator

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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