Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $56,120 +37.3% vs national
Median hourly $26.98
10th percentile $36,560
90th percentile $90,830
Employed locally 60
National median $40,860

Compare Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers salary & buying power

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Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,560
    25th
    $42,350
    50th (median)
    $56,120
    75th
    $76,860
    90th
    $90,830

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers salary vs area income 63% Median Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers salary is 37% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $78,620
    New York $68,140
    Washington $61,270
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $61,270
    Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $60,190
    Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area $59,000

    Nearby metros — Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Illinois $51,270
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $50,590
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $50,400
    St. Louis, MO-IL $49,730
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $48,750
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $48,530

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $40,560
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $72,760
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $42,110
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $47,330
    Machinists $57,470
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $39,530

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers in Chicago, IL-IN is $26.98, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.81 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers salaries?

    The median Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 37.3% above the national median of $40,860. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers in Chicago?

    Entry-level Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers (10th percentile) earn around $36,560 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $42,350.