SOC 51-9123 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers — California
California · 6 metro areas compared
At $41,600, median pay for Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers in California tracks the national median of $41,600 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $41,600, median pay for Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers in California tracks the national median of $41,600 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $41,600 and $43,580. The lowest tenth earn under $38,270, while the highest tenth earn more than $57,090.
Among the 37 states with published data for this occupation, California ranks 22nd by median wage. Sacramento leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $49,750. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 732nd of 793 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,270 | −8.0% |
| 25th | $41,600 | +0.0% |
| Median (50th) | $41,600 | +0.0% |
| 75th | $43,580 | +4.8% |
| 90th | $57,090 | +37.2% |
| Mean | $45,290 | +8.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento | $49,750 | 60 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $48,470 | 40 | |
| 3 | San Francisco | $47,310 | 80 | |
| 4 | San Diego | $41,680 | 70 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $41,600 | — | |
| 6 | Riverside | $40,120 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $41,600 buys what $37,579 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 9.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$41,600as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,579US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $41,600 a year, 0.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,270 to $57,090 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 22nd of 37 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Sacramento, at $49,750.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers in California?
The median annual wage is $41,600, or $20.00 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $41,600, so pay in California is 0.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $57,090 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,270 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Sacramento, at $49,750 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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