Quick answer: The median painter in Colorado earns $25.47/hr — about $52,970 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025), and the most experienced earn $78,000+. To hire one, a painting business typically bills $55–$75 per hour — roughly 2–3× the worker's wage, to cover overhead and profit.
Here's the full picture: what painters earn, what shops bill, what common jobs cost, how pay varies by metro, and how Colorado compares to other states.
Painter income in Colorado (2025)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for Colorado's ~3,480 painters, construction, and maintenance:
| Experience level | Hourly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level (10th percentile) | $19.51 | ~$3,382 | ~$40,581 |
| Median (typical) | $25.47 | ~$4,414 | $52,970 |
| Experienced (90th percentile) | $37.36 | ~$6,476 | ~$77,709 |
Monthly and annual figures assume full-time work (about 2,080 hours a year).
What you earn vs. what you charge
The wages above are what a painter takes home. What a painting business bills the customer is higher — it has to cover the truck, tools, insurance, licensing, fuel, office time, and profit. A shop typically bills 2.2–3× the worker's wage:
| Rate | |
|---|---|
| Median painter wage (earned) | ~$25/hr |
| Typical shop rate (charged) | $55–$75/hr |
Where Colorado ranks
Colorado pays painters 7% above the national median, ranking 19th of 51 states — in the upper tier nationally:
| Benchmark | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|
| Highest — Hawaii | $32.80 |
| Colorado (19th) | $25.47 |
| National median | $23.75 |
| Lowest — Arkansas | $19.28 |
Painter rates by Colorado metro
Pay varies widely within the state. Median painter wage by metro area (BLS, 2025):
| Metro area | Median wage | Typical billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $27.92/hr | $60–$85/hr |
| Boulder | $25.37/hr | $55–$75/hr |
| Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $25.35/hr | $55–$75/hr |
| Grand Junction | $24.36/hr | $55–$75/hr |
| Greeley | $23.59/hr | $50–$70/hr |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $23.51/hr | $50–$70/hr |
| Colorado Springs | $23.31/hr | $50–$70/hr |
What common painting jobs cost in Colorado
At Colorado billed rates, here's what typical jobs run — labor plus materials, and every job differs:
| Job | Typical Colorado range |
|---|---|
| Single interior room | $325–$975 |
| Whole-home interior | $2,100–$7,000 |
| Exterior house painting | $3,000–$9,500 |
| Cabinet refinishing | $950–$3,750 |
| Trim & baseboard painting | $325–$1,275 |
| Deck / fence staining | $450–$1,600 |
| Drywall patch & paint | $150–$525 |
| Ceiling painting | $225–$750 |
| Garage floor coating | $650–$2,150 |
| Wallpaper removal | $325–$1,075 |
Typical ranges to benchmark against — not quotes.
How painters compare to other trades in Colorado
Here's how painter pay lines up against Colorado's other skilled trades:
| Trade | Median wage | Typical billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenter | $30.21/hr | $65–$90/hr |
| Painter | $25.47/hr | $55–$75/hr |
| Roofer | $24.88/hr | $55–$75/hr |
| Handyman | $24.65/hr | $55–$75/hr |
| Landscaper | $22.00/hr | $50–$65/hr |
Setting your own rate
Use these as benchmarks, not rules — your rate has to cover your real overhead and the profit margin you need. See how to price a job to run the math, then build a quote with the free painter estimate generator, or download BIG INVOICE to invoice from your phone with your rates saved.
Do painters need a license in Colorado?
Licensing requirements depend on the trade and where you work. See Colorado contractor & trade licensing to check whether painters need a state license in Colorado, which board issues it, and how to apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much do painters make in Colorado?
The median painter in Colorado earns about $52,970 a year ($25.47/hr) per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Entry-level painters earn around $41,000 and the most experienced earn $78,000 or more.
Can a painter make $100,000 a year in Colorado?
Rarely as an employee — the top 10% of painters in Colorado earn about $78,000 a year. The usual path past $100,000 is running your own painting business and billing $55–$75/hr, where revenue — not just an hourly wage — is the ceiling.
How much do painters charge per hour in Colorado?
In 2025, most Colorado painters bill $55–$75 per hour. That billed rate covers the worker's wage (a $25/hr median) plus overhead and profit — it is not take-home pay.
Do painters earn more in Colorado than nationally?
Yes — Colorado's median painter wage is about 7% above the national median of $23.75/hr, ranking 19th of 51 states.
Which Colorado city pays painters the most?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, at a $27.92/hr median wage, is among the highest-paying metros in the state for painters.
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Billed rates and job-cost ranges are illustrative estimates (median wage × 2.2–3.0 overhead-and-profit markup), not quotes. Updated August 2026.