Aircraft Painter Salary: United States
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The median annual wage for Aircraft Painter in the United States was $48,250 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers earned between $40,590 and $59,680.
Closest proxy Our title "Aircraft Painter" is reported by BLS as SOC 51-9124 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. Closest proxy: Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. This published occupation covers only part of Aircraft Painter; do not treat it as a quoted range for the complete role.
Annual wages
Aircraft Painter, the United States, annual wages: 10% earned less than $36,260, half earned less than the median of $48,250, 90% earned less than $74,730 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,260 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $40,590 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $48,250 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $59,680 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $74,730 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $52,620 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Hourly wages
Aircraft Painter, the United States, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $17.43, half earned less than the median of $23.20, 90% earned less than $35.93 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Hourly wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.43 per hour | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $19.52 per hour | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $23.20 per hour | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $28.69 per hour | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $35.93 per hour | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $25.30 per hour | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Employment: BLS estimates 158,740 workers in this occupation nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-9124 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, National.
What BLS wages include. Base pay plus any guaranteed or production-based incentive pay. They leave out overtime, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation.
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Target metros
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th percentile | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $48,170 | $39,750 to $59,980 | 1,560 | 0.54 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $47,810 | $39,160 to $59,180 | 830 | 0.56 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $48,500 | $42,300 to $60,280 | 900 | 0.62 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $47,070 | $38,120 to $56,110 | 310 | 0.4 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $58,520 | $47,920 to $77,990 | 3,250 | 0.34 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $58,520 | $47,920 to $77,990 | 3,250 | 0.34 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $49,350 | $39,220 to $70,760 | 5,050 | 1.22 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $46,950 | $38,520 to $57,430 | 4,590 | 1.37 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $48,910 | $42,950 to $60,230 | 3,680 | 0.8 |
How does Aircraft Painter pay differ by industry?
These are national industry estimates for SOC 51-9124, not local offers or separate estimates for the niche title. Industry names are exactly as BLS publishes them.
| Industry | NAICS | Median | Basis | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 22 | $60,370 | Annual | 90 |
| Utilities | 221000 | $60,370 | Annual | 90 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | $60,370 | Annual | 90 |
| Construction | 23 | $52,430 | Annual | 2,800 |
| Construction of Buildings | 236000 | $56,870 | Annual | 60 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | $54,050 | Annual | 30 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237000 | $57,470 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | $57,430 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | 237300 | $82,850 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237900 | $41,630 | Annual | 40 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 238000 | $46,940 | Annual | 1,260 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 238100 | $43,480 | Annual | 120 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | $50,760 | Annual | 90 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | 238300 | $46,690 | Annual | 760 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 238900 | $48,320 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Food Manufacturing | 311000 | $50,730 | Annual | 90 |
| Textile Mills | 313000 | $47,350 | Annual | 1,240 |
| Fabric Mills | 313200 | $44,780 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Manufacturing | 31-33 | $47,650 | Annual | 107,160 |
| Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 313300 | $47,520 | Annual | 1,050 |
| Textile Product Mills | 314000 | $45,070 | Annual | 330 |
| Textile Furnishings Mills | 314100 | $45,070 | Annual | 250 |
| Other Textile Product Mills | 314900 | $45,410 | Annual | 80 |
| Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 316000 | $39,950 | Annual | 100 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | 316100 | $39,820 | Annual | 100 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | 321000 | $44,220 | Annual | 2,710 |
| Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 321100 | $45,410 | Annual | 420 |
| Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 321200 | $46,420 | Annual | 310 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 321900 | $43,900 | Annual | 1,980 |
| Paper Manufacturing | 322000 | $58,950 | Annual | 4,790 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 322100 | $73,840 | Annual | 410 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 322200 | $57,250 | Annual | 4,380 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | 323000 | $46,620 | Annual | 250 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | 323100 | $46,620 | Annual | 250 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324000 | $67,040 | Annual | 130 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324100 | $67,040 | Annual | 130 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | 325000 | $44,770 | Annual | 1,870 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3250A1 | $47,850 | Annual | 580 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 3250A2 | $40,860 | Annual | 980 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 325400 | $38,800 | Annual | 310 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 326000 | $45,450 | Annual | 3,210 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 326100 | $45,950 | Annual | 2,640 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 326200 | $41,740 | Annual | 570 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 327000 | $49,640 | Annual | 1,830 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | 331000 | $47,510 | Annual | 1,910 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 331100 | $46,570 | Annual | 200 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 331200 | $52,460 | Annual | 330 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 331300 | $47,250 | Annual | 330 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 331400 | $46,130 | Annual | 220 |
| Foundries | 331500 | $48,560 | Annual | 830 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 332000 | $45,690 | Annual | 34,450 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3320A1 | $45,670 | Annual | 4,420 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3320A2 | $46,640 | Annual | 11,470 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 332700 | $45,330 | Annual | 2,060 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 332800 | $45,100 | Annual | 16,500 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 333000 | $47,830 | Annual | 12,900 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3330A1 | $47,730 | Annual | 11,340 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 333300 | $48,800 | Annual | 630 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 333500 | $47,650 | Annual | 620 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 333600 | $51,540 | Annual | 300 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 334000 | $47,460 | Annual | 1,420 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 334100 | $47,440 | Annual | 60 |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 334200 | $47,450 | Annual | 120 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 334400 | $46,790 | Annual | 690 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 334500 | $48,210 | Annual | 500 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 335000 | $46,950 | Annual | 2,580 |
| Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 335100 | $43,020 | Annual | 260 |
| Household Appliance Manufacturing | 335200 | $47,740 | Annual | 560 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 335300 | $47,580 | Annual | 1,160 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 335900 | $46,740 | Annual | 590 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336000 | $55,660 | Annual | 27,920 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 336100 | $66,040 | Annual | 5,300 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 336200 | $46,870 | Annual | 6,010 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 336300 | $45,730 | Annual | 4,640 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 336400 | $67,810 | Annual | 6,680 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 336500 | $50,170 | Annual | 530 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 336600 | $57,600 | Annual | 4,310 |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336900 | $50,160 | Annual | 450 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 337000 | $43,960 | Annual | 5,280 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 3370A1 | $44,050 | Annual | 5,150 |
| Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 337900 | $43,870 | Annual | 130 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339000 | $46,890 | Annual | 4,140 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 339100 | $48,650 | Annual | 670 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339900 | $46,580 | Annual | 3,470 |
| Air Transportation | 481000 | $77,420 | Annual | 110 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation | 481100 | $103,580 | Annual | 60 |
| Nonscheduled Air Transportation | 481200 | $59,770 | Annual | 50 |
| Truck Transportation | 484000 | $49,550 | Annual | 40 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | 488000 | $50,840 | Annual | 4,380 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 488100 | $50,280 | Annual | 3,440 |
| Support Activities for Rail Transportation | 488200 | $50,850 | Annual | 650 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | 488300 | $59,650 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Support Activities for Road Transportation | 488400 | $52,800 | Annual | 30 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 493000 | $47,030 | Annual | 70 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 493100 | $47,030 | Annual | 70 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 53 | $46,170 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Rental and Leasing Services | 532000 | $46,170 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | 5320A1 | $47,660 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing | 532100 | $45,680 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 54 | $60,840 | Annual | 870 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541000 | $60,840 | Annual | 870 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | $61,850 | Annual | 570 |
| Specialized Design Services | 541400 | $51,770 | Annual | 160 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 541700 | $46,670 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | 541800 | $52,150 | Annual | 70 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 561700 | $44,980 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | 562000 | $48,160 | Annual | 100 |
| Waste Collection | 562100 | $45,360 | Annual | 90 |
| Repair and Maintenance | 811000 | $55,530 | Annual | 29,280 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 811100 | $56,570 | Annual | 27,290 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | 811200 | $56,390 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | $41,660 | Annual | 1,320 |
| Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance | 811400 | $46,720 | Annual | 640 |
Industry estimates are national. Do not combine an industry median with a local percentile to invent an industry-specific local rate.
Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?
A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.
Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor (49-1011)Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?
This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.
| Metro | Median | Employment | Location quotient | Trade median / all-occupations median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $69,600 | 70 | 0.52 | 1.21 |
| Ames, IA | $69,090 | 60 | 1.04 | 1.38 |
| Springfield, OH | $67,070 | 110 | 2.44 | 1.48 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $66,570 | 40 | 0.59 | 1.04 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $63,360 | 270 | 0.66 | 1.03 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $63,180 | 700 | 4.32 | 1.45 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $63,030 | 2,640 | 1.24 | 0.87 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $62,280 | 600 | 1.5 | 1.27 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $62,120 | 50 | 0.41 | 1.36 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $61,730 | 70 | 1.22 | 1.36 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $38,120 | 40 | 0.47 | 0.84 |
| Amarillo, TX | $37,530 | 310 | 2.41 | 0.84 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $37,530 | 100 | 1.06 | 0.91 |
| Sumter, SC | $37,470 | 60 | 1.59 | 0.87 |
| Gadsden, AL | $37,360 | 140 | 4.14 | 1.02 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $36,870 | 100 | 1.29 | 0.94 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $36,670 | 120 | 0.4 | 1.02 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $36,520 | 140 | 0.89 | 1.00 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $32,150 | 110 | 0.15 | 1.09 |
| Flint, MI | $30,150 | 230 | 1.65 | 0.66 |
The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.
What do these published wages mean for an offer?
Skilled Trades Headhunters reads the May 2025 figures for Aircraft Painter in National as an offer reference, not a quote for a particular candidate. For Aircraft Painter in National, the published median for SOC 51-9124, Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, is $48,250 per year. The middle half of the Aircraft Painter in National wage distribution runs from $40,590 to $59,680, a width of $19,090 per year; that spread shows how much published pay varies within the occupation and area, without assigning experience levels.
For the national Aircraft Painter comparison, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX reports $49,350 per year while Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX reports $46,950 per year; these are the largest-employment metros with published medians for the occupation, rather than neighboring places to a national estimate. The United States Aircraft Painter figure pools markets with different work scopes and schedules, so use the area table before setting a local offer.
The highest published medians among the selected national industry rows for Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, read alongside Aircraft Painter in National, are Scheduled Air Transportation at $103,580 per year (NAICS 481100); Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction at $82,850 per year (NAICS 237300); Air Transportation at $77,420 per year (NAICS 481000). Those Aircraft Painter in National industry comparisons are national cross-sections, not local industry estimates; BLS does not give us a metro-by-industry wage cut here, and overlapping industry groups should not be added together.
The Aircraft Painter in National median was $47,590 per year in May 2024, compared with $48,250 in May 2025, a published difference of $660. That Aircraft Painter in National comparison is between separate BLS releases, not the raise paid to the same workers or a projection of next year's offer. Read the $47,590 and $48,250 Aircraft Painter in National estimates with both dates visible, because the employers and workers represented by the survey can change.
Before offering $48,250 per year for Aircraft Painter in National, separate on-call duties, overtime, travel reimbursement, tool replacement and any truck allowance separately; prevailing wage and union requirements must be checked against the actual assignment. The Aircraft Painter in National BLS comparison includes ordinary wages and qualifying incentive pay, but leaves overtime, discretionary bonuses, benefits and relocation outside this wage figure. A candidate's take-home pay and the employer's total cost for Aircraft Painter in National can therefore differ from the median without either number being an error.
The mapping for Aircraft Painter in National is proxy: Closest proxy: Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders; This published occupation covers only part of Aircraft Painter; do not treat it as a quoted range for the complete role. For a Aircraft Painter in National opening, establish the equipment, license requirements and responsibility before deciding which people the pay range should attract. A broader occupation can combine jobs that a Aircraft Painter in National buyer would screen separately, which is why the badge and SOC remain beside the figures.
Questions about this occupation and area
What does the middle-half band tell a Aircraft Painter in National buyer?
Aircraft Painter in National has a published middle-half band of $40,590 to $59,680, a width of $19,090 per year, with median $48,250. An offer inside that Aircraft Painter in National band is not automatically competitive for every scope; match the required work and the separate pay terms first.
Which areas should I compare before hiring Aircraft Painter in National?
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX and Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX are the largest-employment comparison markets used for Aircraft Painter in National. Comparing those Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders tables with the $48,250 Aircraft Painter in National median does not measure commuting costs or predict what a particular applicant will accept.
Are the industry figures local to Aircraft Painter in National?
Aircraft Painter in National uses national industry rows for SOC 51-9124, not local sector-specific wages. Scheduled Air Transportation leads the selected sortable rows at $103,580 per year, but that national industry figure is not a quoted offer for Aircraft Painter in National.
What changed between the releases for Aircraft Painter in National?
Aircraft Painter in National moved from $47,590 in May 2024 to $48,250 in May 2025. These Aircraft Painter in National published medians do not describe an individual raise or establish a future wage trend.
What changed since May 2024
SOC 51-9124. Published annual median: $47,590 (May 2024) and $48,250 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.