WAGE DATA · SOC 47-2141

PAINTER PAY
IN WEST VIRGINIA.

West Virginia painters earn a median of $20.89/hr (BLS 2024). 800 workers employed statewide. Compare market wages, federal prevailing rates, and per-diem baselines below.

// BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS · STATEWIDEOEWS · MAY 2024
HOURLY MEDIAN
$20.89/hr
MEAN HOURLY
$21.90/hr
ANNUAL MEDIAN
$43K
EMPLOYED
800
10th · $13.65MEDIAN · $20.8990th · $31.38
// DAVIS-BACON · FEDERAL PREVAILING WAGEDATA SOON

Federal Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates for painters in West Virginia will be imported from SAM.gov in our next data refresh. These are the legally-required minimum wages on federally-funded construction projects — crucial for comparing offers against the federal floor.

// GSA PER DIEM · FY 2026GSA

Lodging + M&IE by City

The federal government's per-diem rate is the baseline most contractors use. If your job's per diem is below this, you're subsidizing the contractor.

Charles Town
Jefferson
$190
/day · meals $68
Charleston
Kanawha
$183
/day · meals $68
Standard Rate
West Virginia
$178
/day · meals $68
// ROADHAND COMMUNITY DATABE FIRST

What are workers actually earning?

Government data is a baseline. Real take-home pay — including per diem, OT rules, housing allowances — comes from workers on the ground. Submit your pay anonymously to help the next hand.

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OTHER TRADES IN WEST VIRGINIA

ElectricianWelderPipefitterIronworkerMillwrightBoilermakerCarpenterOperating EngineerPlumber

PAINTER PAY IN OTHER STATES

AlaskaCaliforniaColoradoLouisianaMontanaNew MexicoNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaPennsylvaniaTexasWyoming

FAQ

How much does a painter earn in West Virginia?+
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2024), painters in West Virginia earn a median of $20.89/hr. That's roughly $43K/year for a full-time schedule at straight time.
What's the top pay for painters in West Virginia?+
The top 10% of painters in West Virginia earn more than $31.38/hr (BLS 2024). That represents experienced workers, supervisors, or those on high-per-diem travel contracts.
How many painters work in West Virginia?+
BLS reports 800 painters employed in West Virginia as of 2024. Numbers fluctuate with major construction cycles — when big projects like LNG terminals or data centers start, demand spikes.
Do painters in West Virginia get per diem?+
Per diem is standard on travel contracts. The federal GSA baseline for West Virginia is typically $150-$260/day depending on the city. Contractors may set their per diem higher or lower — if it's below the GSA floor, you're subsidizing the contractor's housing budget out of pocket.
What's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage?+
Davis-Bacon rates are the legally-required minimum wages on federally-funded construction projects — base pay plus fringe benefits. Every contractor working a federal job must pay at least the Davis-Bacon rate for that county and trade. Private-sector jobs don't have to match, but many do as a competitive floor.