Running a painting business in Washington, DC
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area has about 4,380 painters. The median wage is $24.31 an hour, so half earn more and half earn less. That's 15% below the District of Columbia median of $28.61. Nationally, the median is $23.75, so Washington pays 2% more.
Market snapshot
- Painters employed in the metro area
- 4,380
- Median hourly wage
- $24.31
- Middle 50% earn
- $22.85 to $28.43 an hour
- Median annual wage
- $50,560
- District of Columbia median hourly wage
- $28.61
- U.S. median hourly wage
- $23.75
- Job concentration
- 0.96× the national share
- Painting contractors in the metro area
- 680
- Washington population
- 681,294
- Median year homes were built in Washington
- 1958
Job concentration compares the share of local jobs held by painters with the share nationwide. Above 1 means the trade is more concentrated here than average.
Painting in nearby cities
| City | Workers in the metro | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | 1,460 | $23.36 |
| Hagerstown, MD | 90 | $20.71 |
| Winchester, VA | 60 | $20.96 |
| York, PA | 200 | $25.97 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 90 | $27.22 |
| Dover, DE | 30 | $24.27 |
How Tradesman helps painting businesses in Washington
Options for every finish
Offer walls only, walls plus trim, or the full room as options on one estimate. Customers choose before they approve.
Know when the crew is on site
Crew members get a reminder to clock in when they arrive at the job and to clock out when they leave.
Margins by job
Paint, supplies and labor hours log against each job, so you can see which kinds of jobs actually pay best.
Questions about painting in Washington
How much do painters make in Washington?
In May 2025, the median wage for painters in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area was $24.31 an hour. The middle half earned between $22.85 and $28.43 an hour.
How many painters work in Washington?
About 4,380 painters worked in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How many painting contractors are in Washington?
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area had 680 establishments classified as painting contractors in 2023, according to the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns.
Sources
Figures cover the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area unless they name Washington. Wages are for employees, not business owners.
Run your painting business in Washington from one place.
Estimates, scheduling, dispatch and payments in one app. Setup takes about five minutes.