Running a painting business in Erie, PA
The Erie, PA metro area has about 130 painters. The median wage is $22.90 an hour, so half earn more and half earn less. That's 9% below the Pennsylvania median of $25.06. Nationally, the median is $23.75, so Erie pays 4% less.
Market snapshot
- Painters employed in the metro area
- 130
- Median hourly wage
- $22.90
- Middle 50% earn
- $19.09 to $27.00 an hour
- Median annual wage
- $47,620
- Pennsylvania median hourly wage
- $25.06
- U.S. median hourly wage
- $23.75
- Job concentration
- 0.74× the national share
- Painting contractors in the metro area
- 23
- Erie population
- 93,850
- Median year homes were built in Erie
- 1949
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.
How Erie ranks in Pennsylvania
- #7 of 15 Pennsylvania metros for the number of painters
- #12 of 15 for median hourly wage
Painting in nearby cities
| City | Workers in the metro | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, NY | 750 | $25.64 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,260 | $23.79 |
| Johnstown, PA | 30 | $22.91 |
| Altoona, PA | 60 | $22.22 |
| Rochester, NY | 590 | $22.71 |
| State College, PA | 90 | $22.39 |
How Tradesman helps painting businesses in Erie
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 Erie
How much do painters make in Erie?
In May 2025, the median wage for painters in the Erie, PA metro area was $22.90 an hour. The middle half earned between $19.09 and $27.00 an hour.
How many painters work in Erie?
About 130 painters worked in the Erie, PA metro area in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How many painting contractors are in Erie?
The Erie, PA metro area had 23 establishments classified as painting contractors in 2023, according to the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns.
Sources
Figures cover the Erie, PA metro area unless they name Erie. Wages are for employees, not business owners.
Run your painting business in Erie from one place.
Estimates, scheduling, dispatch and payments in one app. Setup takes about five minutes.