Running a painting business in State College, PA
The State College, PA metro area has about 90 painters. The median wage is $22.39 an hour, so half earn more and half earn less. That's 11% below the Pennsylvania median of $25.06. Nationally, the median is $23.75, so State College pays 6% less.
Market snapshot
- Painters employed in the metro area
- 90
- Median hourly wage
- $22.39
- Middle 50% earn
- $21.44 to $26.57 an hour
- Median annual wage
- $46,570
- Pennsylvania median hourly wage
- $25.06
- U.S. median hourly wage
- $23.75
- Job concentration
- 0.86× the national share
- Painting contractors in the metro area
- 18
- State College population
- 41,050
- Median year homes were built in State College
- 1971
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 State College ranks in Pennsylvania
- #10 of 15 Pennsylvania metros for the number of painters
- #13 of 15 for median hourly wage
Painting in nearby cities
| City | Workers in the metro | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | 60 | $22.22 |
| Williamsport, PA | 40 | $22.13 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 90 | $27.22 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 230 | $25.87 |
| Johnstown, PA | 30 | $22.91 |
| Hagerstown, MD | 90 | $20.71 |
How Tradesman helps painting businesses in State College
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 State College
How much do painters make in State College?
In May 2025, the median wage for painters in the State College, PA metro area was $22.39 an hour. The middle half earned between $21.44 and $26.57 an hour.
How many painters work in State College?
About 90 painters worked in the State College, PA metro area in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How many painting contractors are in State College?
The State College, PA metro area had 18 establishments classified as painting contractors in 2023, according to the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns.
Sources
Figures cover the State College, PA metro area unless they name State College. Wages are for employees, not business owners.
Run your painting business in State College from one place.
Estimates, scheduling, dispatch and payments in one app. Setup takes about five minutes.