Running a painting business in Richmond, VA
The Richmond, VA metro area has about 1,010 painters. The median wage is $22.92 an hour, so half earn more and half earn less. That's in line with the Virginia median of $22.82. Nationally, the median is $23.75, so Richmond pays 3% less.
Market snapshot
- Painters employed in the metro area
- 1,010
- Median hourly wage
- $22.92
- Middle 50% earn
- $18.94 to $23.56 an hour
- Median annual wage
- $47,670
- Virginia median hourly wage
- $22.82
- U.S. median hourly wage
- $23.75
- Job concentration
- 1.05× the national share
- Painting contractors in the metro area
- 202
- Richmond population
- 229,359
- Median year homes were built in Richmond
- 1959
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 Richmond ranks in Virginia
- #2 of 7 Virginia metros for the number of painters
- #1 of 7 for median hourly wage
Painting in nearby cities
| City | Workers in the metro | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | 180 | $22.02 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 110 | $18.75 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 1,610 | $22.65 |
| Washington, DC | 4,380 | $24.31 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 40 | $19.42 |
| Salisbury, MD | 70 | $21.13 |
How Tradesman helps painting businesses in Richmond
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 Richmond
How much do painters make in Richmond?
In May 2025, the median wage for painters in the Richmond, VA metro area was $22.92 an hour. The middle half earned between $18.94 and $23.56 an hour.
How many painters work in Richmond?
About 1,010 painters worked in the Richmond, VA metro area in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How many painting contractors are in Richmond?
The Richmond, VA metro area had 202 establishments classified as painting contractors in 2023, according to the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns.
Sources
Figures cover the Richmond, VA metro area unless they name Richmond. Wages are for employees, not business owners.
Run your painting business in Richmond from one place.
Estimates, scheduling, dispatch and payments in one app. Setup takes about five minutes.