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Salary comparison

Painters, Construction and Maintenance vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?

Painters, Construction and Maintenance out-earn Construction Laborers by $2K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Painters, Construction and Maintenance land at $49,400 and Construction Laborers at $47,120. The education gap is real: painters, construction and maintenance programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Painters, Construction and Maintenance is Hawaii ($68,220); for Construction Laborers it's Hawaii ($77,110).

Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Construction Laborers
Median salary
$49,400
$47,120
Hourly rate
$23.75/hr
$22.66/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$37,440
$35,090
Senior level (90th %)
$78,810
$78,090
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
225,190
1,096,780
Job growth (10-year)
3.8%
7.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Hawaii
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Painters, Construction and Maintenance median pay.

State
Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Construction Laborers
Hawaii
$68,220
$77,110
Illinois
$61,260
$60,690
Alaska
$60,980
$58,060
Washington
$59,650
$57,720
New York
$59,570
$55,930
New Jersey
$59,250
$64,060
California
$59,020
$60,270
Connecticut
$58,480
$58,290
Massachusetts
$57,510
$63,390
Missouri
$57,510
$56,730
Minnesota
$57,270
$60,260
Wisconsin
$50,090
$56,100
Ohio
$49,450
$56,080
Oregon
$48,900
$50,860
Rhode Island
$41,590
$57,240

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Painters, Construction and Maintenance or Construction Laborers?

Painters, Construction and Maintenance earn more nationally. The median is $49,400 for Painters, Construction and Maintenance versus $47,120 for Construction Laborers, a difference of $2K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Painters, Construction and Maintenance or Construction Laborers?

Construction Laborers has the better 10-year outlook at 7.3% projected growth, compared to 3.8% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Painters, Construction and Maintenance or Construction Laborers?

Painters, Construction and Maintenance typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Construction Laborers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Painters, Construction and Maintenance get paid the most?

Hawaii is the top-paying state for Painters, Construction and Maintenance at $68,220/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Painters, Construction and Maintenance vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Hawaii, Painters, Construction and Maintenance earn $68,220 vs. $77,110 for Construction Laborers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Painters, Construction and Maintenance salary breakdownView →Full Construction Laborers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Painters, Construction and Maintenance by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Construction Laborers by take-home payExplore →How to become a painters, construction and maintenanceGuide →How to become a construction laborersGuide →