Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers Salary
The median pay for a painting, coating, and decorating workers in Kentucky is $42,220/year ($20.3/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $46,792 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 38.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Kentucky?
About painting, coating, and decorating workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Kentucky
Painting, coating, and decorating workers pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $42K locally vs. $42K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,110/month, which is 38.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level painting, coating, and decorating workers (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers salary by metro in Kentucky
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $37K | -12% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track painting, coating, and decorating workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a painting, coating, and decorating worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 38.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for painting, coating, and decorating workers in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new painting, coating, and decorating workers typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,078/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 53% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is painting, coating, and decorating worker a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $42K locally vs. $42K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for painting, coating, and decorating workers?
Kentucky pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do painting, coating, and decorating workers make in Kentucky?
The median is $42,220 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,640, and experienced painting, coating, and decorating workers can clear $60,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,856/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 38.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a painting, coating, and decorating workers salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median painting, coating, and decorating workers salary is worth about $46,792 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do painting, coating, and decorating workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.