Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers Salary
The median pay for a painting, coating, and decorating workers in Missouri is $48,560/year ($23.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $54,580 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 33.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Missouri?
About painting, coating, and decorating workers
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What this looks like in Missouri
Missouri sits well above the national pay line for painting, coating, and decorating workers, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $42K. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level painting, coating, and decorating workers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers salary by metro in Missouri
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $50K | +3% | 50 |
| St. Louis | $49K | +2% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track painting, coating, and decorating workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a painting, coating, and decorating worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 33.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new painting, coating, and decorating workers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,347/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Missouri?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $49K here vs. $42K nationally.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for painting, coating, and decorating workers?
Missouri pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $42K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do painting, coating, and decorating workers make in Missouri?
The median is $48,560 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,120, and experienced painting, coating, and decorating workers can clear $56,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,295/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 33.3% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $54,580 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.