Painter Prevailing Wage Rates in California (2026)
Painters on prevailing wage projects in California are paid $18.99 to $60.46 per hour, with a median total of $52.58 across the 50 determination records listed below. That total is base rate plus fringe benefits; the median base rate is $34.08, and among the 50 records listing a fringe separately the median fringe is $18.50. Rates differ by county, construction type and funding source, so use the row that matches your project.
Figures above are computed over the 50 hourly records in the table below, which is the first page of a larger set. They are not a statewide average of all painters in California. Most recent determination in this set: May 18, 2026.
How much do painters earn on prevailing wage jobs in California?
Every row below is one wage determination line: a painter classification, in one county, for one construction type, under one funding source. The rate that applies to your project is the row whose county, construction type and funding source all match it — a Highway rate does not apply to a Building project in the same county, and a state determination does not substitute for a federal one.
WageFinder holds more painter records for California than fit on this page. Open a county below, or search all California painters.
What does the painter classification cover?
Painters prepare and coat surfaces — brush, roller and spray application, plus wallcovering and specialty coatings. Bridge and steel painting is frequently a separate, higher-rated classification than building painting because of the containment, lead abatement and access requirements involved.
Work typically covered
- Surface preparation
- Brush, roller and spray application
- Drywall finishing and taping
- Wallcovering
- Steel and bridge coatings
Also listed as
- Painter (Brush and Roller)
- Painter (Spray)
- Painter: Bridge
- Drywall Finisher/Taper
In this California result set the work appears under 8 distinct classification names.
Painter rates by county in California
Prevailing wage is set county by county. These are the California counties with painter records in the set above — open one to see every classification on that county's determination, not just this trade.
Other trades in California
Painter prevailing wage questions
What is the prevailing wage for a painter in California?
Across the 50 federal-funded determination records WageFinder lists for painters in California, total prevailing wage runs from $18.99 to $60.46 per hour, median $52.58. There is no single statewide figure: each county's determination sets its own rate, and the same county can carry different rates for Building, Highway, Heavy and Residential work.
Does the painter rate include benefits?
The total prevailing wage shown is the base hourly rate plus the fringe benefit rate. Of the 50 California records on this page, 50 list a fringe amount separately, with a median of $18.50 per hour — roughly 35% of the median total. The rest list no separate fringe, meaning the base rate is the whole obligation. Fringe can be paid as bona fide benefit plan contributions, as cash added to the paycheck, or as a mix of both.
Which California counties have painter rates?
This page lists painter records for 26 counties in California: Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, Del-Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Kern, Lake, Lassen, Los-Angeles, and others. Determinations that apply statewide appear under a statewide entry rather than a named county.
How current are these California painter rates?
The most recent determination in this set is dated May 18, 2026. WageFinder re-reads the official sources weekly, but the date that matters for compliance is the determination date on the document itself, which is shown on every wage detail page and links back to the government source.
Running certified payroll against these rates?
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