Side-by-side distribution
Painter
$60,320
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 37.8%
- Live roles
- 156
Plumber
$95,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 54.6%
- Live roles
- 108
Highest-paying jobs
Experienced Matte Painter
Vehicle Painter - Auto Body Painter
HIRNG NOW! Automotive Painter (2nd Shift - 4/10 Schedule) - $6000 Bonus
Skilled Auto Body Painter (2nd Shift - 4/10 Schedule) - $6000 Bonus
HIRNG NOW! Skilled Automotive Painter (2nd Shift - 4/10 Schedule) - $6000 Bonus
Experienced Auto Painter (2nd Shift - 4/10 Schedule) - $6000 Bonus
Senior Auto Painter - $8,000 Bonus
Automotive Finish Painter
Matte Painter
Experienced Automotive Painter - $4,000 - $6,000 Bonus
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Carvana
|
$60,320 | 45 |
|
Sony Pictures Imageworks
|
$88,686 | 2 |
Crusoe
|
$49,400 | 2 |
Bethesda Health Group
|
$38,022 | 2 |
|
GILLIG
|
$86,278 | 1 |
|
New Flyer
|
$76,648 | 1 |
Hawthorne Machinery Co.
|
$60,320 | 1 |
Ableserve
|
$56,160 | 1 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Renuity
|
$120,000 | 16 |
| SI Sila | $81,120 | 10 |
Superior Contracting & Maintenance
|
$117,000 | 4 |
Roofstock
|
$78,000 | 4 |
Genz-Ryan
|
$127,500 | 2 |
MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions
|
$98,800 | 2 |
Hoffmann Brothers
|
$112,320 | 1 |
Dave Jones LLC
|
$112,320 | 1 |
Painter vs Plumber: which pays more?
The median for Painter is $60,320 per year (typically $45,760–$64,480), versus $95,000 for Plumber ($72,800–$104,000). That puts Plumber about 57% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Painter and Plumber are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.