FairangePainting · PA
Painting costs in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only
How this market compares
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ has its own Painting labor market; here is what the BLS numbers say before you chase bids. Mean hourly pay here sits about 3% below the national OEWS mean.
Among 487 OEWS areas with published Painting wages, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton ranks #140 nationally on mean hourly pay ($25.91). Inside PA, that is rank 3 of 19 published areas. Hourly wages stretch from $18.00 (10th percentile) to $33.34 (90th). That $15.34 gap is why two bids on the same scope can still look honest.
OEWS counts about 310 Painters, Construction and Maintenance jobs in this area. Nationwide that occupation is about 225,190. How a few common projects pencil out against the national mid: Interior Room Painting mid estimate $509 here vs $520 U.S. (2% below); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $6,068 here vs $6,220 U.S. (2% below); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $381 here vs $390 U.S. (2% below).
Same-state comparison: Harrisburg-Carlisle ($25.83, 0.08 lower); Pittsburgh ($25.66, 0.25 lower); York-Hanover ($25.09, 0.82 lower).
Sample project ranges
| Project | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Room Painting | $224 | $509 | $1,152 |
| Exterior House Painting (default size) | $2,683 | $6,068 | $13,847 |
| Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint | $148 | $381 | $929 |
Rebates (verify; don’t trust a random Facebook ad)
Check IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE for any incentives that apply to this project. Start with IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE.
Local tip: Local code, permit fees, and how busy crews are this month move numbers as much as wage rates do.
What usually moves the number
- Scope surprises: duct repairs, panel upgrades, extra roof layers.
- How booked local crews are this season.
- Materials choices — we only nudge materials with a dampened regional factor. See methodology.
Getting quotes without the circus
- Screenshot our mid/low/high band.
- Ask three licensed, insured pros for written scopes.
- Compare exclusions — permits, haul-away, thermostats, flashing — before crowning a winner.
Check our math
BLS OEWS May 2025 · local hourly means the calculator uses
| Painter (47-2141) | $25.91/hr mean |
Source: official BLS OEWS data for this area · area index: oessrcma.htm.
Contractor markup (2.0× / 2.25× / 2.5×) and the regional materials factor are ours — see methodology.
Paid listing for Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Painting. Partner.
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