Painting · NY

Painting costs in Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area

Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only

How this market compares

If you are pricing Painting work in Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area, the wage file is the honest place to start. Mean hourly pay here sits about 11% above the national OEWS mean.

On the national Painting wage ladder (487 areas), Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area sits at #39 with a $29.59 mean. Compared with other NY areas that report Painting wages, this market is #4 of 16. The published p10–p90 band runs $21.76 to $48.93 (a $27.17 spread around the $29.59 mean; median $27.84).

OEWS counts about 150 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 $562 here vs $520 U.S. (8% above); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $6,831 here vs $6,220 U.S. (10% above); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $424 here vs $390 U.S. (9% above).

Same-state comparison: Elmira ($30.00, 0.41 higher); Ithaca ($28.25, 1.34 lower); Buffalo-Cheektowaga ($28.21, 1.38 lower).

Mean hourly wage
$29.59
Median hourly
$27.84
p10 – p90
$21.76 – $48.93

Local tip: Local code, permit fees, and how busy crews are this month move numbers as much as wage rates do.

Sample project ranges

ProjectLowMidHigh
Interior Room Painting$255$562$1,549
Exterior House Painting (default size)$3,145$6,831$19,721
Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint$171$424$1,284

What usually moves the number

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.

Getting quotes without the circus

  1. Screenshot our mid/low/high band.
  2. Ask three licensed, insured pros for written scopes.
  3. Compare exclusions — permits, haul-away, thermostats, flashing — before crowning a winner.
What this estimate can’t tell you. Roof pitch, an old house or code upgrades, tough access, permits, emergency or after-hours calls, and brand tier can push a real quote outside this range.

Check our math

BLS OEWS May 2025 · local hourly means the calculator uses

Painter (47-2141)$29.59/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.

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Thermostats

A decent thermostat won’t fix a bad install, but it can stop the short-cycling arguments.

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Water heaters

Tank, tankless, heat-pump — the sticker price is only half the story.

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Warranties & financing

Read the exclusions. “Full coverage” rarely means what the brochure implies.

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Monthly wage & cost note

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