FairangePainting · IA
Painting costs in Cedar Rapids, IA
Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only
How this market compares
Skip the generic national blog post — this page is the Cedar Rapids Painting slice of OEWS May 2025. Mean hourly pay here sits about 10% below the national OEWS mean.
Among 487 OEWS areas with published Painting wages, Cedar Rapids ranks #235 nationally on mean hourly pay ($24.10). Inside IA, that is rank 5 of 12 published areas. Hourly wages stretch from $17.95 (10th percentile) to $29.54 (90th). That $11.59 gap is why two bids on the same scope can still look honest.
OEWS counts about 290 Painters, Construction and Maintenance jobs in this area. Nationwide that occupation is about 225,190. Sample jobs: Interior Room Painting mid estimate $483 here vs $520 U.S. (7% below); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $5,693 here vs $6,220 U.S. (8% below); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $360 here vs $390 U.S. (8% below).
Same-state comparison: Sioux City ($23.90, 0.20 lower); Dubuque ($24.35, 0.25 higher); Iowa City ($23.29, 0.81 lower).
Local tip: Local code, permit fees, and how busy crews are this month move numbers as much as wage rates do.
Sample project ranges
| Project | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Room Painting | $222 | $483 | $1,054 |
| Exterior House Painting (default size) | $2,671 | $5,693 | $12,408 |
| Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint | $147 | $360 | $842 |
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.
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
- 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) | $24.10/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 Cedar Rapids, IA Painting. Partner.
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