FairangePainting · DE
Painting costs in Dover, DE
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 Dover, the wage file is the honest place to start. Mean hourly pay here sits about 12% below the national OEWS mean.
Mean Painting pay here is $23.52/hr — national rank 263 of 487 areas that publish this occupation. Inside DE, that is rank 2 of 2 published areas. Percentile spread: $16.38–$26.58. Median sits at $24.27.
OEWS counts about 30 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 $475 here vs $520 U.S. (9% below); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $5,573 here vs $6,220 U.S. (10% below); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $353 here vs $390 U.S. (9% below).
Sample project ranges
| Project | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Room Painting | $210 | $475 | $979 |
| Exterior House Painting (default size) | $2,481 | $5,573 | $11,294 |
| Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint | $138 | $353 | $775 |
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) | $23.52/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 Dover, DE Painting. Partner.
Want actual bids?
Leave a few details if you’d like local pros to follow up. We’ll only share what you submit after you check the box below.
Affiliate link
Gear people often ask about
We’re not a store. These spots are for partner recommendations — clearly labeled. We may earn a commission if you buy through a link here.
A decent thermostat won’t fix a bad install, but it can stop the short-cycling arguments.
Partner options Affiliate linkTank, tankless, heat-pump — the sticker price is only half the story.
Partner options Affiliate linkRead the exclusions. “Full coverage” rarely means what the brochure implies.
Partner options Affiliate linkMonthly wage & cost note
Short email when we refresh the index. No daily drip campaign. Unsubscribe whenever.