Painting · WA

Painting costs in Longview-Kelso, WA

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 Longview-Kelso Painting slice of OEWS May 2025. Mean hourly pay here sits about 7% above the national OEWS mean.

Among 487 OEWS areas with published Painting wages, Longview-Kelso ranks #59 nationally on mean hourly pay ($28.39). Compared with other WA areas that report Painting wages, this market is #5 of 13. The published p10–p90 band runs $22.72 to $39.94 (a $17.22 spread around the $28.39 mean; median $28.13).

OEWS counts about 40 Painters, Construction and Maintenance jobs in this area. Nationwide that occupation is about 225,190. Sample jobs: Interior Room Painting mid estimate $545 here vs $520 U.S. (5% above); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $6,582 here vs $6,220 U.S. (6% above); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $410 here vs $390 U.S. (5% above).

Same-state comparison: Bellingham ($28.28, 0.11 lower); Mount Vernon-Anacortes ($28.08, 0.31 lower); Kennewick-Richland ($29.21, 0.82 higher).

Mean hourly wage
$28.39
Median hourly
$28.13
p10 – p90
$22.72 – $39.94

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$263$545$1,322
Exterior House Painting (default size)$3,257$6,582$16,341
Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint$177$410$1,080

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)$28.39/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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Gear people often ask about

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Thermostats

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

Partner options
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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