FairangePainting · KY
Painting costs in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
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 Louisville/Jefferson County Painting slice of OEWS May 2025. Mean hourly pay here sits about 3% below the national OEWS mean.
Among 487 OEWS areas with published Painting wages, Louisville/Jefferson County ranks #146 nationally on mean hourly pay ($25.78). Inside KY, that is rank 1 of 8 published areas. Percentile spread: $18.26–$31.19. Median sits at $23.52.
OEWS counts about 590 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 $507 here vs $520 U.S. (2% below); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $6,041 here vs $6,220 U.S. (3% below); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $380 here vs $390 U.S. (3% below).
Nearby / same-state markets worth checking: Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area ($24.66, 1.12 lower); Lexington-Fayette ($24.34, 1.44 lower); Owensboro ($23.62, 2.16 lower).
Sample project ranges
| Project | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Room Painting | $226 | $507 | $1,098 |
| Exterior House Painting (default size) | $2,714 | $6,041 | $13,040 |
| Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint | $149 | $380 | $881 |
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) | $25.78/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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Painting. Partner.
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A decent thermostat won’t fix a bad install, but it can stop the short-cycling arguments.
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