FairangePainting · CA
Painting costs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only
How this market compares
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA has its own Painting labor market; here is what the BLS numbers say before you chase bids. Mean hourly pay here sits about 8% above the national OEWS mean.
Mean Painting pay here is $28.76/hr — national rank 53 of 487 areas that publish this occupation. Inside CA, that is rank 17 of 28 published areas. Hourly wages stretch from $21.33 (10th percentile) to $40.16 (90th). That $18.83 gap is why two bids on the same scope can still look honest.
Local employment for this SOC is roughly 4,040 workers (OEWS May 2025). Nationwide that occupation is about 225,190. Sample jobs: Interior Room Painting mid estimate $550 here vs $520 U.S. (6% above); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $6,659 here vs $6,220 U.S. (7% above); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $415 here vs $390 U.S. (6% above).
Same-state comparison: El Centro (about the same, $28.80); Redding ($28.55, 0.21 lower); Salinas ($29.06, 0.30 higher).
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 | $252 | $550 | $1,328 |
| Exterior House Painting (default size) | $3,091 | $6,659 | $16,426 |
| Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint | $168 | $415 | $1,086 |
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) | $28.76/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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