FairangePainting · CA
Painting costs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only
How this market compares
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA has its own Painting labor market; here is what the BLS numbers say before you chase bids. Mean hourly pay here sits about 27% above the national OEWS mean.
On the national Painting wage ladder (487 areas), San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA sits at #7 with a $33.91 mean. Compared with other CA areas that report Painting wages, this market is #1 of 28. The published p10–p90 band runs $23.11 to $48.34 (a $25.23 spread around the $33.91 mean; median $30.58).
OEWS counts about 5,310 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 $624 here vs $520 U.S. (20% above); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $7,726 here vs $6,220 U.S. (24% above); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $475 here vs $390 U.S. (22% above).
Nearby / same-state markets worth checking: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($33.30, 0.61 lower); Vallejo ($32.35, 1.56 lower); Santa Rosa-Petaluma ($32.02, 1.89 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 | $268 | $624 | $1,542 |
| Exterior House Painting (default size) | $3,320 | $7,726 | $19,533 |
| Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint | $180 | $475 | $1,275 |
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) | $33.91/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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