FairangePainting · MO
Painting costs in St. Louis, MO-IL
Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only
How this market compares
St. Louis, MO-IL has its own Painting labor market; here is what the BLS numbers say before you chase bids. Mean hourly pay here sits about 13% above the national OEWS mean.
On the national Painting wage ladder (487 areas), St. Louis, MO-IL sits at #28 with a $30.15 mean. Compared with other MO areas that report Painting wages, this market is #1 of 12. Percentile spread: $19.44–$40.09. Median sits at $28.75.
Local employment for this SOC is roughly 2,350 workers (OEWS May 2025). Nationwide that occupation is about 225,190. How a few common projects pencil out against the national mid: Interior Room Painting mid estimate $570 here vs $520 U.S. (10% above); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $6,947 here vs $6,220 U.S. (12% above); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $431 here vs $390 U.S. (11% above).
Same-state comparison: Kansas City ($26.88, 3.27 lower); Cape Girardeau ($26.73, 3.42 lower); St. Joseph ($26.35, 3.80 lower).
Sample project ranges
| Project | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Room Painting | $237 | $570 | $1,329 |
| Exterior House Painting (default size) | $2,868 | $6,947 | $16,410 |
| Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint | $157 | $431 | $1,086 |
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) | $30.15/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 St. Louis, MO-IL Painting. Partner.
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