FairangePainting · NY
Painting costs in Watertown-Fort Drum, NY
Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only
How this market compares
Practical cut for Watertown-Fort Drum: published OEWS wages for Painters, Construction and Maintenance, then the same estimating math we use everywhere. Mean hourly pay here sits about 8% below the national OEWS mean.
Mean Painting pay here is $24.52/hr — national rank 213 of 487 areas that publish this occupation. Inside NY, that is rank 16 of 16 published areas. Percentile spread: $18.70–$32.37. Median sits at $22.71.
OEWS counts about 50 Painters, Construction and Maintenance jobs in this area. Nationwide that occupation is about 225,190. Sample jobs: Interior Room Painting mid estimate $489 here vs $520 U.S. (6% below); Exterior House Painting mid estimate $5,780 here vs $6,220 U.S. (7% below); Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint mid estimate $365 here vs $390 U.S. (6% below).
Nearby / same-state markets worth checking: Glens Falls ($25.40, 0.88 higher); Rochester ($25.74, 1.22 higher); Utica-Rome ($25.83, 1.31 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 | $229 | $489 | $1,125 |
| Exterior House Painting (default size) | $2,763 | $5,780 | $13,473 |
| Exterior Trim Caulk & Spot Paint | $152 | $365 | $906 |
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) | $24.52/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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY Painting. Partner.
Want actual bids?
Leave a few details if you’d like local pros to follow up. We’ll only share what you submit after you check the box below.
Affiliate link
Gear people often ask about
We’re not a store. These spots are for partner recommendations — clearly labeled. We may earn a commission if you buy through a link here.
A decent thermostat won’t fix a bad install, but it can stop the short-cycling arguments.
Partner options Affiliate linkTank, tankless, heat-pump — the sticker price is only half the story.
Partner options Affiliate linkRead the exclusions. “Full coverage” rarely means what the brochure implies.
Partner options Affiliate linkMonthly wage & cost note
Short email when we refresh the index. No daily drip campaign. Unsubscribe whenever.