The numbers
What a painting shop actually runs on. Published figures retain their citations and confidence badges. Research-pass counts describe repeated review runs, not independent evidence.
What could one customer property be worth to your trade?
Estimate one property, then compare the same scoped method with Level's measured building stock across all 50 states, DC, and 100 metros. Commercial and residential evidence stay separate, and every planning assumption is editable.
Download the canonical 2,265-row CSV. TradeIndex links to Level's source rather than copying the matrix.
The two axes
AI-Resilience
64.2AI-Leverage
74.3Sub-score weights and definitions: methodology.
What does a painting business sell for?
Painting & Wall Finishing businesses sell for 3x to 11x EBITDA. The multiple is set mostly by scale: small owner-operator shops (Sub-$1M) trade at 2x to 4x, while scaled platforms ($3M+) reach 5x to 7x. Based on 2026 transactions. That places painting 4 of 13 trades on the index by top-of-range multiple.
Source: First Page Sage, EBITDA & Valuation Multiples for Construction Companies - 2025 (2024) · 5 research passes
The tier breakdown below runs 2x to 7x, extending below the bottom of the 3x to 11x headline range. The headline range is a median reconciled across cited research inputs; the tier breakdown is a single named source's ladder. Both are reported as published rather than averaged together.
Sub-$1M EBITDA painting companies typically trade between 2.0x and 4.0x EBITDA; $1M to $3M EBITDA platforms sell for 4.0x to 6.0x EBITDA; and platform-quality painting companies with $3M+ EBITDA with strong commercial or HOA recurring revenue command 5.0x to 7.0x EBITDA.
Why buyers are active. The four largest firms hold 6.9% of this market, which is the fragmentation that makes a roll-up cheaper to assemble than to build. Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, 'Small Business Size Standards: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting; Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction; Utilities; Construction', Proposed Rule, 85 FR 62239 (October 2, 2020), Table 4 'Size Standards Supported by Each Factor for Each Industry (Receipts)' at 85 FR 62248, column (6) headed 'Four-firm ratio (%)', row NAICS 238320 Painting and Wall Covering Contractors. Derived by SBA from the U.S. Census Bureau special tabulation of the 2012 Economic Census. ↗ · 1 research pass
Who is buying, and what they pay for
Buyer demand for US painting and wall finishing businesses is active across four distinct buyer tiers: franchise systems (e.g., CertaPro, Five Star, WOW 1 DAY), direct private equity platform aggregators (e.g., Cherry Coatings, R.L. James, Painters USA, TMI Coatings), multi-trade home services holding platforms (e.g., Neighborly, Authority Brands, Apex Service Partners), and SBA 7(a)-backed individual buyers for sub-$1M EBITDA businesses. What buyers value most includes low owner dependence, clean financial documentation, commercial job backlogs with repeat clients, and a strong brand reputation/review profile ('digital moat').
Source: CT Acquisitions (2026); Craftsman Painter (2026) ↗
Named acquirers. Notable public platforms and private equity-backed acquirers in the painting and wall finishing trade include: (1) FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ: FSV), a public platform operating FirstService Brands, which owns CertaPro Painters, the largest residential and commercial painting franchise platform in North America, and routinely completes franchisee buybacks and bolt-on acquisitions [FirstService Corporation SEC Form 6-K Filing, 2026, https://www.sec.gov]; (2) Neighborly (backed by KKR), a multi-brand home services platform that owns Five Star Painting, operating 230+ franchised territories across North America [Entrepreneur / Neighborly FDD Report, 2022, https://www.entrepreneur.com]; (3) R.L. James Exteriors (backed by Hidden Harbor Capital Partners), a commercial painting and exterior restoration platform that acquired Paramount Painting & Services, LLC in February 2026 [Hidden Harbor Capital Partners Press Release, 2026, https://www.hh-cp.com]; (4) Premium Service Brands (backed by Susquehanna Private Capital), a multi-brand franchise platform operating 360° Painting [Business Wire / Susquehanna Private Capital Press Release, 2021, https://www.businesswire.com]; and (5) Pilot Painting (backed by Platt Park Capital Partners and Source Capital), a commercial painting and reconstruction platform in the Southwest [Source Capital Press Release, 2024, https://www.source-cap.com].
Source: FirstService Corporation SEC Filing (2026) []; Hidden Harbor Capital Partners Press Release (2026) []; Susquehanna Private Capital Press Release / Business Wire (2021) []; Source Capital Press Release (2024) []; Entrepreneur Magazine (2022) []. ↗
A multiple is applied to adjusted EBITDA, and for most contractors that earnings figure is the contested part: job costing that misallocates labor, untracked work in progress, and un-normalized owner compensation all move it before any multiple applies, and a buyer recomputes it in diligence. Level CFO publishes the operating side of that, contractor margin and cash benchmarks by trade. Compare every trade’s multiple side by side on what trade businesses sell for.
The research
Published numbers retain citations from public sources such as BLS/OEWS, licensing boards, permit records, and public filings. Badges show confidence and repeated research-pass counts. Pass counts are workflow metadata, not counts of independent evidence sources.
Labor & workforce
Wages & compensation
| Median Hourly Wage6 research passes · official source | $22.94 |
| Median Annual Wage6 research passes · official source | $48K |
| Pct25 Hourly Wage6 research passes · official source | $18.74 |
| Pct75 Hourly Wage6 research passes · official source | $28.6 |
| Pct90 Hourly Wage6 research passes · official source | $36.55 |
| Pct10 Hourly Wage6 research passes · official source | $17.1 |
Sources (1)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2023 ↗
Employment
| Us Employment6 research passes · official source | 342,200 |
| Projected 10yr Growth6 research passes · official source | 4% |
| Annual Openings6 research passes · official source | 28,100 |
| Projected 10yr Net Change6 research passes · official source | 13,000 |
Sources (1)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook ( ↗
Labor shortage
| Unfilled Openings6 research passes · official source | 28,100 |
| Vacancy Rate5 research passes · high confidence | 3.5% |
| Vacancy Rate Pct Shared Across | 7% |
Shortage Note. The U.S. construction industry needs to attract an estimated 349,000 net new workers in 2026 and 456,000 in 2027 on top of normal hiring to satisfy labor demand and offset retirements across trades.
Vacancy Rate Pct Note. This figure is an industry-wide benchmark, not a per-trade measurement: the same value is published for 7 trade or segment records in this dataset. Read it as the specialty-trade baseline, not as a finding that distinguishes this trade from another.
Sources (3)
Workforce aging
| Median Worker Age5 research passes · official source | 43.1 |
| Pct Over 555 research passes · medium | 24.7 |
Retirement Note. According to research by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), approximately 41 percent of the current U.S. construction workforce is projected to retire by 2031.
Training pipeline
| Apprenticeship Enrollment5 research passes · medium | 3,945 |
| Annual Completions2 research passes · verified | 436 |
Pipeline Gap Note. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 28,100 average annual job openings for Painters, Construction and Maintenance from 2024 to 2034, whereas USDOL Registered Apprenticeships produce only 436 completions per year, demonstrating a severe pipeline gap where over 98% of new industry entrants are supplied outside formal registered apprenticeship channels.
Sources (2)
- U.S. Department of Labor RAPIDS Data / Institute for Women's Policy Research
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Painters, Construction and Maintenance (2025) ↗
Immigration reliance
| Pct Foreign Born5 research passes · high confidence | 53 |
Visa Dependence Note. The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) does not collect legal immigration status or specific visa types. In practice, painting contractors can utilize the Department of Labor H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker Visa Program for seasonal or peak-load staffing. However, industry research indicates that temporary guest worker visa programs are strictly capped (66,000 standard annual cap) and limited to temporary needs, meaning the high foreign-born share in painting and trade crafts relies predominantly on lawful permanent residents, naturalized citizens, and undocumented workers.
Sources (2)
- National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analysis of U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)
- U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Program ↗
Unionization
| Union Membership6 research passes · medium | 8.9% |
Prevailing Wage Note. Under the federal Davis-Bacon Act and state prevailing wage laws, all federal and federally assisted construction, alteration, or repair contracts over $2,000, specifically including painting and decorating, must pay local prevailing wages and fringe benefits, which are routinely tied to International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) collective bargaining agreements.
Sources (2)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Current Population Survey (CPS) / Unionstats.com ( and https://www.unionstats.com ↗
- U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, 2024
Licensing & credentials
| States Requiring License5 research passes · verified | 27 |
Bonding Note. Surety bond requirements for licensed painting contractors typically range from $4,250 to $25,000 depending on the state (e.g., California CSLB mandates a $25,000 contractor bond, Arizona ROC requires $4,250, and Arkansas requires $10,000). States also routinely require proof of general liability insurance (commonly between $300,000 and $500,000 per occurrence) and workers' compensation coverage.
Reciprocity Note. Painting contractor license reciprocity is not automatic or nationwide. While 15 to 16 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination to satisfy trade examination requirements for commercial building categories, specialty trade reciprocity relies on bilateral state agreements (e.g., California CSLB maintains trade exam reciprocity with Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and Utah).
Sources (3)
- Institute for Justice, License to Work: A National Study of Burdens from Occupational Licensing (3rd Edition) ↗
- California Contractors State License Board (2023, ) and Next Insurance Painting Contractor Licensing Guide (2026, https://www.nextinsurance.com ↗
- California Contractors State License Board (2025, ) and National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies (2025, https://www.nascla.org ↗
Market structure & size
Market size
| Market Size5 research passes · limited support | $49.0B |
| Cagr5 research passes · limited support | 2.2% |
| Cagr Forecast Window | 2021-2026 |
Sources (1)
- IBISWorld - Painters in the US Industry Report (2026) ↗
Firm counts
| Num Establishments6 research passes · official source | 37,963 |
| Num Firms6 research passes · official source | 37,830 |
| Avg Employees Per Firm6 research passes · official source | 5.23 |
Firm-size distribution
| Pct Firms Under 1m1 research pass · limited support | 88.8 |
| Pct Firms 1m 5m1 research pass · limited support | 9.8 |
| Pct Firms 5m 20m1 research pass · limited support | 1.2 |
| Pct Firms Over 20m1 research pass · limited support | 0.2 |
| Pct Nonemployer3 research passes · high confidence | 79 |
Fragmentation
| Top4 Firm Share1 research pass · official source | 6.9% |
Mom And Pop Share Note. Firms with fewer than 20 employees account for 95.6% of employer businesses in NAICS 238320, and operators with under $1M in annual revenue comprise 89% of all industry firms.
Sources (2)
- U.S. Small Business Administration, 'Small Business Size Standards: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting; Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction; Utilities; Construction', Proposed Rule, 85 FR 62239 (October 2, 2020), Table 4 'Size Standards Supported by Each Factor for Each Industry (Receipts)' at 85 FR 62248, column (6) headed 'Four-firm ratio (%)', row NAICS 238320 Painting and Wall Covering Contractors. Derived by SBA from the U.S. Census Bureau special tabulation of the 2012 Economic Census. ↗
- CT Acquisitions, 'Industry Fragmentation League Table 2026', analyzing U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB) 2022 data (2026) ↗
Franchise penetration
| Franchise Penetration1 research pass · medium | 28.5% |
Sources (1)
- Trade Economy Index research synthesis: median of 1 cited research input: IBISWorld / U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (via CT Acquisitions, 'The Painting Acquisition Market: What Buyers Need to Know')
Business formation rate
| Annual New Firm Formation4 research passes · limited support | 13,846 |
| Annual Closure Rate4 research passes · official source | 12% |
| Survival 5yr5 research passes · official source | 49.4% |
Unit economics
Margins
| Gross Margin5 research passes · medium | 40% |
| Operating Margin5 research passes · verified | 7.1% |
| Operating Margin Pct Shared Across | 14% |
Operating Margin Pct Note. This figure is an industry-wide benchmark, not a per-trade measurement: the same value is published for 14 trade or segment records in this dataset. Read it as the specialty-trade baseline, not as a finding that distinguishes this trade from another.
Sources (2)
- Painting Contractors Association (PCA) - Maximize Profitability in Your Contracting Business (2024):
- CFMA Construction Financial Benchmarker, 2024 ↗
Cost structure
| Labor Pct Of Revenue3 research passes · medium | 18 |
| Materials Pct Of Revenue3 research passes · verified | 15 |
| Sga Overhead3 research passes · verified | 11.8% |
| Sga Overhead Pct Shared Across | 5 |
| Labor Pct Of Revenue Shared Across | 4 |
Sga Overhead Pct Note. This figure is an industry-wide benchmark, not a per-trade measurement: the same value is published for 5 trade or segment records in this dataset. Read it as the specialty-trade baseline, not as a finding that distinguishes this trade from another.
Labor Pct Of Revenue Note. This figure is an industry-wide benchmark, not a per-trade measurement: the same value is published for 4 trade or segment records in this dataset. Read it as the specialty-trade baseline, not as a finding that distinguishes this trade from another.
Productivity
| Revenue Per Employee5 research passes · medium | $129K |
| Gross Profit Per Labor Hour1 research pass · limited support | $79.49 |
| Billable Utilization2 research passes · verified | 65% |
| Billable Utilization Pct Shared Across | 7 |
Billable Utilization Pct Note. This figure is an industry-wide benchmark, not a per-trade measurement: the same value is published for 7 trade or segment records in this dataset. Read it as the specialty-trade baseline, not as a finding that distinguishes this trade from another.
Seasonality
Peak Period Note. Revenue and demand for painting and wall finishing contracting traditionally peak during the second and third quarters (Q2 and Q3), corresponding to the spring and summer months. This period coincides with peak activity in residential home improvement, exterior maintenance, and commercial and residential construction.
Cyclicality Note. The industry is highly sensitive to macroeconomic cycles, including trends in housing starts, residential remodeling/repaint activity, commercial construction, and interest rates. Additionally, demand is vulnerable to weather conditions, where unusually cold or rainy periods reduce exterior painting activity, and broader economic downturns can alter typical seasonal spending patterns.
Cash & working capital
Cash cycle
| Dso Days3 research passes · limited support | 56.9 days |
| Dpo Days3 research passes · medium | 32.9 days |
| Cash Conversion Cycle Days3 research passes · verified | 31.3 days |
Sources (3)
- Forbes (Sageworks Industry Data), 2017, (cross-checked against CFMA 2025 Construction Financial Benchmarker reporting 55.2 AR days for Specialty Trade Contractors, ↗
- APi Group Corporation 2024 Form 10-K (SEC EDGAR, 2024, ↗
- Forbes (Sageworks Industry Data), 2017, (computed as DSO minus DPO: 56.9 - 25.6)
Retainage & liens
| Payment Dispute1 research pass · limited support | 25% |
Sources (1)
- Rabbet, Construction Payments Report (2024) ↗
AI exposure & technology
AI task exposure
| Pct Cognitive Backoffice Work5 research passes · verified | 25 |
Task Breakdown Note. According to O*NET OnLine work-activity data for Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141.00), work time is heavily dominated by physical on-site labor, including preparing surfaces (sanding, scraping, patching), applying paint/finishes with brushes, rollers, or sprayers, erecting scaffolding, and mixing compounds. Cognitive, coordination, and administrative back-office tasks make up the remaining share of work time, consisting of reading work orders, reviewing blueprints and specifications, calculating surface areas, estimating material requirements and project costs, ordering supplies, and communicating with customers or site supervisors. McKinsey & Company (2024) research highlights that while up to 39% of nonphysical AEC industry workflows (estimating, bid analysis, invoicing) are automatable by AI, core physical jobsite labor remains highly resilient to automation due to spatial unpredictability.
Ai Resistant Work. Physical on-site tasks requiring human dexterity, tactile sensitivity, and real-time spatial adaptability remain heavily resistant to AI and robotics. Key hard-to-automate tasks include fine edge cutting along ceilings, baseboards, and door frames, intricate surface preparation (scraping peeling paint, patching plaster cracks, caulking trim, and detailed sanding), spot surface repair, substrate evaluation, color-matching weathered surfaces, and maneuvering in tight, occupied, or irregular residential spaces filled with furniture and obstacles.limited support
Automatable Work. Back-office, sales, and pre-construction coordination tasks are highly automatable using AI. Key automatable areas include: (1) automated blueprint takeoffs using AI vision software to instantly calculate wall/ceiling square footage, trim lengths, and door/window deductions; (2) photo-based estimating systems that estimate material needs and labor hours from job-site images; (3) 24/7 client intake, AI phone/chat agents, and self-service appointment scheduling connected directly to contractor calendars; and (4) automated proposal generation and follow-up communication campaigns.limited support
Sources (3)
- O*NET Work Activity Task Content Analysis (Journal of Applied Psychology / Singapore Management University, 2010) ↗
- O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, '47-2141.00 - Painters, Construction and Maintenance' (2026), McKinsey & Company, 'How AI is Reshaping the Future of the AEC Industry' (2024), https://www.mckinsey.com ↗
- Tech Briefs, 2025, | Architect Magazine, 2025, https://www.architectmagazine.com | Painting Contractors Association, 2025, https://www.pcapainted.org ↗
Field-service software
| Fsm Adoption2 research passes · medium | 48% |
| Dominant Fsm Software | Jobber |
Sources (2)
- Trade Economy Index research synthesis: median of 2 cited research inputs: L.E.K. Consulting, 2023 | Dodge Construction Network / Procore (2022), 'Top Business Issues for Specialty Contractors Report' (vendor-published industry report; software-adoption evidence, not independent benchmark research)
- Service Business Academy, 2026 ↗
Accounting technology
Common Accounting Software. US painting and wall finishing contractors predominantly utilize QuickBooks (Online and Desktop) for small-to-midsize operations, alongside specialized construction accounting and ERP systems such as Sage (Sage 100 Contractor and Sage 300 CRE), Viewpoint (Vista and Spectrum), Foundation Software, and ComputerEase. Industry benchmark surveys show Sage (21%), Viewpoint (17%), and QuickBooks (7%) leading overall contractor market adoption, with QuickBooks serving as the primary accounting engine for specialty trade contractors doing under $3M in annual revenue.
Sources (1)
- JBKnowledge Annual Construction Technology Report (2020/2021), ; ForConstructionPros / IronMarkets (2020), https://www.forconstructionpros.com/construction-technology/article/21111666/most-popular-construction-accounting-erp-software ↗
AI adoption
| Ai Adoption Rate2 research passes · medium | 38% |
Use Cases. Automated preconstruction blueprint takeoffs and wall surface area measurement; photo-to-estimate calculation; automated customer follow-ups and CRM lead messaging; walkthrough meeting transcription; and AI-generated proposal writing and marketing content.
Adoption Examples. Documented AI and automation adoption examples in the trade include: (1) Canvas, which utilizes Universal Robots cobot arms for semi-autonomous drywall finishing, reducing Level 4/5 spraying and sanding schedules from 5-7 days down to 2 days while capturing 99.9% of dust; (2) PaintJet, which deploys lift-mounted modular robots equipped with computer vision to scan and spray-paint large commercial and industrial building facades up to 25% faster; and (3) Togal.AI (a Painting Contractors Association partner), which uses AI computer vision software to automatically extract painting scope, finish schedules, and surface area quantities from construction blueprints.limited support
Channel & disintermediation
Lead-gen platforms
| Marketplace Penetration3 research passes · medium | 1.5% |
| Platform Take Rate3 research passes · high confidence | 10% |
| Marketplace Penetration Pct Shared Across | 11 |
| Platform Take Rate Pct Shared Across | 13% |
Platforms Note. For painting contractors, lead generation marketplace costs typically range from $15 to $85 per lead on Angi/HomeAdvisor and $15 to $80 per lead on Thumbtack, with shared leads distributed to 3 to 5 contractors per request.
Marketplace Penetration Pct Note. This figure is an industry-wide benchmark, not a per-trade measurement: the same value is published for 11 trade or segment records in this dataset. Read it as the specialty-trade baseline, not as a finding that distinguishes this trade from another.
Platform Take Rate Pct Note. This figure is an industry-wide benchmark, not a per-trade measurement: the same value is published for 13 trade or segment records in this dataset. Read it as the specialty-trade baseline, not as a finding that distinguishes this trade from another.
Customer-acquisition mix
| Pct Referral4 research passes · medium | 59 |
| Pct Digital3 research passes · medium | 38 |
| Pct Marketplace2 research passes · limited support | 23 |
| Pct Repeat4 research passes · limited support | 30 |
Insurance & warranty
| Home Warranty Penetration6 research passes · medium | 5.5% |
Intermediation Note. Standard home warranties explicitly exclude standalone cosmetic painting, surface re-decoration, and wall finishing, covering wall repair and repainting only secondarily under water damage or builder structural claims (such as 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty). When work flows through home warranty or insurance intermediation, the warranty provider or carrier directly controls the customer relationship by intaking service requests, collecting trade service call fees, setting pre-approved contractor rates, and routing jobs through a preferred contractor network.
Sources (2)
- Trade Economy Index research synthesis: median of 2 cited research inputs: Frontdoor, Inc. Form 10-K (2024, ); cross-checked with ConsumerAffairs Home Warranty Industry Statistics (2024) | ConsumerAffairs, 2024 ↗
- American Home Shield (Frontdoor, Inc.) Home Warranty Coverage & Exclusions Guide (2025), and Frontdoor, Inc., Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (published February 2026), https://www.sec.gov ↗
Lock-in & expansion
Recurring-revenue mix
| Recurring Revenue3 research passes · medium | 25% |
Recurring Note. Unlike equipment-focused specialty trades (e.g., HVAC or plumbing) that rely on consumer maintenance plans, painting and wall finishing is primarily a project-based trade. Recurring revenue in this sector is driven almost exclusively by B2B/commercial contracts, including multi-year HOA exterior repainting programs, property management unit turnover agreements, and commercial facility maintenance programs.
Sources (2)
- CT Acquisitions, 2026
- Painting Contractors Association (PCA), 2025, / CT Acquisitions, 2026 ↗
Contract terms
| Typical Contract Length Months3 research passes · high confidence | 12 |
| Renewal Rate3 research passes · medium | 70% |
| Typical Contract Length Months Shared Across | 8 |
Stickiness Note. Contracts have high customer tenure and stickiness driven by recurring property service needs and brand trust, but contract lock-in is low as agreements are typically cancellable by either party with 30 to 90 days' notice.
Typical Contract Length Months Note. This figure is an industry-wide benchmark, not a per-trade measurement: the same value is published for 8 trade or segment records in this dataset. Read it as the specialty-trade baseline, not as a finding that distinguishes this trade from another.
Sources (3)
- FirstService Corporation Annual Information Form for the Year Ended December 31, 2024, 2025, (discloses that recurring commercial and residential service contracts across its property services division, which includes CertaPro Painters, typically range in duration from 1 to 3 years / 12 to 36 months ↗
- Dealstream Painting Business Valuation & Operations Guide (2025), cross-checked with Pulse RevOps Commercial Trade Metrics (2026), https://pulserevops.com (citing median commercial contract auto-renewal and retention rates of 65%-75%). ↗
- FirstService Corporation Annual Information Form for the Year Ended December 31, 2024, 2025 ↗
Cross-sell & expansion
| Upsell Attach2 research passes · limited support | 28% |
Cross Sell Note. In the US Painting & Wall Finishing trade, adjacent-service expansion norms focus on offering complementary surface prep, repair, and finishing work, most commonly cabinet refinishing, drywall repair, deck staining, power washing, and light carpentry, to increase revenue per project and capture greater share of wallet from existing residential and commercial clients.
Sources (2)
- Trade Economy Index research synthesis: median of 2 cited research inputs: Sheets.market - Painting Contractor Operational Benchmarks & Upsell Playbook, 2026, | Painting Contractors Association (PCA) Benchmarks / FacadeColorizer (2026 ↗
- FranChoice / Five Star Painting Franchise Expansion Guide, 2025
Entry barriers & data
Capital intensity
| Startup Cost3 research passes · medium | $246K |
| Capex Pct Of Revenue2 research passes · verified | 3 |
Equipment Note. Capital assets primarily consist of a commercial work van or truck, airless paint sprayers, extension ladders, scaffolding, drop cloths, surface preparation tools, and safety gear. Most operations operate on a home-based or mobile model with low overhead, avoiding high real estate and facility expenditure.
Sources (2)
- CertaPro Painters Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD Item 7), 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2019 Capital Spending Report (Annual Capital Expenditures Survey data for NAICS 238320 Painting and Wall Covering Contractors), 2019 ↗
Regulatory burden
Permit Burden Note. Painting and wall finishing contractors face strict federal oversight under the EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule (40 CFR Part 745, Subpart E). Any firm or sole proprietorship disturbing painted surfaces in pre-1978 housing or child-occupied facilities must hold EPA firm certification and assign trained, certified renovators to the job. Compliance requires pre-renovation notice documentation, mandatory lead spot-testing, work-area containment using polyethylene sheeting, prohibition of high-dust dry sanding/scraping techniques, HEPA-vacuum cleaning verification, and record retention for at least 3 years. Additionally, large industrial coating operations face air permitting under Clean Air Act Title V if volatile organic compound (VOC) or hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions exceed major source thresholds.
Compliance Cost Note. Direct compliance costs for painting contractors include a mandatory $300 EPA firm certification fee every five years, plus fees for initial 8-hour renovator training and refresher courses. Operating costs increase due to specialized job-site containment supplies, EPA-approved lead test kits, HEPA cleaning equipment, and administrative recordkeeping. Furthermore, under federal architectural coating regulations (40 CFR § 59.403), coating manufacturers and applicators utilizing alternative compliance mechanisms face a statutory exceedance fee rate of $0.0028 per gram ($1.27 per pound or $2,500 per ton) for emissions exceeding standard category VOC limits.
Regulatory Tailwind Note. State energy efficiency mandates and municipal climate resilience codes are significant demand drivers for specialized liquid coating applications. Standards such as California's Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Part 6), Florida Building Code C402.3, Georgia Energy Code, and ASHRAE 90.1 require cool roof coatings with certified solar reflectance and thermal emittance values on low-sloped commercial and residential structures to lower building cooling loads. Concurrently, regional air quality enforcement from bodies like the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD Rule 1113) drives continuous commercial retrofits using advanced low-VOC and zero-VOC high-performance coatings.
Data assets
| Iot Telemetry Penetration5 research passes · medium | 23.8% |
Data Assets Note. Painting and wall finishing contractors accumulate structured job, equipment, and environmental data, including: 1) Sprayer Telemetry: Fluid pressure (PSI), material volume sprayed (gallons/liters), pump runtime hours, motor cycle counts, spray tip wear, and GPS asset location collected via IoT-connected airless sprayers (e.g., Graco BlueLink/SmartControl); 2) Pre-construction & Estimating Data: 3D spatial laser scans, surface area square footage, texture profiles, and historical job costing/material consumption rates generated by smart takeoff tools (e.g., PaintScout, PlanSwift, Polycam); and 3) Environmental & Quality Data: Ambient temperature, relative humidity, dew point, surface moisture, and dry film thickness (DFT) logs required for coating cure verification and warranty compliance.
Sources (2)
- JBKnowledge 2021 Construction Technology Report, 2021 ↗
- American Painting Contractor (PaintMag), 2024
M&A, PE & valuation
Consolidation
Consolidation Activity. The US painting and wall finishing trade is experiencing active private equity roll-up and consolidation intensity across both franchise systems and commercial/industrial coatings platforms [CT Acquisitions, 2026, https://www.ctacquisitions.com; Greenwich Capital Group, 2025, https://www.greenwichgp.com]. Representing an estimated $49 billion industry in the US, the trade is heavily fragmented, with approximately 75% of contractors employing four or fewer workers [CT Acquisitions, 2026, https://www.ctacquisitions.com]. PE sponsors and strategic accumulators actively execute roll-up playbooks to capitalize on multiple arbitrage, operational scale, back-office synergies, and cross-selling across residential and commercial property maintenance portfolios [CT Acquisitions, 2026, https://www.ctacquisitions.com; Capstone Partners, 2025, https://www.capstonepartners.com].
Notable Platforms. Notable public platforms and private equity-backed acquirers in the painting and wall finishing trade include: (1) FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ: FSV), a public platform operating FirstService Brands, which owns CertaPro Painters, the largest residential and commercial painting franchise platform in North America, and routinely completes franchisee buybacks and bolt-on acquisitions [FirstService Corporation SEC Form 6-K Filing, 2026, https://www.sec.gov]; (2) Neighborly (backed by KKR), a multi-brand home services platform that owns Five Star Painting, operating 230+ franchised territories across North America [Entrepreneur / Neighborly FDD Report, 2022, https://www.entrepreneur.com]; (3) R.L. James Exteriors (backed by Hidden Harbor Capital Partners), a commercial painting and exterior restoration platform that acquired Paramount Painting & Services, LLC in February 2026 [Hidden Harbor Capital Partners Press Release, 2026, https://www.hh-cp.com]; (4) Premium Service Brands (backed by Susquehanna Private Capital), a multi-brand franchise platform operating 360° Painting [Business Wire / Susquehanna Private Capital Press Release, 2021, https://www.businesswire.com]; and (5) Pilot Painting (backed by Platt Park Capital Partners and Source Capital), a commercial painting and reconstruction platform in the Southwest [Source Capital Press Release, 2024, https://www.source-cap.com].
Sources (10)
- CT Acquisitions Painting Services M&A Guide (2026) [ Greenwich Capital Group Home & Commercial Services M&A Update (2025) [https://www.greenwichgp.com]; Capstone Partners Building Products & Construction Services M&A Report (2025) [https://www.capstonepartners.com]. ↗
- FirstService Corporation SEC Filing (2026) [ Hidden Harbor Capital Partners Press Release (2026) [https://www.hh-cp.com]; Susquehanna Private Capital Press Release / Business Wire (2021) [https://www.businesswire.com]; Source Capital Press Release (2024) [https://www.source-cap.com]; Entrepreneur Magazine (2022) [https://www.entrepreneur.com]. ↗
- FirstService Corporation SEC Filing (2026) - ↗
- Hidden Harbor Capital Partners Press Release (2026) - ↗
- CT Acquisitions Painting Services M&A Guide (2026) - ↗
- Greenwich Capital Group Home & Commercial Services M&A Report (2025) - ↗
- Capstone Partners Building Products M&A Report (2025) - ↗
- Source Capital Press Release (2024) - ↗
- Entrepreneur Magazine / Neighborly Microfranchise Platform Analysis (2022) - ↗
- Susquehanna Private Capital / Business Wire Press Release (2021) - ↗
Valuation multiples
| Typical Ebitda Multiple Low3 research passes · medium | 3x |
| Typical Ebitda Multiple High5 research passes · verified | 11x |
| Typical Ebitda Multiple Low Shared Across | 4x |
Multiple By Size Note. Sub-$1M EBITDA painting companies typically trade between 2.0x and 4.0x EBITDA; $1M to $3M EBITDA platforms sell for 4.0x to 6.0x EBITDA; and platform-quality painting companies with $3M+ EBITDA with strong commercial or HOA recurring revenue command 5.0x to 7.0x EBITDA.
Typical Ebitda Multiple Low Note. This figure is an industry-wide benchmark, not a per-trade measurement: the same value is published for 4 trade or segment records in this dataset. Read it as the specialty-trade baseline, not as a finding that distinguishes this trade from another.
Sources (2)
- CT Acquisitions, 2026 ( ↗
- First Page Sage, EBITDA & Valuation Multiples for Construction Companies - 2025 (2024)
Exit environment
Buyer Demand. Buyer demand for US painting and wall finishing businesses is active across four distinct buyer tiers: franchise systems (e.g., CertaPro, Five Star, WOW 1 DAY), direct private equity platform aggregators (e.g., Cherry Coatings, R.L. James, Painters USA, TMI Coatings), multi-trade home services holding platforms (e.g., Neighborly, Authority Brands, Apex Service Partners), and SBA 7(a)-backed individual buyers for sub-$1M EBITDA businesses. What buyers value most includes low owner dependence, clean financial documentation, commercial job backlogs with repeat clients, and a strong brand reputation/review profile ('digital moat').
Exit Trend. The exit market is heating up as private equity consolidation and strategic roll-ups accelerate across painting contractors, following the consolidation path established by HVAC and plumbing trades. Because the industry remains highly fragmented, 75% of painting contractors employ 4 or fewer workers, institutional buyers are actively buying up middle-market operators, expanding franchise/chain revenue share from 22% in 2019 to 28.5% in 2025. High-quality trade businesses with stable cash flow maintain valuation multiples ranging from 2.7x cash flow to 4x EBITDA.
Sources (6)
- CT Acquisitions (2026, ); Craftsman Painter (2026, https://craftsmanpainter.com ↗
- CT Acquisitions (2026, ); BizBuySell Insight Report (2026, https://www.bizbuysell.com); IBISWorld (2025, https://www.ibisworld.com ↗
- https://ctacquisitions.com ↗
- https://craftsmanpainter.com ↗
- https://www.bizbuysell.com ↗
- https://www.ibisworld.com ↗
Demand & growth
Demand drivers
| Installed Base Units5 research passes · high confidence | 146,740,964 |
Replacement Vs New Note. Demand for painting and wall finishing is heavily driven by replacement, repainting, and maintenance/renovation rather than new construction. While rising interest rates and economic uncertainty led to volatility and cooling in new residential and nonresidential construction, private spending on existing home improvements and property maintenance proved far more resilient, accounting for the primary share of total trade revenue.
Demand Drivers Note. Primary demand drivers for the US painting trade include home improvement and remodeling expenditure, existing home sales velocity and property turnover, total residential and commercial construction spending, interest rate dynamics affecting new construction starts, and multi-year maintenance cycles for commercial properties and HOAs.
Sources (2)
- U.S. Census Bureau, '2024 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates (Table B25002)', 2024, ; U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), '2018 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) Building Characteristics', 2022, https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial ↗
- IBISWorld, Painters in the US Industry Analysis, 2025 ↗
Macro correlation
Housing Correlation Note. Demand for US painting and wall finishing is closely correlated with residential construction activity, including housing starts, completions, and residential repair and remodeling (R&R). New single-family and multi-family housing starts (recorded at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,427,000 units in June 2026) create a direct lag indicator for initial paint application roughly 3 to 4 months post-groundbreaking. Additionally, the overall residential housing stock and homeowner renovation spend account for over 80% of total domestic architectural paint demand, serving as a primary volume driver.
Commercial Correlation Note. Commercial painting and wall finishing demand correlates with private and public nonresidential construction spending (recorded at $738.7 billion SAAR in May 2026). Growth across commercial building sectors (office, retail, education, healthcare, and warehouse facilities) drives initial architectural coatings demand during final project completion and interior fit-outs. Commercial repaint and facility maintenance cycles also track commercial property utilization and institutional capital improvement budgets.
Climate Sensitivity Note. Exterior painting and wall finishing applications are highly sensitive to weather and atmospheric conditions. Standard waterborne/latex architectural paint requires ambient and substrate surface temperatures between 50°F and 90°F, relative humidity between 40% and 70%, and surface temperatures at least 5°F above the dew point to allow proper latex binder coalescence and curing. Temperatures above 90°F or direct intense sunlight cause premature surface drying leading to lap marks and poor adhesion, while moisture or freezing conditions during the curing window cause blistering, leaching, and film failure. Furthermore, Department of Energy initiatives promote specialized cool reflective roof/wall coatings to reduce surface heat absorption and lower building HVAC cooling loads.
Sources (3)
- U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Monthly New Residential Construction - June 2026 (2026) ↗
- U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly Value of Construction Put in Place - May 2026 (2026) ↗
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) & Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Energy Saver: Cool Roofs and Reflective Coatings (2026)
Search interest
| Yoy Search Change3 research passes · verified | 53% |
Search Trend Note. Consumer search interest for US painting and wall finishing services exhibits strong upward momentum, driven by homeowners prioritizing lower-cost interior and exterior aesthetic updates over new home purchases. According to LocaliQ's home services search benchmark analysis, click-through rates (CTR) in home service search advertising increased by 13.95% year-over-year, while the Paint & Painting subcategory commanded the highest average cost-per-click ($13.74) across all home service categories due to high buyer intent and competition. Furthermore, Google Trends data reported by Zillow showed a 149% YoY surge in search interest for specific wall finishing trends such as 'color drenching'.
Reputation & customer
Customer acquisition
| Typical Cac5 research passes · limited support | $138.38 |
| Avg Review Volume5 research passes · medium | 39 |
| Avg Review Volume Shared Across | 6 |
Complaint Categories. Substandard workmanship and poor finish quality (e.g., paint splatters, failure to repair or prep surfaces), unresponsiveness and lack of communication, failure to complete contracted scope after receiving deposits, and billing or contract disputes.
Avg Review Volume Note. This figure is an industry-wide benchmark, not a per-trade measurement: the same value is published for 6 trade or segment records in this dataset. Read it as the specialty-trade baseline, not as a finding that distinguishes this trade from another.
Unit economics by revenue band
The same trade runs very different numbers at $500K than at $30M. Here are the operating benchmarks by annual-revenue band. Every cell shown carries an external, citable source (CFMA revenue-tier benchmarks, IBISWorld). Blank cells are metrics no public source splits by band.
Geography
Wage differentials and licensing/bonding regimes vary widely by state, and contractor density and permit trends by metro. Every figure carries its state or metro source (BLS/OEWS, licensing boards, permit records). Aggregate-only.
Wages by state (median hourly)
Ranked high to low. Differential vs the national median. Source: state BLS/OEWS.
| State | Median hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $32.82 | +43.07% |
| Hawaii | $31.41 | +36.92% |
| Illinois | $29.32 | +27.81% |
| Missouri | $28.27 | +23.23% |
| Minnesota | $28.03 | +22.19% |
| California | $27.69 | +20.71% |
| New Jersey | $27.62 | +20.4% |
| New York | $25.79 | +12.42% |
| Washington | $24.60 | +7.24% |
| Massachusetts | $24.36 | +6.19% |
| Ohio | $24.35 | +6.15% |
| Maine | $24.10 | +5.06% |
| Connecticut | $24.06 | +4.88% |
| Vermont | $23.96 | +4.45% |
| Pennsylvania | $23.55 | +2.66% |
| Wisconsin | $23.25 | +1.35% |
| Nevada | $23.18 | +1.05% |
| Oregon | $23.12 | +0.78% |
| Rhode Island | $23.11 | +0.74% |
| Indiana | $23.05 | +0.48% |
| Colorado | $22.96 | +0.09% |
| Delaware | $22.89 | -0.22% |
| Wyoming | $22.86 | -0.35% |
| Iowa | $22.85 | -0.39% |
| Arizona | $22.58 | -1.57% |
| New Hampshire | $22.58 | -1.57% |
| Michigan | $22.53 | -1.79% |
| Montana | $22.27 | -2.92% |
| South Dakota | $22.11 | -3.62% |
| Virginia | $21.97 | -4.23% |
| Idaho | $21.90 | -4.53% |
| Maryland | $21.87 | -4.66% |
| North Dakota | $21.76 | -5.14% |
| Kansas | $21.68 | -5.49% |
| Texas | $21.21 | -7.54% |
| New Mexico | $20.74 | -9.59% |
| West Virginia | $20.63 | -10.07% |
| Kentucky | $20.52 | -10.55% |
| Oklahoma | $20.50 | -10.64% |
| Alabama | $20.49 | -10.68% |
| Louisiana | $20.48 | -10.72% |
| South Carolina | $19.84 | -13.51% |
| Utah | $19.62 | -14.47% |
| Georgia | $19.24 | -16.13% |
| Florida | $18.93 | -17.48% |
| Tennessee | $18.79 | -18.09% |
| Nebraska | $18.49 | -19.4% |
| Mississippi | $18.41 | -19.75% |
| North Carolina | $18.38 | -19.88% |
| Arkansas | $18.34 | -20.05% |
Metro-level detail (50 metros)
In the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan area, there were 1,700 employed Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141), representing approximately 0.604 painters per 1,000 jobs and a location quotient of 0.42 relative to the national average.
According to the Atlanta Regional Commission's analysis of U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data, total residential permitting in the 11-county metro region peaked at 2,906 units in December 2024 before showing steady month-over-month growth from November 2025 into early 2026, reaching 2,289 units in March 2026. Annually, Census BPS figures show the Atlanta CBSA authorized 38,639 housing units in 2024 compared to 40,687 in 2023, a 5% decline.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were an estimated 1,520 workers employed as Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) in the Austin-Round Rock, TX metropolitan statistical area, earning a mean annual wage of $46,380.
Residential building permit volume in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area has shown a downward trend over recent years, declining from 50,772 authorized housing units in 2021 to 42,942 in 2022, 38,773 in 2023, and 32,294 units in 2024.
In the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area, there were an estimated 1,610 employed Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) with a location quotient of 0.87 relative to the national average, an hourly mean wage of $23.65, and an annual mean wage of $49,200.
Residential building permitting activity in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metro area expanded to 5,514 units over the trailing 12-month period, reflecting a 24.2% year-over-year increase and a rate of approximately 2.17 permits per 1,000 residents.
According to BLS OEWS May 2023 data, the Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area had 410 workers employed as Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141), with a median hourly wage of $20.69 and an annual mean wage of $43,030.
Residential building permit volume in the Birmingham-Hoover MSA remained steady at post-pandemic highs, with 5,173 total units permitted in 2022 (3,424 single-family/sales and 1,749 multifamily/rental units), compared to 5,176 units in 2021 and 4,649 units in 2020.
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area earn a median annual wage of $57,820, with entry-level (10th percentile) earnings starting at $45,650 and experienced (90th percentile) earnings reaching $109,840.
U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data shows a slowdown in residential construction activity across the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area: total authorized residential building permits fell 12.1% year-over-year in 2022 to 14,593 permits, and multifamily permit volume dropped 22.3% year-over-year in 2024 to 7,022 units.
According to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, New York State employs 14,820 Painters, Construction and Maintenance workers (SOC 47-2141) with a location quotient of 1.11, reflecting a slightly higher concentration of painting trade labor relative to the national baseline.
Residential building permit activity in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls MSA contracted from 3,197 authorized units in 2022 to 2,101 units in 2023, before experiencing a moderate rebound to 2,659 authorized units for the 12 months ending July 2024 (a 3.9% increase over the 2,558 units permitted in the prior 12-month period).
According to BLS OEWS estimates, the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA employed 1,170 Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141), with an annual mean wage of $45,370 ($21.81 hourly mean) and a location quotient of 0.63.
In 2024, building permit offices in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia MSA authorized 21,487 new privately-owned housing units (ranking 8th among all U.S. metropolitan CBSAs), following 19,150 residential sales units permitted in 2023 (a slight <1% shift from 19,250 in 2022), reflecting sustained high-volume residential construction activity.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metropolitan statistical area employed an estimated 6,280 Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) as of May 2023, representing a location quotient of 0.98 compared to the national average.
Residential building permit activity in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin MSA reached approximately 15,000 authorized housing units in 2023 and recorded 14,194 authorized units through October 2025, reflecting a modest softening and stabilization driven by elevated interest rates and construction costs.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 1,120 workers employed in the Painters, Construction and Maintenance trade (SOC 47-2141) in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metropolitan area, representing a location quotient of 0.73 compared to the national concentration (0.73 workers per thousand jobs).
According to U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data, monthly new private housing structures authorized by building permits in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN MSA have ranged between roughly 350 and 600 authorized units per month across recent years, reflecting steady regional residential permitting activity.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Cleveland-Elyria, OH MSA employed approximately 1,450 painters, construction and maintenance workers (SOC 47-2141) as of May 2023, representing an employment location quotient of 1.02 and an annual mean wage of $52,810.
Single-family building permit volume in the Cleveland-Elyria MSA totaled 2,695 units over the 12-month period ending December 2023, reflecting a 12.2% year-over-year decrease.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2023 estimates, the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area had 1,050 workers employed as Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141), earning a mean hourly wage of $25.21 and an annual mean wage of $54,850.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, total housing units authorized by building permits in the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area increased from 6,084 units in 2023 to 9,116 units in 2024, representing an increase of 3,032 units (a year-over-year rise of approximately 49.8%).
According to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), there were 4,600 construction and maintenance painters employed in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metropolitan statistical area as of May 2023, representing an employment concentration of 1.16 painters per 1,000 jobs.
According to U.S. Census Bureau permit data, DFW authorized 71,788 new residential units in 2024, leading all U.S. metropolitan areas in residential building permit volume, though single-family permitting across Texas subsequently moderated by 11.7% in 2025 due to elevated mortgage rates.
In the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO metropolitan statistical area, there were approximately 1,700 employed Painters, Construction and Maintenance workers as of May 2023, representing an employment density of 0.75 painters per 1,000 total jobs and a location quotient of 1.07 compared to the national average.
Residential building permit and construction activity in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area contracted from peak 2021-2022 levels, with overall home sales dropping 28% year-over-year into 2023 due to elevated interest rates and reduced housing affordability, causing new residential permit issuance to taper toward historic averages.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,900 employed Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI MSA as of May 2023, representing an employment density of 1.000 painters per 1,000 total jobs in the metropolitan area.
Annual residential building permit issuance in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA fell to 4,541 housing units in 2023 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, down significantly from historical levels due to higher interest rates and material costs. However, residential permit activity showed signs of stabilization and growth, with statewide private housing permits up 8.4% year-to-date by May 2024 and monthly MSA permit volume reaching 728 units in May 2026.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (May 2023), the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metropolitan area had 480 employed Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141). Additionally, Census County Business Patterns data recorded 95 employer establishments in NAICS 238320 (Painting and Wall Covering Contractors) in Hartford County.
According to the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and Census Building Permits Survey data, housing permit authorizations in Hartford County rose from 1,642 units in 2022 to 1,776 units in 2023. Statewide in Connecticut, new housing unit permits dropped ~20% in 2024 to 5,952 units amid higher mortgage rates.
As of May 2023, the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX MSA employed 4,720 Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141), representing a location quotient of 1.04 relative to the national average and an annual mean wage of $44,260 ($21.28 per hour).
Residential building permit activity in the Houston MSA reached 65,747 authorized housing units in 2024, moderating from 68,755 units in 2023 and 75,786 units in 2022, while ranking second nationwide for total residential permitting volume.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN metropolitan statistical area employed approximately 1,100 Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) as of May 2023, with a location quotient of 0.71, representing a lower density of trade employment per capita compared to the national average.
Residential building permit activity in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson MSA experienced a temporary decline in 2023 (with single-family permits down approximately 20% compared to 2022), but single-family permitting rebounded in 2024 to higher levels than the prior two years, while multifamily permitting moderated after high completion volumes in 2022 and 2023.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Jacksonville, FL MSA employed 1,480 workers in the Painters, Construction and Maintenance occupation (SOC 47-2141), representing a density of approximately 1.99 painters per 1,000 total jobs in the metro area.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Building Permits Survey, total new private housing units authorized by building permits in the Jacksonville, FL CBSA dropped from 20,326 units in 2023 to 15,002 units in 2024 (a 26.2% decline), and declined further to 13,455 units in 2025 (a 10.3% decrease), reflecting a overall multi-year reduction in new residential construction permitting.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area employed an estimated 1,540 Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) as of May 2023, representing a location quotient of 1.00 relative to the national average employment density.
Single-family building permits in the Kansas City metro totaled 4,388 units in 2025, a 3% decline from 4,509 permits in 2024. Permitting activity surged in early 2026, with metro single-family permits increasing 32% year-to-date through May 2026 (2,358 units) compared to the same five-month period in 2025.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area employed 2,840 Painters, Construction and Maintenance workers (SOC 47-2141), with a location quotient of 1.84 and a mean hourly wage of $26.59 ($55,310 mean annual wage).
Single-family housing permits in Clark County totaled 11,200 in 2025 and tracked toward 10,500 in 2026 (down 71% from the 2005 peak of 39,000), while multi-family (5+ units) permit volume in the Las Vegas metro area dropped from 3,590 units in 2024 to 2,329 units in 2025.
In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan statistical area, there were 9,650 employed construction and maintenance painters (SOC 47-2141) with a location quotient of 1.10 relative to the national concentration.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro authorized 32,593 new residential housing units in 2022 with a total valuation of $7.1 billion (a 4.6% increase in permitted units and a 2.4% increase in valuation from 2021). Annual permitting data for 2024 shows residential construction activity moderating, with 13,154 authorized units recorded in major residential categories amid elevated financing costs.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2023 estimates, there were 530 estimated workers employed in SOC 47-2141 (Painters, Construction and Maintenance) in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.
According to U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data, residential building permit activity in the Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN MSA totaled 6,113 housing units in 2023, maintaining active residential construction and framing/finishing demand across the region.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan statistical area employed approximately 550 Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141), representing a location quotient of 0.62 relative to national average employment density.
According to HUD's Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis for the Memphis metro area, total residential building permits rebounded to 4,825 authorized units in the 12 months ending May 2024 (up from 4,130 units in the 12 months ending May 2023), following a post-peak pullback from 6,678 units in 2021 and 4,722 units in 2022.
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data for May 2023, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metropolitan area employed 5,150 Painters, Construction and Maintenance workers (SOC 47-2141), with a location quotient of 1.33 indicating a higher density of painting trade professionals relative to the national average, earning an annual mean wage of $41,560 ($19.98/hour).
According to U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data reported via FRED, residential construction permitting in Miami-Dade County reached 13,393 private housing units in 2021, moderated to 11,605 in 2022, rebounded to 12,781 in 2023, and adjusted to 10,608 in 2024, maintaining strong overall multi-year residential building activity.
According to May 2023 BLS OEWS data, the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI metropolitan statistical area employed approximately 1,150 Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141), with a mean hourly wage of $24.26 and an annual mean wage of $50,460.
Residential building permitting in the Milwaukee metro expanded to 2,300 units in 2024, up significantly from an average of 1,250 units annually between 2019 and 2023, before moderating to 2,025 units during the 12 months ending August 2025.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 OEWS report, there were approximately 2,450 Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan statistical area.
Residential construction permitting in the Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA declined following a period of high volume (exceeding 18,000 units per year through 2022), with overall annual housing authorizations dropping to 15,596 units in 2023, 12,339 units in 2024, and 12,161 units in 2025.
New private housing building permits in Davidson County (Nashville MSA) experienced a downward moderation from peak levels of 16,310 units in 2021 and 15,163 units in 2022 to 11,225 units in 2023 and 6,880 units in 2024.
The New Orleans-Metairie, LA metropolitan statistical area employed approximately 780 Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) as of May 2023, with a location quotient of 1.07 compared to the national average.
Residential building permit volume in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA MSA declined recently, with new construction permits decreasing by 13.1% to 866 permits in 2025.
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, there were 13,990 employed construction and maintenance painters (SOC 47-2141) in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metropolitan statistical area, representing an employment density of 1.473 painters per 1,000 jobs.
In the New York-Newark-Jersey City MSA, total authorized residential building permits reached 58,991 units in 2022 (+4.1% year-over-year). By early 2025, single-family home permitting grew by 11% year-over-year, while regional multifamily building permits experienced a retreat of approximately 50% to 51% following prior years of rapid inventory expansion.
As of May 2023, there were 860 employed Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) in the Oklahoma City, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area, representing an employment density of 1.306 painters per 1,000 jobs.
According to U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data, Oklahoma City recorded the highest share of single-family housing permits relative to total residential building permits among major U.S. metropolitan areas at 91.0% in 2023, reflecting strong ground-oriented single-family construction activity.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL MSA employed 2,850 construction and maintenance painters (SOC 47-2141), representing a density of 2.082 jobs per 1,000 total regional employment and a location quotient of 1.46 relative to the national average.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey shows the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford MSA authorized approximately 14,000 to 16,000 new single-family housing units annually across 2023-2024, ranking among the top market volumes nationally for new housing construction, with strong momentum continuing into 2025 as Q1 permitted units surged significantly compared to the prior year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan area had 3,200 employed Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141), with a location quotient of 0.80 relative to the national average.
Following an unprecedented surge in 2021 (26,166 authorized housing units driven by pending revisions to the city's 10-year property tax abatement), building permit activity dropped sharply in 2022 (~3,220 units) and stabilized at approximately 3,000 to 3,366 authorized housing units annually through 2024 and 2025.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were an estimated 4,550 construction and maintenance painters (SOC 47-2141) employed in the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metropolitan area as of May 2023, representing a density of approximately 1.99 painters per 1,000 total jobs in the metro.
Residential permitting activity in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler MSA grew sharply in 2024, reaching 45,884 authorized housing units. Total housing permits rose by approximately 26% year-over-year in mid-2024, driven by a surge in single-family home authorizations (+60.5% to +61.5%), which offset a moderation in multi-family permits (-12.7% to -17.7%).
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data for the Pittsburgh, PA MSA, there were 1,370 employed Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) across the metropolitan area, earning an hourly mean wage of $25.23 ($52,490 annually).
Residential building permitting in the Pittsburgh metro area averaged approximately 3,325 homes annually in 2022-2023, down from peak pandemic levels of 3,775 homes annually in 2020-2021. Activity saw a modest 4% uptick to approximately 3,425 permitted units for the 12 months ending April 2024, with the Census BPS recording 6,294 total housing units permitted across the full MSA in 2023 (2.60 permits per 1,000 residents).
According to the May 2023 BLS OEWS survey, there were 2,790 workers employed as Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, representing an employment density of 2.31 workers per 1,000 total jobs and a location quotient of 1.62.
Building permit activity in the Portland metro area has experienced a sharp downward trend over recent years. According to U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data, 2024 multifamily (5+ units) housing permits in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA dropped by 58.5% year-over-year while single-family permits fell by 2.7%. Within the City of Portland city limits, total permits for all housing units dropped 47.4% in 2024 down to 1,624 units.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area employed 1,010 Painters, Construction and Maintenance workers (SOC 47-2141) as of May 2023. The area has a location quotient of 1.46, indicating a painter concentration 46% higher than the national average.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, residential building permit activity in the Providence-Warwick MSA has remained subdued relative to national benchmarks, issuing under 2,000 new housing unit permits annually through 2023 and 2024 (3.6 permits per 1,000 existing homes in 2024). Multi-family construction represented a dominant share, accounting for 48.9% of all new authorized housing units in 2024.
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data, Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) in the Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA earn a median annual wage of $45,360 ($21.81 per hour), maintaining a trade workforce serving a metropolitan population of over 1.42 million residents.
Residential building permit volume in the Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA expanded significantly, reaching 18,206 housing units authorized over the trailing 12 months, a 15.5% year-over-year increase, ranking Raleigh among the highest per-capita residential construction markets in the U.S. at 12.81 permits per 1,000 residents.
According to BLS occupational data, the Richmond, VA metropolitan statistical area had 940 construction and maintenance painters employed, representing an occupational density of 1.447 jobs per 1,000 total jobs in the area and a location quotient of 1.02 relative to national averages.
Single-family residential building permits in the Mid-Atlantic / Richmond region increased 8% year-over-year in Q3 2024 due to sustained housing demand, while regional multifamily permitting dropped 23% amid elevated interest rates and cost headwinds.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 OEWS data, the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA employed 3,310 construction and maintenance painters (SOC 47-2141), with a location quotient of 1.40 (40% higher painter concentration than the national average) and a density of approximately 1.993 painters per 1,000 jobs.
Residential building permit activity in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA experienced steady momentum, with 16,320 housing units authorized in 2022 (a 4.6% year-over-year increase) and a surge of 24.17% in the first half of 2023 (11,355 units permitted compared to 9,145 in 1H 2022).
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area had approximately 2,600 employed Construction and Maintenance Painters (SOC 47-2141) with a median annual wage of $58,360.
Residential building permit activity in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA MSA reached 1,094 housing units authorized in May 2026, bringing the trailing 12-month total to 10,042 authorized units, representing an upward trend of +14% compared to the prior year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Salt Lake City, UT metropolitan statistical area had 1,480 employed Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) as of May 2023, representing an occupational density of 1.84 jobs per 1,000 total jobs (a location quotient of 1.29 relative to the national average).
Residential building permit activity in the Salt Lake City region experienced a notable pullback in 2023 and 2024 after reaching peak levels in 2021-2022. Total authorized housing units in the metro and state dropped to multi-year lows, driven primarily by a sharp decline in multi-family and apartment permits amidst elevated interest rates.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, there were approximately 830 workers employed as Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX MSA, earning a mean hourly wage of $20.78 ($43,230 annually).
Residential permitting in the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA reached peak levels in 2022 with over 23,600 housing units permitted, followed by a moderation in 2023, and a notable rebound in late 2024 where single-family housing starts rose 30.3% month-over-month.
In the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan statistical area, there were 3,680 employed Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) as of May 2023, representing an employment density of 2.42 painters per 1,000 jobs and a location quotient of 1.70 relative to the national average.
Residential building permit volume in the San Diego region experienced significant growth, issuing 11,673 permits across San Diego County in 2023 (a 21% increase over 2022) and authorizing 14,947 housing units in 2024. Permitting activity has been heavily dominated by multi-family developments (60%) and accessory dwelling units (ADUs, 27%).
According to May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS estimates for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area, there were 5,550 employed Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141), representing a density of 2.29 painters per 1,000 jobs in the metro area.
Residential building permit activity in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward MSA has trended sharply downward over recent years. According to U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data, monthly permitted housing units fell from 869 units in July 2020 to 299 units in July 2025 (a decline of 570 units), driven primarily by an 88.9% contraction in multifamily unit permits from 602 to 67 units alongside single-family permit drops from 249 to 222 units.
In the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area, there are 2,040 employed construction and maintenance painters (SOC 47-2141), representing an employment density of 1.78 painters per 1,000 jobs and a location quotient of 1.25 relative to the national average.
Residential construction permitting in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara MSA has trended downward in recent years, with rental unit permits declining 7% to 4,275 units for the 12 months ending November 2024 compared to the previous 12-month period, alongside a broader multi-year contraction in overall housing unit authorizations from 2020 levels.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 OEWS estimates, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA employed 5,140 Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141), representing approximately 2.47 painters per 1,000 jobs with a location quotient of 1.74.
Year-to-date through September 2024, single-family building permits in the Seattle metro area increased by 16% year-over-year to 5,135 units, while multifamily permits decreased by 12% to 7,452 units.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area had approximately 2,500 employed Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141).
According to HUD market data citing the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, residential construction permitting in the St. Louis, MO-IL MSA has trended downward recently: single-family permits fell 10% from 4,650 units in 2024 to 4,175 units in 2025, while multifamily permits fell 19% from 2,050 units in 2024 to 1,650 units in 2025, placing both below 2015-2020 historical averages.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, there were 2,380 construction and maintenance painters (SOC 47-2141) employed in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA, with a location quotient of 1.18, reflecting a higher concentration of trade workers than the national average.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Annual Building Permits Survey, the Tampa CBSA ranked among the top 20 metropolitan statistical areas nationwide for new privately-owned housing units authorized. Regional permit tracking from Plan Hillsborough and HUD SOCDS indicates Tampa Bay area counties permitted 55,085 total residential units in 2023, representing a 27% increase compared to 2019 baseline levels.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1,340 workers employed as Painters, Construction and Maintenance (SOC 47-2141) in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area as of May 2023.
Residential building permit volume in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk MSA declined 8.7% year-over-year in 2023 and remained 15.6% below 2019 pre-pandemic levels due to elevated interest rates, with single-family construction permits continuing a downward trend in early 2024.
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, there were approximately 3,610 employed construction and maintenance painters (SOC 47-2141) in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA. In addition, Census County Business Patterns data compiled by local transportation authorities identified over 2,000 total establishments operating in NAICS 238320 (Painting and Wall Covering Contractors) across the metro area.
Residential building permit volumes in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria MSA have trended significantly downward over recent years, with overall authorized private housing units falling roughly 40% to 11,086 units in 2023, and multifamily permits dropping an additional 35.0% year-over-year in 2024 to 2,283 units.
Building stock (demand base)
Age can inform trade-specific replacement mechanisms, but this cross-sectional file does not measure replacement speed or prove a tailwind across trades. Public state and county tax-assessor and property records (aggregated). Aggregate-only; no individual property or owner identified.
| Construction era | Buildings | Share |
|---|---|---|
| pre-1960 | 1,675,481 | 18.4% |
| 1960-79 | 1,224,848 | 13.5% |
| 1980-99 | 1,367,312 | 15.1% |
| 2000-09 | 756,810 | 8.3% |
| 2010+ | 477,451 | 5.3% |
| unknown | 3,582,985 | 39.4% |
Firmographics
Aggregated public business firmographic records (multi-source SMB dataset). Revenue/employee/age/employer-rating distributions per trade. Aggregate only; no individual company identified.
| Companies analyzed | 1,040 |
| Revenue (p25 / median / p75 / p90) | $5.8M / $9.2M / $20.2M / $42.3M |
| Employees (p25 / median / p75) | 32 / 49 / 87 |
| Median founding year | 2008 |
| Avg employer rating | 3.79★ |
Historical public-company reference
Snapshot dated 2026-07-23. These large scaled operators provide historical context, not live quotes, current valuation comparisons, or a benchmark for a typical private contractor.
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