Paint and Coating Manufacturing — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the paint and coating manufacturing industry earns $83,865 per year ($40.32/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$83,865
Avg Annual Pay
41,948
Total Employees
1,748
Total Establishments
24
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Paint and Coating Manufacturing Workers Earn?

At $83,865/year (equivalent to $40.32/hour for a full-time worker), paint and coating manufacturing wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.

Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.

The typical paint and coating manufacturing business employs 24 people. These are larger operations where staffing represents a major cost center and management complexity.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

12.8%

For the average paint and coating manufacturing business generating $15.7M/year with 24 employees at $83,865 each, total payroll represents roughly 12.8% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a paint and coating manufacturingbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $109,025/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 24 employees = ~$2,012,760/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $40.32/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $15.7M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Paint and Coating Manufacturing revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do paint and coating manufacturing employees make?
The average paint and coating manufacturing employee earns $83,865 per year, which is equivalent to $40.32/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the paint and coating manufacturing industry?
The paint and coating manufacturing industry employs 41,948 workers across 1,748 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 24 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).