Fair price check · Massachusetts

What painters should charge in Massachusetts.

Fair billed labor here runs about $45–$84/hour, about 16% above the median US state. Every number below comes from what construction and maintenance painters actually earn in Massachusetts; the math is on this page, in the open.

How much should painters charge in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, construction and maintenance painters earn $22.51–$33.68 per hour (median $27.65, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), about 16% above the median US state for this trade. A legitimate business bills 2–2.5× wages to cover payroll taxes, insurance, equipment, overhead and profit, so fair billed labor in Massachusetts runs about $45–$84 per hour. For example, paint one bedroom (walls only) is about $180–$675 in fair labor, before materials.

Fair price by job

Paint one bedroom (walls only)

$180–$675
fair labor range · Massachusetts

That assumes a 10×12 room, two coats, light prep; ceilings, trim and heavy patching add hours.

Plus materials: one to two gallons of paint plus sundries.

Typical labor: 4–8 hours at $45–$84/hr billed.

Whole-home interior (~2,000 sq ft)

$1,800–$6,750
fair labor range · Massachusetts

That assumes walls and ceilings, two coats, normal prep, furnished home.

Plus materials: paint for a whole interior is a meaningful line. Ask for brand and gallons on the bid.

Typical labor: 40–80 hours at $45–$84/hr billed.

Exterior repaint (~2,000 sq ft home)

$2,700–$8,400
fair labor range · Massachusetts

That assumes wash, scrape, prime and two coats on siding and trim; extensive wood repair is extra.

Plus materials: exterior-grade paint and primer; ask how many gallons the bid includes.

Typical labor: 60–100 hours at $45–$84/hr billed.

The math, in the open: construction and maintenance painters in Massachusetts earn $22.51–$33.68/hour (median $27.65) per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. A legitimate business bills 2–2.5× wages to cover payroll taxes, insurance, equipment, overhead and profit, which puts fair billed labor at $45–$84/hour. Each job range above multiplies that rate by typical labor-hours. A quote far above the range needs a specific reason: access, condition, materials grade, season. Ask for it. This is an educational estimate, not a quote.

Before you hire in Massachusetts

Structural work needs a Construction Supervisor License; home improvement contractors also register (HIC), which is what qualifies you for the guaranty fund.

How to verify a Massachusetts license · how to get comparable bids · track your quotes side by side (free, no account).

Find painters near you in Massachusetts

BostonWorcesterSpringfieldLowellCambridgeNew BedfordDorchesterBrocktonFall RiverQuincyLynnNewton

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