How much does a Painters and decorators earn in the UK?
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£30,889
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 90% of Painters work full-time
- 75% are self-employed
- 96.6% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Painters and decorators pay in the UK
The typical painters and decorators in the UK earns a median salary of £30,889 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of painters and decorators earnings fall between £23,850 and £37,852 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced painters and decorators.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 75% of Painters are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves.
Where you work changes the picture: painters and decorators pay ranges from £20,933 in North West up to £39,038 in London, a difference of £18,105 (86%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see painters and decorators pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for painters and decorators at £39,038 — 26% above the UK median. North West is lowest at £20,933.
UK median £30,889
| Region | Median payUK median £30,889 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £39,038 | £39,038 | £38,561 | +26% |
| North East | £32,520 | £32,520 | £34,105 | +5% |
| South East | £31,920 | £31,920 | £33,284 | +3% |
| East of England | £31,686 | £31,686 | £36,241 | +3% |
| West Midlands | £30,927 | £30,927 | £31,209 | ±0% |
| Scotland | £30,239 | £30,239 | £28,846 | -2% |
| Wales | £28,649 | £28,649 | £27,920 | -7% |
| East Midlands | £28,289 | £28,289 | £30,515 | -8% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £27,753 | £27,753 | £29,354 | -10% |
| South West | £26,843 | £26,843 | £28,271 | -13% |
| North West | £20,933 | £20,933 | £19,893 | -32% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £39,038 | £39,038Mean £38,561 | +26% |
| North East £32,520 | £32,520Mean £34,105 | +5% |
| South East £31,920 | £31,920Mean £33,284 | +3% |
| East of England £31,686 | £31,686Mean £36,241 | +3% |
| West Midlands £30,927 | £30,927Mean £31,209 | ±0% |
| Scotland £30,239 | £30,239Mean £28,846 | -2% |
| Wales £28,649 | £28,649Mean £27,920 | -7% |
| East Midlands £28,289 | £28,289Mean £30,515 | -8% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £27,753 | £27,753Mean £29,354 | -10% |
| South West £26,843 | £26,843Mean £28,271 | -13% |
| North West £20,933 | £20,933Mean £19,893 | -32% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£30,889); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local painters and decorators pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow painters and decorators pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for painters and decorators by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25%–75% range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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