Maine · Painter
Maine painter prevailing wage, county by county
A painter's prevailing wage on Maine public works runs from $24.31 an hour in Somerset County to $32.48 in Kennebec County. The median county is $29.04.
Painter rate in each Maine county, A to Z
| County | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Androscoggin CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters | $22.47 | $1.84 | $24.31 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-androscoggin-b2 |
Aroostook CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters · Aroostook County group | $23.96 | $1.59 | $25.55 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-aroostook-b2 |
Cumberland CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters | $26.23 | $2.81 | $29.04 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-cumberland-b2 |
Franklin CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters | $22.47 | $1.84 | $24.31 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-franklin-b2 |
Hancock CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters | $20.74 | $8.88 | $29.62 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-hancock-b2 |
Kennebec CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters | $29.16 | $3.32 | $32.48 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-kennebec-b2 |
Knox CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters · Knox County group | $29.16 | $3.32 | $32.48 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-knox-b2 |
Lincoln CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters | $29.16 | $3.32 | $32.48 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-lincoln-b2 |
Oxford CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters | $23.38 | $1.19 | $24.57 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-oxford-b2 |
Penobscot CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters · Penobscot County group | $23.96 | $1.59 | $25.55 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-penobscot-b2 |
Piscataquis CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters · Aroostook County group | $23.96 | $1.59 | $25.55 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-piscataquis-b2 |
Sagadahoc CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters | $29.16 | $3.32 | $32.48 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-sagadahoc-b2 |
Somerset CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters | $22.47 | $1.84 | $24.31 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-somerset-b2 |
Statewide scheduleConstruction and Maintenance Painters | $31.55 | $3.25 | $34.80 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-statewide-b2 |
Waldo CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters · Knox County group | $29.16 | $3.32 | $32.48 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-waldo-b2 |
Washington CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters · Penobscot County group | $23.96 | $1.59 | $25.55 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-washington-b2 |
York CountyConstruction and Maintenance Painters | $26.23 | $2.81 | $29.04 | Jan 10, 2026 | MDOL-2026-york-b2 |
Main painter classification in each county (Construction and maintenance painters), MDOL 2026 rates, effective January 10, 2026. A rate written into a contract "must remain unchanged during the time the contract is in effect" (26 MRSA §1306). Checked October 25, 2026.
How much does a painter make on prevailing wage in Maine?
$24.31 to $32.48 an hour depending on the county; the median county pays $29.04. 3 groups of counties with identical rates and 11 with rates of their own, highest main rate first.
- Statewide1 county$34.80
- Knox County group2 counties$32.48
- Kennebec County1 county$32.48
- Lincoln County1 county$32.48
- Sagadahoc County1 county$32.48
- Hancock County1 county$29.62
- Cumberland County1 county$29.04
- York County1 county$29.04
- Aroostook County group2 counties$25.55
- Penobscot County group2 counties$25.55
- Oxford County1 county$24.57
- Androscoggin County1 county$24.31
- Franklin County1 county$24.31
- Somerset County1 county$24.31
Which counties share a rate
| Counties | Main classification | Base wage | Total rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $31.55 | $34.80 |
| Knox County group, 2 localities: Knox, Waldo | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $29.16 | $32.48 |
| Kennebec County | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $29.16 | $32.48 |
| Lincoln County | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $29.16 | $32.48 |
| Sagadahoc County | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $29.16 | $32.48 |
| Hancock County | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $20.74 | $29.62 |
| Cumberland County | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $26.23 | $29.04 |
| York County | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $26.23 | $29.04 |
| Aroostook County group, 2 localities: Aroostook, Piscataquis | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $23.96 | $25.55 |
| Penobscot County group, 2 localities: Penobscot, Washington | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $23.96 | $25.55 |
| Oxford County | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $23.38 | $24.57 |
| Androscoggin County | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $22.47 | $24.31 |
| Franklin County | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $22.47 | $24.31 |
| Somerset County | Construction and Maintenance Painters | $22.47 | $24.31 |
3 groups of counties with identical MDOL rates, and 11 counties with rates of their own.
MDOL's determinations list journey-level rates only. Registered apprentices are paid "the rates recognized in the sponsorship agreement for registered apprentices working in the pertinent classification" (every MDOL determination; 26 MRSA §1314(2)). Holders of a state apprentice licence who aren't in a registered program are not apprentices for this purpose.
Questions about Maine painter pay
What is the painter prevailing wage in Cumberland County?
$29.04 an hour: a $26.23 base wage plus $2.81 in benefits, under MDOL 2026 rates, effective January 10, 2026. Overtime and every painter classification in Cumberland County.
Does painter prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. In Cumberland County the $29.04 total is a $26.23 base wage plus $2.81 in benefits, about 10% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.
Does painter prevailing wage pay overtime in Maine?
MDOL's determinations print no overtime and the prevailing wage law sets none. Maine's general wage law applies: 1½ times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a week, with no daily overtime (26 MRSA §664(3)).
Do apprentice painters get this rate?
MDOL's determinations list journey-level rates only. Registered apprentices are paid "the rates recognized in the sponsorship agreement for registered apprentices working in the pertinent classification" (every MDOL determination; 26 MRSA §1314(2)). Holders of a state apprentice licence who aren't in a registered program are not apprentices for this purpose.
Why do some counties have the same painter rate?
MDOL often publishes the same painter rates for several counties. Across Maine, the 16 counties with a painter rate fall into 14 distinct sets of rates, and 3 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 2 counties (the Aroostook County group).