If you are thinking of becoming a painter and decorator or starting your own decorating business, the first question is usually simple: how much could I actually earn? The honest answer depends on whether you are employed or running your own business, and if you run your own business, on your prices, how busy you are and how well you control your costs.
This guide sets out the published UK salary figures, explains what self-employed owners really take home, and shows you how to work out your own likely earnings.
Employed painter and decorator salary in the UK
The National Careers Service lists salaries from £21,000 for a starter to £32,000 for someone experienced, for employed painters and decorators. Pay varies by region, employer, overtime and specialist skills, with London and the South East usually paying more.
Salary source: National Careers Service — Painter and decorator. The figures are for employed roles; they do not predict a business owner's profit or take-home pay.
Self-employed earnings: turnover is not take-home pay
When you run your own decorating business, there is no salary scale. You earn what is left after every cost has been paid. That is why two businesses with the same turnover can leave their owners with very different incomes.
The costs that usually make the difference are:
- Van, fuel and insurance
- Paint and materials, especially when quoted loosely
- Ladders, towers and spray equipment
- Preparation time that was not priced
- Winter gaps in exterior work
Most owners also underestimate the time they cannot charge for: quoting, admin, travel, buying supplies and chasing payments. That time still has to be paid for out of your prices.
A worked example (illustrative figures)
Imagine a small decorating business turning over £5,500 a month. After the direct costs of delivering the work, such as staff, materials, products or fuel, of £2,300, it makes a gross profit of £3,200 a month.
From that gross profit the owner still has to pay overheads such as insurance, phone, software, vehicle or premises costs, marketing and accountancy, and then Income Tax and National Insurance on what remains. If overheads came to £800 a month, the owner would have around £2,400 a month before tax.
These figures are an illustration only, not a forecast. Your own numbers will depend on your prices, your costs and how busy you are. The point is the method: turnover minus direct costs minus overheads is what pays you.
How painters and decorators increase their earnings
- Pricing preparation properly and showing it on the quote
- Specialist work such as spraying and wallpaper
- Letting agent turnarounds for steady winter work
- Deposits on larger jobs to cover materials
Each of these either raises the price you get per job, increases the number of jobs you can do, or cuts a cost. Tracking your figures monthly shows you which is working.
The numbers that decide your income
Three figures do most of the work in deciding what you take home from a decorating business:
Average job value. Shows whether you are moving towards whole-house and specialist work. You calculate it as: total revenue ÷ jobs.
Labour hours sold. Your capacity, after quoting visits and weather. You calculate it as: billable hours in the month.
Effective day rate. Catches jobs where prep took longer than quoted. You calculate it as: labour revenue ÷ days worked.
Track these monthly. When take-home pay falls, one of them has almost always moved first. Our guide to painter & decorator business KPIs covers the full set.
How painters and decorators usually charge
Most painters and decorators use day rates, price per room and fixed prices per job. Whatever structure you choose, base your prices on your real costs and the income you need, not just on what competitors charge. A competitor with a paid-off van, no staff or a cheaper unit can charge less and still make money; you may not be able to.
How to work out what you would earn
1. Estimate your monthly jobs realistically, allowing for quiet periods. 2. Multiply by your average price to get monthly turnover. 3. Subtract direct costs such as materials, products, staff and fuel. 4. Subtract overheads such as insurance, rent, vehicle, software and marketing. 5. Set aside tax and National Insurance on the profit, and VAT if you are registered.
What is left is your take-home pay. If it is not enough, the answer is usually price, volume or cost, in that order.
Run the numbers on your own business
The **Painter & Decorator Business Management System** tracks every job, cost, invoice and VAT return, and works out your profit, margin and key figures automatically on a one-page dashboard. It costs £15 once, with no subscription. For the full start-up walkthrough, read our guide on how to start a decorating business.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a painter and decorator earn a year in the UK? The National Careers Service lists a range of £21,000 to £32,000 for employed painters and decorators. Self-employed earnings depend on prices, volume and costs.
Do self-employed painters and decorators earn more than employed painters and decorators? They can, but not always. Self-employed owners keep the profit but also carry every cost and quiet week. Turnover figures can look high until costs are subtracted.
Is a decorating business worth starting? It can be, if your prices cover every cost and leave enough for you. The owners who do best usually focus on a few things: pricing preparation properly and showing it on the quote, and specialist work such as spraying and wallpaper.
What is the biggest cost for a decorating business? It varies, but the list above covers the usual pressure points. Tracking costs as a percentage of revenue each month shows which one is growing.
How can I check whether my prices are high enough? Work out your monthly overheads and the income you need, then check that your average price per job covers your direct costs and leaves enough to pay both.