Painter demand in Portland, OR
How in-demand is painter work in Portland right now, how the local market looks, and how to start.
fewer pros than demand — easier to win clients. 28 painter pros listed on HireLocal in Portland against ~800 the market supports — #14 of 16 trades by demand.
Demand in Portland: 290,000 households
Portland has 290,000 households. 28 painter pros are listed on HireLocal — about 3.5 % of the 800 the market can support.
- Households
- ~290,000
- Pros the market supports
- ~800
- Listed on HireLocal
- 28
| Households | 287,030 |
|---|---|
| Owner-occupied share | 53 % |
| Pros the market supports | 796 |
| listed on HireLocal | 28 |
| Coverage | 3.5 % |
| Score | 98 / 100 |
By national ratios Portland supports about 800 full-time painter pros — a large market with room for niche specialists, emergency-only operators and franchises alike. That is larger than most United States cities we cover. Ownership is split — 53 % owner-occupied — so a typical week mixes homeowners with landlords and property managers who buy in volume. The housing stock is old for the country, which pushes repair and replacement demand above the national average.
28 painter pros are listed in Portland. Every listed pro covers roughly 9,300 households — plenty of room before this market reads as crowded.
This trade in Portland works to US state-licensed standards (CSLB/CCB) with city permits and inspection; the large local Russian-speaking community means Russian-language service is often available.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2019–2023); U.S. BLS OEWS; HireLocal. Updated . How we calculate →
Should you start as a painter in Portland?
Portland supports about 800 painter pros; with 28 listed on HireLocal there is still room, though a specialty or an emergency offer will set a new business apart. Pros in United States typically charge $25–75 / hr.
The typical call-outs, each with the DIY guide customers try first — so you know where the paid work starts.
How to become a painter
Read the guideList your business
Join as a propainter pros in Portland
Open directory- Is painter a good trade to start in Portland?
- Painter scores 98/100 (Underserved) in Portland — fewer pros than demand — easier to win clients. There are 28 pros serving the city today.
- How many painter pros are there in Portland?
- We track 28 painter pros serving Portland, ranking #14 of 16 trades by local demand.