Scranton, PA
Insurance for Scranton, PA painters
Liability, workers' comp, and equipment coverage for Scranton painting contractors. A quote is not a binder.
About 75,905 people live in Scranton, part of Lackawanna County, where County Business Patterns counted 16 painting contractors with payroll in 2023 employing 75 workers.
The finish-trade market around Scranton
| Census CBP 2023 | Lackawanna County | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Painting and wall covering contractors | 16 | 1,168 |
| Painting contractor employees | 75 | 6,221 |
| Painting contractors with 1–4 employees | 13 | 862 |
| Drywall and insulation contractors | 5 | 530 |
| Flooring contractors | 8 | 545 |
| Residential remodelers | 77 | 5,935 |
Census County Business Patterns, 2023; self-employed painters are not included.
Painting contractors in Lackawanna County reported about $2,290,000 in 2023 payroll, or roughly $30,533 per employee against $60,554 statewide. Workers' compensation for painters is priced on payroll, so this is the number an insurer starts from.
Alongside painters, Lackawanna County has 5 drywall and insulation contractors, 8 flooring contractors, 77 residential remodelers. Shared job sites mean shared risk; see contract insurance clauses.
Scranton housing and what it means for painters
Half of Scranton's homes were built before 1938. For painters, that means frequent work on surfaces that may contain lead, certification under the federal RRP rule, and a closer look at whether your policy covers lead claims. Statewide, the median is 1965.
Of Scranton's 35,512.0 homes, 15% are in buildings with five or more units. Apartment repaints mean exterior height, many parked cars, and property managers who require higher limits.
About 59% of homes in Scranton are single-family, compared with 75% statewide. Exterior work on houses like these is where falls and overspray claims most often start.
Statewide building permits covered 24,810 housing units in 2024 (Census). New homes become repaint jobs within a decade, and builder work means contract insurance clauses today.
In Scranton, 71% of workers drive alone and 43% get to work in under 15 minutes. Helpers who drive their own trucks between jobs are a reason to ask about hired and non-owned auto.
9% of Scranton's 31,984 workers work from home (Pennsylvania: 16%). Occupied homes mean daytime interior work around residents, pets, and home offices.
American Community Survey 2020–2024 (tenure, structure type, year built, commuting, vehicles); Census 2024 population estimates; Census Building Permits Survey.
Pennsylvania's payroll painters earned a median $52,120 in May 2025 (BLS). Self-employed painters are not counted.
Lackawanna County holds 1.4% of the state's painting contractors, and 81% of them employ one to four people. In a market of small crews, a single fall or a fire from a heat gun can end a season.
Reducing claims on Scranton jobs
- Keep heat guns and torches away from hidden framing.
- Collect certificates from every subcontractor before they start.
- Photograph floors, furniture, and nearby cars before starting.
- Tell your agent before adding a new kind of job.
The job types guide explains how residential, commercial, and new construction work in Scranton each change what insurers ask.
Scranton compared with nearby cities
Painting contractors in Philadelphia's county: 71. Allegheny County, home to Pittsburgh, counts 145 employer painting contractors. Of our 30 Pennsylvania city pages, Scranton ranks 2nd for oldest housing stock.
Preparing a Scranton painter quote
- Job mix: Interior, exterior, residential, commercial
- Equipment: Sprayers, ladders, and rentals
- Subcontractors: Costs and certificates
- Older homes: Pre-1978 work and RRP certification
- Vehicles: Vans, trucks, and drivers
- Payroll: Employees, helpers, and payroll
Start a Scranton painter quote
Scranton painting contractors ask
What insurance does a Scranton painting contractor need?
Liability, workers' comp, commercial auto, tools and equipment, and often contractor pollution liability.
How many painting contractors are in Lackawanna County?
County Business Patterns counted 16 painting contractors with employees in Lackawanna County in 2023. Self-employed painters are not included.
Do Scranton painters need lead coverage?
The median Scranton home was built in 1938. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead paint, and many liability policies exclude it. Ask about a lead endorsement or pollution coverage.
Other Pennsylvania cities
Painter insurance in Pennsylvania · Coverage
Last updated October 15, 2026 · How we research