arizona: My husband and I want to move to Arizona. He is a carpenter an I am a painter and we wanted to know what kinda wage we should ask for when appling for jobs. Also, where is the best place for that kinda work, but I don't really want to live in Phoenix.|||considering the construction slowdown, there are a lot of painter and construction people changing professions right now. there's no work and arizona is no different than other regions. if you know someone there in that business it would definetly help, but to go there cold is risky. unfortunately, the phoenix area is your best bet for work. if you want to move out west somewhere, there is a town in texas ( i can't remember the name ), that is experiencing a huge construction boom due to the increase in oil prices which makes drilling very profitable now. they are hiring people on the spot at good wages, both in the oil business and construction industry.it's a smaller town in texas, just wish i could remember where. do some research, you'll find it. good luck to you both.|||Depends. With it being a right to work state no one needs licenses to work unless they are an owner, plus w/ all the illegals here construction trades have a hell of alot of competition. Most places, DOE, start out between 8-15 an hour for painting. I dont know about carpentry. Are you in the union? Prevailing wage isnt even much here due to over population. Union jobs average 18 starting.