WHAT is the hourly rate of a painter?

It depends on the painter and if they are self employed.

If they are working for themselves, licensed and insured and paying all the fees that are required and are good businessmen, they wouldn't work for less than $40 per hour. If all they want is their next can of beer, then they will work much cheaper. As low as three or four dollars an hour. Because they don't value their time. And they get jobs from cheapskates who hold them to their ridiculously low bids.

If they are working for a painting company, then it depends on their experience and skills and if they can run a crew; anywhere from 12 to 20 per hour is the norm.

This answer is based on the central Florida area.