CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for painting and wall covering contractors in Albany, NY
Painting and wall covering contractors in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area: 91 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 3-person team.
- Establishments
- 91CBP 2023
- Employees
- 307mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 10.0U.S. 11.3
- Rank
- 79th of 660areas by count
How many painting and wall covering contractors are in Albany, NY?
There were 91 painting and wall covering contractors in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 238320, Painting and Wall Covering Contractors). Together they reported 307 mid-March employees and $19.4 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 79th of the 660 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 913,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 10.0 painting and wall covering contractors per 100,000 people, 11.5% below the national rate of 11.3. Establishments average 3.4 employees, 38.0% below the U.S. average of 5.4. Payroll per employee comes to $63,218, 14.6% above the national $55,165.
| Measure | Albany, NY | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 91 | 2,579 | 38,280 |
| Mid-March employees | 307 | 10,664 | 208,201 |
| Annual payroll | $19,408,000 | $622,342,000 | $11,485,346,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 3.4 | 4.1 | 5.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $63,218 | $58,359 | $55,165 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 10.0 | 13.0 | 11.3 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at painting and wall covering contractors in Albany, NY
Of the painting and wall covering contractors in Albany, NY that had employees in March 2023, 83.1% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 75.1%). 92.1% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 74 | 83.1% | 75.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 8 | 9.0% | 13.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 7 | 7.9% | 6.6% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 3.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for painting and wall covering contractors in Albany, NY
Painting contractors book work through estimate calls, and crews are often on ladders when the phone rings. Fast callbacks help win estimates before a competitor does. That holds for painting and wall covering contractors in Albany, NY as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to painting and wall covering contractors in Albany, NY:
- The contractor calls a customer to confirm the start date.
- A property manager calls about repainting a vacant unit.
- A customer calls to change colors.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours calls are mostly estimate requests.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
Phone system pricing for a 3-person painting contractor
The average painting contractor in Albany, NY has 3.4 employees, so a 3-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $74.85 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $90.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 3 people; it becomes the lower price at 4 users or more.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $57.00 | $684.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $69.00 | $828.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $74.85 | $898.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $81.00 | $972.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $90.00 | $1,080.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Getting a local number in Albany, NY
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 518 has the most, with 415 of 509 exchanges (82%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 518 | 415 | Eastern | 1947 | 838 |
| 838 | 91 | Eastern | 2017 | 518 |
| 845 | 3 | Eastern | 2000 | 329 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What painting and wall covering contractors in Albany, NY get with Callata
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Albany, NY, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many painting and wall covering contractors are there in Albany, NY?
Census County Business Patterns counted 91 painting and wall covering contractors in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY metro area in 2023. They employed 307 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 3-person painting contractor?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 3 users cost $90.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $74.85 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
What area code should a painting contractor in Albany, NY use?
Area code 518 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 838 and 845. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a painting contractor?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.