Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $40,470 | $19.46 |
| Mean (average) | $42,440 | $20.40 |
| 90th percentile | $52,000 | $25.00 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 25 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $32,000 | $31,370 | $48,140 | 110 | 0.68 |
| California | $46,220 | $37,940 | $59,730 | 1,990 | 2.26 |
| Colorado | $42,470 | $31,370 | $46,100 | ||
| Connecticut | $43,070 | $42,210 | $48,750 | ||
| Florida | $36,010 | $28,950 | $45,470 | 310 | 0.64 |
| Georgia | $35,430 | $32,000 | $37,440 | ||
| Hawaii | $51,540 | $35,590 | $57,370 | 130 | 4.18 |
| Idaho | $38,760 | $31,200 | $43,460 | 230 | 5.59 |
| Indiana | $36,550 | $19,810 | $40,140 | ||
| Louisiana | $37,340 | $24,540 | $46,780 | 250 | 2.65 |
| Maryland | $39,080 | $31,200 | $43,900 | 90 | 0.7 |
| Michigan | $30,300 | $28,890 | $68,060 | ||
| Mississippi | $23,470 | $18,720 | $32,020 | 60 | 0.99 |
| Montana | $44,720 | $39,520 | $48,660 | 50 | 2.17 |
| Nevada | $38,330 | $36,560 | $46,460 | 80 | 1.02 |
| New Mexico | $35,860 | $29,660 | $44,830 | 50 | 1.18 |
| New York | $52,000 | $40,100 | $52,000 | ||
| North Carolina | $35,980 | $27,940 | $41,250 | 260 | 1.09 |
| Ohio | $53,340 | $38,980 | $58,250 | 40 | 0.14 |
| Oregon | $40,180 | $36,660 | $45,440 | 240 | 2.58 |
| Tennessee | $36,130 | $27,060 | $40,470 | 40 | 0.22 |
| Texas | $37,040 | $26,960 | $41,000 | 1,220 | 1.81 |
| Utah | $44,500 | $36,160 | $47,460 | ||
| Virginia | $43,160 | $33,710 | $50,650 | ||
| Washington | $39,360 | $35,800 | $56,820 | 160 | 0.91 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Clean work areas and equipment.
- Supply or hold tools and materials.
- Apply protective coverings, such as masking tape, to articles or areas that could be damaged or stained by work processes.
- Smooth surfaces of articles to be painted, using sanding and buffing tools and equipment.
- Erect scaffolding.
- Perform support duties to assist painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or masons.
- Fill cracks or breaks in surfaces of plaster articles or areas with putty or epoxy compounds.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- A-Systems JobView
- Apple iWork
- Construction Software Center EasyEst
- Cost estimating software
- Evergreen Technology Eagle Bid Estimating
- On Center Quick Bid
- Sage Construction Anywhere
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Helper, Painter Assistant, Painter Helper, Plaster Helper, Plaster Tender.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons make?
The national median annual wage for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons was $40,470 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $31,200 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $52,000. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons a growing career?
BLS projects employment of helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons to change +1.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Ohio ($53,340), New York ($52,000), Hawaii ($51,540). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.