Plasterers and stucco masons salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,560 | $19.02 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $57,660 | $27.72 |
| Mean (average) | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| 90th percentile | $96,710 | $46.50 |
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
Plasterers and stucco masons pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 29 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $49,510 | $37,080 | $75,980 | 1,910 | 4.76 |
| California | $59,940 | $46,460 | $95,240 | 6,780 | 3 |
| Colorado | $47,570 | $38,530 | $77,340 | 480 | 1.35 |
| Florida | $47,420 | $33,410 | $62,770 | 1,970 | 1.6 |
| Hawaii | $104,260 | $58,180 | $106,900 | 110 | 1.44 |
| Illinois | $93,790 | $64,890 | $105,720 | 270 | 0.36 |
| Indiana | $53,930 | $43,500 | $69,320 | 60 | 0.16 |
| Kansas | $53,440 | $46,880 | $60,320 | 80 | 0.44 |
| Louisiana | $49,950 | $38,710 | $62,280 | 40 | 0.17 |
| Maryland | $56,890 | $44,370 | $68,480 | 140 | 0.41 |
| Massachusetts | Data unavailable | 260 | 0.58 | ||
| Michigan | $72,990 | $48,350 | $80,270 | 210 | 0.39 |
| Minnesota | $102,530 | $64,000 | $108,160 | 160 | 0.43 |
| Missouri | $79,380 | $50,450 | $119,240 | 420 | 1.15 |
| Montana | $46,540 | $45,900 | $63,860 | 50 | 0.85 |
| Nevada | $53,610 | $41,060 | $102,570 | 1,150 | 5.95 |
| New Hampshire | $93,000 | $48,410 | $104,520 | ||
| New Jersey | $69,990 | $54,990 | $108,490 | 50 | 0.09 |
| New Mexico | $45,350 | $37,440 | $61,410 | 460 | 4.28 |
| New York | $120,180 | $52,060 | $120,210 | ||
| Ohio | $62,200 | $46,700 | $68,710 | 180 | 0.25 |
| Oklahoma | $49,450 | $46,300 | $57,200 | ||
| Oregon | $71,180 | $49,330 | $97,820 | 170 | 0.69 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,030 | $55,570 | $90,160 | 180 | 0.24 |
| Texas | $51,140 | $40,650 | $62,400 | 1,400 | 0.8 |
| Utah | $53,710 | $34,990 | $77,110 | 820 | 3.81 |
| Virginia | $64,120 | $53,100 | $66,340 | 100 | 0.2 |
| Washington | $51,840 | $41,060 | $66,140 | 440 | 0.99 |
| Wisconsin | $50,700 | $47,150 | $74,320 | 40 | 0.11 |
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 plasterers and stucco masons
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 16.8%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for plasterers and stucco masons
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-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
- Cover surfaces such as windows, doors, or sidewalks to protect from splashing.
- Apply coats of plaster or stucco to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings, using trowels, brushes, or spray guns.
- Clean and prepare surfaces for applications of plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials, such as by drywall taping.
- Create decorative textures in finish coat, using brushes or trowels, sand, pebbles, or stones.
- Mix mortar and plaster to desired consistency or direct workers who perform mixing.
- Clean job sites.
Technology skills
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Database (hot technology)
- Salesforce software (hot technology)
- A-Systems JobView
- Autodesk 3ds Max Design
- Autodesk Maya
- Construction Software Center EasyEst
- Corel Paint Shop Pro
- Corel Painter
- Cost estimating software
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Embedded systems development software
- IBM Maximo Asset Management
Transferable skills for career changers: Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Coordination, Service Orientation, Operations Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Applicator, Ornamental Plasterer, Plaster Applicator, Plaster Mechanic, Plasterer, Plasterer Journeyman, Plasterer Mechanic, Plastering Contractor, Stucco Worker, Swimming Pool Plasterer.
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 plasterers and stucco masons make?
The national median annual wage for plasterers and stucco masons was $57,660 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $39,560 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $96,710. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do 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 long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is plasterers and stucco masons a growing career?
BLS projects employment of plasterers and stucco masons to change +2.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay plasterers and stucco masons the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($120,180), Hawaii ($104,260), Minnesota ($102,530). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.