How much does a plasterer make?
Answer: A typical plasterer in the United States makes $57,660 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 19,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Plasterer pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $39,560 | $57,660 | $96,710 | about 19,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $59,940 | about 7,000 |
| Utah | $53,710 | about 820 |
| Nevada | $53,610 | about 1,000 |
| Texas | $51,140 | about 1,000 |
| Arizona | $49,510 | about 2,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., more experience and skill can bring higher pay, and pay also changes with the employer and local demand. Harder tasks and location matter too; hours, overtime, and shift premiums can change what workers take home.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a plasterer do?
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.
What's a typical day like?
They set up scaffolds, prep walls, mix plaster or stucco, and spread it with trowels, brushes, or sprayers. They protect nearby windows and sidewalks, clean up, and often work on their feet outdoors in all weather.
How to get this job
A high-school diploma or GED is common, though some jobs have no set schooling or training requirement. In the U.S., many learn on the job or through an apprenticeship; some apprenticeship programs require applicants to be 18.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
Stucco work is most common in the southwestern U.S. and Florida, but plasterers may find jobs in every state.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Construction and Extraction jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2161.00
- www.careeronestop.org/Videos/careeronestop-videos.aspx?videocode=47216100
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.ccsf.edu/academics/career-education/plastering-apprenticeship
- www.lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/apprenticeship/_docs/0106.pdf
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY