How much does a plasterer make?
a year · about $28 an hour
A typical plasterer in the United States makes $57,660 a year, about $28 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
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.
Did you know? Stucco work is most common in the southwestern U.S. and Florida, but plasterers may find jobs in every state.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $39,560 and $96,710How do you become one?
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.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
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.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New York ($120,180), lowest in New Mexico ($45,350).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $120,180 | — |
| Hawaii | $104,260 | about 110 |
| Minnesota | $102,530 | about 160 |
| Illinois | $93,790 | about 270 |
| New Hampshire | $93,000 | — |
Official definition: Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.
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