The median pay for Plasterers and Stucco Masons is $57,660 a year ($27.72/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 2.8% through 2035, with about 1,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 47-2161
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Plasterer and Stucco Mason in four numbers
- Median pay
- $57,660a year, or $27.72/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $97K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.8%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,50022,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202522.9K
- Projected 203523.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 22.9K Projected 2035 23.6K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school68%
- High school27.9%
- Certificate2.8%
- Associate's1.4%
Highest education held by plasterers and stucco masons Segment Value Less than high school 68% High school 27.9% Certificate 2.8% Associate's 1.4%
Also advertised as: Applicator, Ornamental Plasterer, Plaster Applicator, Plaster Mechanic, Plasterer, Plasterer Journeyman.
Pay
How much do Plasterers and Stucco Masons make?
Every plasterer and stucco mason in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$57,660
Middle half earn $47,970 to $71,310
- 10th
- $39,560
- 25th
- $47,970
- 75th
- $71,310
- 90th
- $96,710
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $39,560 |
| 25th | $47,970 |
| Median | $57,660 |
| 75th | $71,310 |
| 90th | $96,710 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $57,660
- Median hourly wage
- $27.72/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $62,050
- People employed
- 19,310
Versus all US occupations
At $57,660, Plasterers and Stucco Masons earn 13% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $6,680 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 4% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $96,710 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,560, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 29% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $120,180, and still leads at $111,359 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Plasterers and Stucco Masons the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $120,180 | $111,359 | N/A |
| 2Hawaii | $104,260 | $94,824 | 110 |
| 3Minnesota | $102,530 | $103,964 | 160 |
| 4Illinois | $93,790 | $93,829 | 270 |
| 5New Hampshire | $93,000 | $89,281 | N/A |
| 6Missouri | $79,380 | $87,407 | 420 |
| 7Michigan | $72,990 | $75,860 | 210 |
| 8Oregon | $71,180 | $68,865 | 170 |
| 9Pennsylvania | $70,030 | $71,773 | 180 |
| 10New Jersey | $69,990 | $64,326 | 50 |
Job outlook
Is Plasterer and Stucco Mason a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +2.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plasterers and Stucco Masons | +2.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Plasterers and Stucco Masons to change 2.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,500 openings are projected each year, 6.6% of the 22,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Plasterer and Stucco Mason
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as plasterers and stucco masons.
- Less than a High School Diploma68%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)27.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate2.8%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree1.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 68% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 27.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 2.8% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 1.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Plasterer and Stucco Mason do?
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.
Day-to-day tasks
- Apply coats of plaster or stucco to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings, using trowels, brushes, or spray guns.
- Cover surfaces such as windows, doors, or sidewalks to protect from splashing.
- Clean job sites.
- Mix mortar and plaster to desired consistency or direct workers who perform mixing.
- 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking2.9
- Monitoring2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Critical Thinking2.8
- Active Learning2.8
- Learning Strategies2.6
- Writing2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
| Writing | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Service Orientation2.9
- Operations Monitoring2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Complex Problem Solving2.8
- Operation and Control2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Service Orientation | 2.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.8 |
| Operation and Control | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
- Development environment software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Plasterer and Stucco Mason?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Plasterer and Stucco Mason |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.3
- Artistic2.6
- Investigative1.6
- Social1.4
- Enterprising1.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Plasterer and Stucco Mason
O*NET related occupations
- Construction and Extraction
Helpers--Painter, Paperhanger, Plasterer, and Stucco Mason
$40,470median a year
Most earn $31K to $52K
+1.5%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer
$58,930median a year
Most earn $38K to $102K
+2.5%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
Helpers--Brickmason, Blockmason, Stonemason, and Tile and Marble Setter
$47,550median a year
Most earn $36K to $70K
−11.7%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
Painter, Construction and Maintenance
$49,400median a year
Most earn $37K to $79K
+3.0%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
Insulation Worker, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
$49,120median a year
Most earn $37K to $78K
+2.4%No formal credential
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with plasterers and stucco masons highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Plasterer and Stucco Mason$57,660
- Roofer$55,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Plasterer and Stucco Mason | $57,660 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Plasterer and Stucco Mason appears on
Questions
Plasterer and Stucco Mason: frequently asked questions
How much do Plasterers and Stucco Masons make?
Plasterers and Stucco Masons earn a median of $57,660 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 13% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $27.72/hr. The middle half earn between $47,970 and $71,310. The top 10% earn $96,710 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Plasterer and Stucco Mason?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Plasterers and Stucco Masons, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 68.0% hold less than a high school diploma.
Is Plasterer and Stucco Mason a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 2.8% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Plasterer and Stucco Mason do?
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. A core O*NET task: apply coats of plaster or stucco to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings, using trowels, brushes, or spray guns. Employers most often ask for Customer relationship management CRM software, Data base user interface and query software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Plasterers and Stucco Masons the most?
The highest state medians for Plasterers and Stucco Masons are New York ($120,180), Hawaii ($104,260), Minnesota ($102,530) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Plasterer and Stucco Mason?
O*NET scores Plasterers and Stucco Masons highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.