Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.
National median · BLS
$57,660
▲ +2.93%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$62,050
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
19,310
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$39,560
25th
$47,970
Median (50th)
$57,660
75th
$71,310
90th — top pay
$96,710
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Plasterers and Stucco Masons
BLS projects employment of plasterers and stucco masons to grow 2.8% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 1,500 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
22,900 → 23,600
+600 jobs
Projected change
+2.8%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,500
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
16.8% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035
Plasterers and Stucco Masons salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Plasterers and Stucco Masons salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
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Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Plasterers and Stucco Masons
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening3.0
Quality Control Analysis3.0
Time Management3.0
Coordination2.9
Monitoring2.9
Operations Monitoring2.9
Service Orientation2.9
Speaking2.9
Active Learning2.8
Complex Problem Solving2.8
Top knowledge areas
Building and Construction4.1
Administration and Management3.2
Design3.2
English Language3.1
Customer and Personal Service3.0
Public Safety and Security3.0
Mathematics2.9
Mechanical2.8
Software and technology used
LinuxMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WordOracle DatabaseSalesforce softwareA-Systems JobViewAutodesk 3ds Max DesignAutodesk MayaConstruction Software Center EasyEstCorel Paint Shop ProCorel PainterCost estimating softwareDassault Systemes CATIAEmbedded systems development softwareIBM Maximo Asset ManagementSage Construction AnywhereTurtle Creek Software Goldenseal
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What plasterers and stucco masons do
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.
Rough the undercoat surface with a scratcher so the finish coat will adhere.
Set up scaffolds.
Also called
ApplicatorPlaster MechanicPlastererPlasterer JourneymanOrnamental PlastererPlaster ApplicatorPlasterer MechanicPlastering ContractorStucco WorkerSwimming Pool Plasterer
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Plasterers and Stucco Masons, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $57,660.
