Plasterers and Stucco Masons: Career Profile
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Plasterers and Stucco Masons Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of plasterers and stucco masons include:
- 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.
- Apply coats of plaster or stucco to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings, using trowels, brushes, or spray guns.
- Set up scaffolds.
- Determine materials needed to complete the job and place orders accordingly.
- Apply weatherproof, decorative coverings to exterior surfaces of buildings, such as by troweling or spraying on coats of stucco.
- Clean and prepare surfaces for applications of plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials, such as by drywall taping.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful plasterers and stucco masons rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Applicator
- Artisan
- Artisan Plasterer
- Decorative Plasterer
- Dry Plasterer
- Hard Surface Plasterer
- Mason
- Mason Plasterer
Job Outlook
There are about 677,685 plasterers and stucco masons working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +1.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Plasterers and Stucco Masons Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $56,358 |
| Hourly median | $27.10 |
| 10th percentile | $31,765 |
| 25th percentile | $44,062 |
| 75th percentile | $68,655 |
| 90th percentile | $80,952 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Plasterers and Stucco Masons Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $99,070 |
| New Jersey | $94,040 |
| Massachusetts | $85,810 |
| South Carolina | $84,160 |
| Illinois | $83,020 |
| Missouri | $74,560 |
| New York | $73,940 |
| Oregon | $69,290 |
| Minnesota | $68,220 |
| Ohio | $63,310 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,470 |
| Michigan | $61,610 |
| California | $60,370 |
| New Hampshire | $59,780 |
| Washington | $59,410 |
| Arizona | $55,260 |
| Montana | $54,970 |
| Maryland | $54,510 |
| Virginia | $53,970 |
| Utah | $53,170 |
| Kansas | $52,900 |
| Wisconsin | $52,660 |
| Colorado | $52,010 |
| Indiana | $51,310 |
| Nevada | $49,750 |
| Kentucky | $48,680 |
| Florida | $47,480 |
| New Mexico | $47,210 |
| Texas | $46,500 |
| Louisiana | $46,270 |
| South Dakota | $45,470 |
| Georgia | $41,130 |
Where Plasterers and Stucco Masons Earn the Most
Earnings for plasterers and stucco masons shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $85,810 | 0.7% | 0.30 |
| Middle Atlantic | $71,451 | 5.2% | 0.56 |
| Plains States | $71,120 | 3.6% | 1.14 |
| Great Lakes | $66,204 | 4.9% | 0.34 |
| Far Western US | $59,460 | 50.3% | 3.57 |
| Rocky Mountains | $52,792 | 9.6% | 3.85 |
| Southwest | $51,685 | 13.4% | 2.62 |
| Southeast | $48,902 | 12.3% | 1.46 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Plasterers and Stucco Masons
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $99,070 | 60 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $90,020 | 210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $85,810 | 110 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $78,360 | 750 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | MO | $76,540 | |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $76,310 | 100 |
| Logan, UT-ID | UT | $72,790 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $71,330 | 700 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of plasterers and stucco masons are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 19,590 | $54,820 |
| Educational Services | 90 | $64,180 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 80 | $69,600 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Plasterers and Stucco Masons Use
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Oracle Database (hot technology)
- Customer relationship management CRM software: Salesforce software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for plasterers and stucco masons tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Standing
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
Most plasterers and stucco masons positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons (Primary-Long)
- Carpenters (Supplemental)
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles (Primary-Long)
- Tile and Stone Setters (Primary-Long)
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (Primary-Long)
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (Supplemental)
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers (Primary-Short)
- Tapers (Supplemental)
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2161.00 (Plasterers and Stucco Masons).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.