Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Also called: Applicator, Decorative Plasterer, Dry Plasterer, Hard Surface Plasterer, Mason Plasterer, Molding Plasterer, Ornamental Plasterer, Plaster Applicator
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials.
What plasterers and stucco masons do
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Cure freshly plastered surfaces.
- Apply weatherproof, decorative coverings to exterior surfaces of buildings, such as by troweling or spraying on coats of stucco.
- Determine materials needed to complete the job and place orders accordingly.
- Apply insulation to building exteriors by installing prefabricated insulation systems over existing walls or by covering the outer wall with insulation board, reinforcing mesh, and a base coat.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Plasterers and Stucco Masons salary
The median annual wage for plasterers and stucco masons is $57,660 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $39,560 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $96,710. The mean annual wage is $62,050.
The mean hourly wage of $29.00 is 4.0× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Plasterers and Stucco Masons (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $57,660 → in 3 years $63,500 → in 5 years $67,700 → in 10 years $79,400 (10-year range $68,300–$92,200). The model assumes pay growth of +3.2% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Plasterers and Stucco Masons? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Plasterers and Stucco Masons United States | 左官 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $57,660 | ¥4.67M ≈ $29,690 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $79,400 | ¥6.58M |
| Outlook score | 56 | 69 |
| AI replacement risk | 8% Very low | 7% Very low |
| Workers | 19K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become plasterers and stucco masons
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as plasterers and stucco masons
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.