Plasterers and stucco masons
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.
Plasterers and stucco masons apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster. The role reports a median annual salary of $56,020 in the US and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a No formal educational credential, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.40 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Active Listening, Coordination, Monitoring.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £34,016 a year for Plasterers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 5321). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Craft and related trades workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Plasterers and stucco masons, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 7. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Building and Construction
- Administration and Management
- Design
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- Mathematics
- Mechanical
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Plasterers and stucco masons do?
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.
How much does Plasterers and stucco masons earn?
The median annual salary for Plasterers and stucco masons in the US is $56,020.
What is the job outlook for Plasterers and stucco masons?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 24,200 workers.
How do I become plasterers and stucco masons?
The typical entry education is a No formal educational credential. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Plasterers and stucco masons need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Active Listening, Coordination, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Plasterers and stucco masons?
Our AI-durability model gives Plasterers and stucco masons a score of 0.40 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Plasterers and stucco masons has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.