Average Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, And Stucco Masons Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, And Stucco Masons is $38,140 per year. The middle 50% earn between $35,230 and $45,290, with 7,220 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates . Data covers 25 states and 30 metro areas.
Wage range
Pay distribution
Here is how Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, And Stucco Masons pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $31,360
- 25th
- $35,230
- Median
- $38,140
- 75th
- $45,290
- 90th
- $51,720
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
This is a lower-wage occupation relative to the US labor market. Pay is below the national median for all workers.
Pay is tightly clustered around the median. Most helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons earn within a narrow band, with less variation than many other occupations. That is often a sign of standardized roles or union and public-sector pay scales.
BLS projections
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons from 2024 to 2034. Growth is roughly in line with the US average of about 4% across all occupations.
- Projected growth
- +2.3%
- 200 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 800
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings reflect typical replacement demand alongside any growth.
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
There are no formal educational requirements for entry. Much of the training happens through experience on the job.
Where Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, And Stucco Masons earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is Ohio at $52,000, about 36.3% above the national median. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA leads with a median of $57,550.
By state
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $52,000 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $46,670 | N/A |
| Iowa | $46,480 | N/A |
| California | $45,730 | 1,920 |
| Colorado | $43,750 | 130 |
| Utah | $40,620 | 150 |
| Maryland | $39,790 | 230 |
| Hawaii | $39,530 | 50 |
By metro
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $57,550 | 70 |
| Vallejo, CA | $50,970 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $47,320 | 200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $45,730 | 580 |
| Modesto, CA | $44,140 | 50 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,040 | 90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $43,640 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $43,470 | 190 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2024, the national median salary for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, And Stucco Masons rose from $31,340 to $38,140, a gain of +21.7% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +22.7%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $31,340 would need to be worth $38,454 in 2024 dollars.
The actual 2024 median of $38,140 is −$314 below that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of -0.8% in purchasing power.
Wages have roughly kept pace with inflation. Nominal pay rose by 21.7%, but inflation absorbed most of it.
- Nominal change
- +21.7%
- 2019–2024
- Cumulative inflation
- +22.7%
- US CPI, 2019–2024
- Real change
- -0.8%
- After adjusting for inflation
Annual history
Median salary over time
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, And Stucco Masons median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2019
- $31,340
- 2020
- $31,640
- 2021
- $33,370
- 2022
- $36,080
- 2023
- $37,010
- 2024
- $38,140
Similar jobs
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Helpers--Electricians
- $39,890
- Helpers--Roofers
- $40,590
- Helpers--Carpenters
- $41,600
- Construction Laborers
- $46,730
- Fence Erectors
- $46,940
Common salary questions for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, And Stucco Masons
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, And Stucco Masons workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.