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Residential Construction
Lennar, D.R. Horton, Toll Brothers
Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Plasterers and stucco masons finish interior walls and ceilings and apply exterior stucco that has to look good and hold up to weather. The work stands out because it mixes careful hand finishing with heavy physical labor, and the tradeoff is clear: you can enter with little formal schooling, but the job is mostly on-site, physically demanding, and offers only modest growth.
Also known as PlastererStucco ApplicatorFinish PlastererExterior PlastererCement Plasterer
Median Salary
$56,020
Mean $61,000
U.S. Workforce
~21K
1.9K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4.1%
24.2K to 25.2K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Plasterers and Stucco Masons sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~21K workers, with a median annual pay of $56,020 and roughly 1.9K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 24.2 K in 2024 to 25.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with No formal educational credential, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Construction Helper and can progress toward Lead Plasterer / Foreperson. High-value skills usually include Trowels, Hawk Boards & Sprayers, Stucco Mix Ratios & Material Preparation, and Surface Preparation, Drywall Taping & Bonding Agents, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Time Management, and Coordination.
Core Responsibilities
- Clean and patch walls, ceilings, and other surfaces so new plaster or stucco will stick properly.
- Mix plaster or stucco to the right thickness and keep the material usable for the day’s work.
- Spread material by hand or with spray equipment to cover interior or exterior surfaces.
- Cover windows, doors, sidewalks, and other nearby areas before applying material so they do not get splashed.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Clean and patch walls, ceilings, and other surfaces so new plaster or stucco will stick properly.
02 Mix plaster or stucco to the right thickness and keep the material usable for the day’s work.
03 Spread material by hand or with spray equipment to cover interior or exterior surfaces.
04 Cover windows, doors, sidewalks, and other nearby areas before applying material so they do not get splashed.
05 Shape the final surface to make it smooth or add decorative texture when the design calls for it.
06 Check the work as you go, work with helpers when needed, and clean up the site after finishing.
Industries That Hire
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Commercial Construction
Turner Construction, Skanska, Gilbane Building Company
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Remodeling and Restoration
BELFOR, SERVPRO, Paul Davis Restoration
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Building Materials and Stucco Systems
Sto Corp, Sika, National Gypsum
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Custom Homebuilding and Renovation
PulteGroup, KB Home, Meritage Homes
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You do not need a degree to start, and the field is open to people with very little formal schooling: 67.95% enter with less than a high school diploma, while another 27.89% have a high school diploma.
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The job includes long-term on-the-job training, so you can learn while earning instead of paying for years of school first.
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Pay is solid for a hands-on trade, with a median of $56,020 and a mean of $61,000 a year.
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There are about 1.9K annual openings, which creates regular chances to get hired or move to a better crew.
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The work is visible and varied: one day may focus on prep, another on spraying or hand-finishing, and another on texture or cleanup.
Challenges
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The work is physically hard on the body because it involves moving materials, using hand tools for long stretches, and working from ladders or scaffolds.
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Outdoor stucco jobs can be delayed by rain, heat, wind, or cold, so schedules and paychecks can feel less predictable than office work.
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Growth is modest at 4.1% through 2034, with employment rising from 24.2K to 25.2K, so the occupation is not expanding quickly.
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There is a real career ceiling if you stay in hands-on production work; the main step up is usually to foreperson, estimating, or owning a small crew.
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Remote work is rare, and demand can soften when new construction and renovation slow down, which makes the job more tied to the housing and building cycle.
Career Progression
Construction Helper
0-2 years
$30K-$37K
Starts with hauling materials, protecting surfaces, mixing supplies, and learning how a crew handles prep work and cleanup.
Apprentice Plasterer
1-4 years
$38K-$49K
Learns to apply material, keep mixes consistent, and finish simple jobs with close supervision.
Plasterer and Stucco Mason THIS ROLE
3-7 years
$50K-$65K
Handles most wall and exterior finishing work independently, which is the level that matches the typical pay range for this occupation.
Lead Plasterer / Foreperson
7+ years
$66K-$80K
Leads a small crew, checks quality, solves problems on site, and keeps the job moving on schedule.
Education Paths
No formal educational credential
The most common entry point, held by 67.95% of workers in this role, and usually paired with long-term on-the-job training.
High school diploma
A common route for 27.89% of workers, often enough to get hired before learning the trade on the job.
Post-secondary certificate
A smaller route used by 2.8% of workers, usually from a construction or finishing program that teaches the basics faster.
Apprenticeship or employer training
A practical alternative for people who want structured training before working independently, especially if they plan to stay in the trade long term.
Key Skills
Technical
Trowels, Hawk Boards & Sprayers 50%
Stucco Mix Ratios & Material Preparation 50%
Surface Preparation, Drywall Taping & Bonding Agents 50%
Quality Control Analysis 50%
Scaffolds, Ladders & Fall Protection 47%
Finishing Textures & Decorative Coatings 47%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningTime ManagementCoordinationSpeakingTeamworkAttention to Detail Job Outlook and Trends
+4.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.9K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 24.2K to 25.2 K over the next decade, representing 4.1% growth. Around 1.9 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.