How Much Does a Plasterer Make? (2024)
Construction · SOC Code 47-2161 · 3-year apprenticeship
The average plasterer earns $63,149 per year ($30/hour) as of 2024, according to BLS data. Yearly income ranges from $46,300 to $90,020 depending on city, with entry-level workers earning about $67,510 and top earners making $105,810+.
Yes — top-decile plasterers clear $100K in 6 of 20 metros
The 90th-percentile plasterer in Chicago, IL earns $105,810 per year ($51/hour). Reaching that tier typically takes journeyman-to-master progression plus union membership, specialization, or running a small contracting business. Median plasterer pay nationally is $63,149 — the $100K mark is the high-earner ceiling, not the middle.
National Salary Range
Plasterer salaries range from $46,300 to $90,020 median across cities, depending on location, union membership, and experience level.
Plasterer Salary by City
| City | Median | Range (10th-90th) | COL-Adjusted | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $90,020 | $67,510 – $105,810 | $84,131 | C | 210 |
| Boston, MA | $85,810 | $63,270 – $112,490 | $56,454 | D | 110 |
| New York, NY | $78,360 | $49,920 – $165,420 | $41,904 | F | 750 |
| St. Louis, MO | $76,540 | $47,580 – $80,480 | $85,044 | C | 0 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $76,310 | $54,340 – $96,390 | $66,357 | D | 100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $71,330 | $50,000 – $111,240 | $37,542 | F | 700 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $68,220 | $23,360 – $97,990 | $64,358 | D | 70 |
| Portland, OR | $67,820 | $48,010 – $98,160 | $52,169 | D | 100 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $63,600 | $28,740 – $73,440 | $69,130 | D | 60 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $59,840 | $39,730 – $103,590 | $36,048 | F | 2,310 |
| Seattle, WA | $59,420 | $47,020 – $108,580 | $39,879 | F | 190 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $57,980 | $37,450 – $80,280 | $56,291 | D | 1,080 |
| Miami, FL | $54,080 | $33,390 – $86,950 | $44,328 | F | 280 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $53,700 | $31,980 – $69,250 | $59,011 | D | 40 |
| Kansas City, MO | $52,900 | $45,230 – $78,490 | $56,277 | D | 100 |
| Denver, CO | $52,010 | $44,700 – $77,320 | $40,633 | F | 390 |
| Tampa, FL | $51,540 | $32,930 – $74,470 | $51,030 | D | 350 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $50,220 | $37,530 – $80,240 | $48,288 | F | 850 |
| Dallas, TX | $46,970 | $34,750 – $59,810 | $46,049 | F | 230 |
| San Antonio, TX | $46,300 | $40,670 – $50,010 | $51,444 | D | 190 |
About Plasterer Pay
Plasterers earn a national median salary of $63,149 based on 2024 BLS occupational wage data. The highest-paying city for this trade is Chicago at $90,020 median, while San Antonio offers the lowest at $46,300.
Becoming a plasterer typically requires a 3-year apprenticeship program. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) can expect around $67,510, while master-level tradespeople (90th percentile) earn $105,810 or more. With -1% wage growth over the past 5 years, this trade is growing at a steady pace.
See how this compares to other trades on our highest paying trades ranking, or browse the best cities for trade workers.
Thinking about becoming a plasterer?
Step-by-step path: 3-year apprenticeship, certifications, state licensing, and apprentice-to-master pay timeline.
Related Construction Trades
Frequently Asked Questions
The average plasterer salary is $63,149 per year ($30/hour) based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Average yearly income ranges from $46,300 to $90,020 depending on city, experience, and union status.
Plasterers earn an average hourly wage of $30/hour based on a 2,080-hour work year. Entry-level (10th percentile) hourly pay is about $32/hour, while top earners (90th percentile) make $51/hour or more.
Chicago offers the highest median pay for plasterers at $90,020. However, cost of living matters, the COL-adjusted pay may tell a different story. Check our city-by-city breakdown above.
With a Trade Pay Score of D and -1% wage growth over 5 years, plasterer offers steady career prospects. There are approximately 8,110 jobs nationwide across 20 metro areas.
Becoming a plasterer typically requires a 3-year apprenticeship program combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Entry-level pay starts around $67,510 (10th percentile).
Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. Trade Pay Scores are a composite of median wage vs. metro income, wage growth, job demand, and COL-adjusted pay.
For this entity, the underlying data on this page comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. The breakdown above is the federal record; the paragraphs below add the per-entity context that makes the headline numbers usable for a real decision rather than just a data lookup.
The methodology behind every numeric value on this page is publicly documented on the the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey portal and described in detail on this site’s methodology page. Refresh cadence varies by underlying series; the page surfaces the as-of date for each number so readers can trace any figure back to the source release.
Practical use of this page is in combination with the comparison and ranking pages elsewhere on the site, which surface the same data for this entity’s peers within U.S. trades, cities, and states. A single-entity reading without peer context can be misleading when an entity is an outlier on one axis but typical on another.