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Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons: Career Profile
Help painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or stucco masons by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
The Daily Work of Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of helpers–painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons include:
- Clean work areas and equipment.
- Perform support duties to assist painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or masons.
- Apply protective coverings, such as masking tape, to articles or areas that could be damaged or stained by work processes.
- Erect scaffolding.
- Fill cracks or breaks in surfaces of plaster articles or areas with putty or epoxy compounds.
- Supply or hold tools and materials.
What Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Need to Know
Successful helpers–painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Billboard Poster Helper
- Bridge Painter Helper
- Dry Plasterer Helper
- Exterior Work Helper
- Highway Painter Helper
- House Painter Helper
- Hydroblaster
- Mason's Tender
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 551,699 helpers–painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +2.7% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $77,592 |
| Hourly median | $37.30 |
| 10th percentile | $51,718 |
| 25th percentile | $64,655 |
| 75th percentile | $90,529 |
| 90th percentile | $103,466 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $52,000 |
| New Jersey | $46,670 |
| Iowa | $46,480 |
| California | $45,730 |
| Colorado | $43,750 |
| Utah | $40,620 |
| Maryland | $39,790 |
| Hawaii | $39,530 |
| Louisiana | $39,430 |
| Oregon | $39,340 |
| Idaho | $39,340 |
| Washington | $38,050 |
| New Mexico | $37,440 |
| Nevada | $37,350 |
| Arizona | $37,250 |
| Indiana | $36,520 |
| Texas | $36,030 |
| Michigan | $35,890 |
| Florida | $35,680 |
| North Carolina | $34,980 |
| Virginia | $34,890 |
| Kansas | $34,470 |
| Georgia | $33,280 |
| Arkansas | $33,020 |
| Alabama | $31,180 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for helpers–painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $43,358 | 46.4% | 2.57 |
| Great Lakes | $42,905 | 3.1% | 0.34 |
| Rocky Mountains | $40,968 | 7.6% | 2.84 |
| Middle Atlantic | $39,790 | 3.7% | 1.80 |
| Southwest | $36,367 | 16.2% | 1.23 |
| Southeast | $36,049 | 23.0% | 1.81 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $57,550 | 70 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $50,970 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $47,320 | 200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $45,730 | 580 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $44,140 | 50 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $44,040 | 90 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | CA | $43,640 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $43,470 | 190 |
Top Industries Employing Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
The largest employers of helpers–painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 6,710 | $38,140 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 250 | $37,420 |
| Manufacturing | 60 | $38,840 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 40 | $44,600 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of helpers–painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Spend Time Standing
- Contact With Others
How to Become Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
Most helpers–painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons positions require less than a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons (Supplemental)
- Carpenters (Supplemental)
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (Supplemental)
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (Supplemental)
- Construction Laborers (Supplemental)
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers (Supplemental)
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall (Supplemental)
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance (Primary-Long)
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-3014.00 (Helpers–Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons).