Life As a Plasterer or Stucco Mason
Occupation Description Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.
What Do Plasterers and Stucco Masons Do On a Daily Basis?
- Clean job sites.
- Determine materials needed to complete the job and place orders accordingly.
- Apply insulation to building exteriors by installing prefabricated insulation systems over existing walls or by covering the outer wall with insulation board, reinforcing mesh, and a base coat.
- Cure freshly plastered surfaces.
- Rough the undercoat surface with a scratcher so the finish coat will adhere.
- Apply weatherproof, decorative coverings to exterior surfaces of buildings, such as by troweling or spraying on coats of stucco.
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Skills Needed to be a Plasterer or Stucco Mason
Plasterers and Stucco Masons state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Related Job Titles
- Plaster Foreman
- Plasterer Journeyman
- Synthetic Plasterer
- Poured Wall Foreman
- Plaster Applicator
Job Opportunities for Plasterers and Stucco Masons
There were about 27,700 jobs for Plasterer or Stucco Mason in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,100 new jobs for Plasterer or Stucco Mason by 2026. There will be an estimated 2,700 positions for Plasterer or Stucco Mason per year.

The states with the most job growth for Plasterer or Stucco Mason are Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Virginia, Ohio, or New Mexico. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Plasterer or Stucco Mason
The typical yearly salary for Plasterers and Stucco Masons is somewhere between $28,360 and $75,590.

Plasterers and Stucco Masons who work in Minnesota, Illinois, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Plasterers and Stucco Masons in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $37,070 |
Arizona | $43,410 |
Arkansas | $34,390 |
California | $52,510 |
Colorado | $36,140 |
District of Columbia | $50,620 |
Florida | $38,010 |
Georgia | $35,020 |
Hawaii | $61,630 |
Idaho | $36,560 |
Illinois | $77,010 |
Indiana | $48,820 |
Iowa | $49,930 |
Kansas | $47,400 |
Kentucky | $43,740 |
Louisiana | $35,110 |
Maryland | $51,300 |
Massachusetts | $67,540 |
Michigan | $53,030 |
Minnesota | $80,870 |
Mississippi | $36,500 |
Missouri | $48,750 |
Montana | $36,710 |
Nebraska | $39,710 |
Nevada | $38,630 |
New Hampshire | $55,100 |
New Jersey | $51,340 |
New Mexico | $40,490 |
North Carolina | $40,230 |
Ohio | $49,540 |
Oklahoma | $40,210 |
Oregon | $54,430 |
Pennsylvania | $48,450 |
South Carolina | $34,900 |
Tennessee | $44,930 |
Texas | $44,750 |
Utah | $36,550 |
Virginia | $41,820 |
Washington | $51,900 |
Wisconsin | $39,340 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Plasterers and Stucco Masons:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Linux
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Oracle software
- Salesforce software
- Microsoft operating system
- Accounting software
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
- Corel Paint Shop Pro
- Cost estimating software
- Corel Painter
- Autodesk Maya
- Autodesk 3ds Max Design
- Construction Software Center EasyEst
- Embedded systems development software
- Sage Construction Anywhere
Becoming a Plasterer or Stucco Mason
Individuals working as a Plasterer or Stucco Mason have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Plasterer or Stucco Mason?

Where Plasterers and Stucco Masons Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Related Careers
Those interested in being a Plasterer or Stucco Mason may also be interested in:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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