47 Series · SOC 47-3014
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $40,470
- Median / year
- $52,000
- Top 10% earn
- +2.3%
- Growth '23–'33
- 7,490
- US workers
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons earn a median of $40,470 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $40,470, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $31,200 (10th percentile) to $52,000 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 7,490 US workers. Ohio pays the most ($53,340), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons earn a median of $40,470, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 13% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #60 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.3% by 2033.
- $40,470
- Median annual wage
- Top 87%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #60 of 60
- in Construction and Extraction
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Ohio at $53,340. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons (SOC 47-3014) pays a national median of $40,470 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $31,200 at the 10th percentile to $52,000 at the 90th, with a mean of $42,440 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 7,490 Americans work in this occupation across 25 reporting states and 24 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 12.4 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Ohio pays the highest state median at $53,340, which is +32% above the national figure. The top metro is Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area at $52,760 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$40,470
per year
Median Hourly
$19.46/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$42,440
average
Employment
7,490
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$40,470 Bottom 13% higher than 13% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 47-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 47-series occupations with growth data, Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons sits on the slower-growing side at +2.3% growth and $40,470 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+2.3%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
800
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
12.4/100K
Injury Rate
3.5/100
Danger Index
20.2/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Smooth surfaces of articles to be painted, using sanding and buffing tools and equipment.
- ▸ Mix plaster, and carry plaster to plasterers.
- ▸ Erect scaffolding.
- ▸ Fill cracks or breaks in surfaces of plaster articles or areas with putty or epoxy compounds.
- ▸ Supply or hold tools and materials.
- ▸ Place articles to be stripped into stripping tanks.
- ▸ Remove articles such as cabinets, metal furniture, and paint containers from stripping tanks after prescribed periods of time.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$31,200
25th Percentile
$36,830
Median
$40,470
75th Percentile
$49,090
90th Percentile
$52,000
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 25 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | $53,340 | +32% above national |
| 2 | New York | $52,000 | +28% above national |
| 3 | Hawaii | $51,540 | +27% above national |
| 4 | California | $46,220 | +14% above national |
| 5 | Montana | $44,720 | +11% above national |
| 6 | Utah | $44,500 | +10% above national |
| 7 | Virginia | $43,160 | +7% above national |
| 8 | Connecticut | $43,070 | +6% above national |
| 9 | Colorado | $42,470 | +5% above national |
| 10 | Oregon | $40,180 | 1% below national |
| 11 | Washington | $39,360 | 3% below national |
| 12 | Maryland | $39,080 | 3% below national |
| 13 | Idaho | $38,760 | 4% below national |
| 14 | Nevada | $38,330 | 5% below national |
| 15 | Louisiana | $37,340 | 8% below national |
| 16 | Texas | $37,040 | 8% below national |
| 17 | Indiana | $36,550 | 10% below national |
| 18 | Tennessee | $36,130 | 11% below national |
| 19 | Florida | $36,010 | 11% below national |
| 20 | North Carolina | $35,980 | 11% below national |
| 21 | New Mexico | $35,860 | 11% below national |
| 22 | Georgia | $35,430 | 12% below national |
| 23 | Arizona | $32,000 | 21% below national |
| 24 | Michigan | $30,300 | 25% below national |
| 25 | Mississippi | $23,470 | 42% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 24 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $52,760 | +30% above national |
| 2 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $52,000 | +28% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $50,440 | +25% above national |
| 4 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,260 | +17% above national |
| 5 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,780 | +16% above national |
| 6 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $45,150 | +12% above national |
| 7 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $45,050 | +11% above national |
| 8 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,440 | +10% above national |
| 9 | Baton Rouge, LA | $44,330 | +10% above national |
| 10 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $43,890 | +8% above national |
| 11 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $43,280 | +7% above national |
| 12 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $42,210 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $40,610 | same as national |
| 14 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $40,420 | same as national |
| 15 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $40,370 | same as national |
| 16 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $39,200 | 3% below national |
| 17 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $39,080 | 3% below national |
| 18 | Boise City, ID | $38,790 | 4% below national |
| 19 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38,380 | 5% below national |
| 20 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $38,330 | 5% below national |
| 21 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $37,920 | 6% below national |
| 22 | Ogden, UT | $37,470 | 7% below national |
| 23 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $37,240 | 8% below national |
| 24 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $36,960 | 9% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 47 (construction and extraction) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons make? ▼
What state pays Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons? ▼
How dangerous is being a Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons? ▼
Is Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons a good career? ▼
How does Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $49,090/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Ohio leads at $53,340/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.