Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
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.
Also called: Painter Helper · Plaster Helper · Plaster Tender
Median pay (national)
$38,140
$31,360–$51,720 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
7,220
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+2.3%
~800 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons shows a relatively narrow range: the top 10% earn $51,720 versus $31,360 at the bottom 10% — 1.6x. The median of $38,140 leaves roughly 36% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +2.3% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 800 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 25 states with released data, Ohio pays the most for this role (median $52,000, +36% vs the national median), while Alabama sits lowest at $31,180 — a 67% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Active Listening, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Fill cracks or breaks in surfaces of plaster articles or areas with putty or epoxy compounds.
- Supply or hold tools and materials.
- Apply protective coverings, such as masking tape, to articles or areas that could be damaged or stained by work processes.
- Clean work areas and equipment.
- Erect scaffolding.
- Perform support duties to assist painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or masons.
- Remove articles such as cabinets, metal furniture, and paint containers from stripping tanks after prescribed periods of time.
- Smooth surfaces of articles to be painted, using sanding and buffing tools and equipment.
- Place articles to be stripped into stripping tanks.
- Mix plaster, and carry plaster to plasterers.
Tools & technology
- A-Systems JobView
- Apple iWork
- Construction Software Center EasyEst
- Cost estimating software
- Evergreen Technology Eagle Bid Estimating
- On Center Quick Bid
- Sage Construction Anywhere
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Knowledge areas
- Building and Construction
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Public Safety and Security
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Design
- Education and Training