How much do plasterers make in the US in 2026?
Ranges $47,420–$120,180 across 19 states
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
In 2026, plasterers earn the most in New York (~$120,180) and the least in Florida (~$47,420), with a national median of $57,660 (BLS OEWS May 2025). Last updated June 2026.
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The full kit for New York: your estimated pay position, pay by metro, the union scale where one is public, and three ready counter-offer scripts. $19 once.
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Which state is best for plasterers?
Different states win on different measures: here's the top on each. Pick the one that matters to you.
Highest median pay
New York
$120,180
Most workers employed
California
6,780 workers
Across 19 states: $47,420–$120,180 (median $59,940).
57,660 reasons to know where you stand: that's the national median annual wage for plasterers and stucco masons, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A quarter of the trade earns below $47,970; a quarter earns above $71,310. That's a spread of more than $23,000 between the 25th and 75th percentiles, which tells you location and employer type matter a lot. TradesPays covers this trade across 19 states, with a wide range of state-level figures: the highest-paying state in our set, New York, comes in at $120,180, more than double Florida's $47,420 at the low end. Minnesota ($102,530) and Illinois ($93,790) round out the top three. If you're making career or relocation decisions, knowing where your state sits in that range is a straight-up practical tool.
Plasterer pay by state
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $120,180 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $102,530 |
| 3 | Illinois | $93,790 |
| 4 | Missouri | $79,380 |
| 5 | Michigan | $72,990 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $70,030 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $69,990 |
| 8 | Virginia | $64,120 |
| 9 | Ohio | $62,200 |
| 10 | California | $59,940 |
| 11 | Maryland | $56,890 |
| 12 | Indiana | $53,930 |
| 13 | Washington | $51,840 |
| 14 | Texas | $51,140 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $50,700 |
Plasterer pay by metro
Among the 31 major metros TradesPays tracks, plasterers earn the most in New York, NY (~$120,180) and the least in Tampa, FL (~$48,260) (BLS OEWS May 2025). Last updated June 2026.
| Metro | Median | Hourly | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $120,180 | $57.78 | 0.72× |
| Minneapolis, MN | $108,160 | $52.00 | 0.41× |
| Chicago, IL | $96,240 | $46.27 | 0.34× |
| St. Louis, MO | $80,240 | $38.58 | 1.62× |
| Kansas City, MO | $78,870 | $37.92 | 1.00× |
| Philadelphia, PA | $78,200 | $37.60 | 0.23× |
| Detroit, MI | $77,290 | $37.16 | 0.31× |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $74,570 | $35.85 | 0.47× |
| San Jose, CA | $72,700 | $34.95 | 2.99× |
| San Francisco, CA | $71,310 | $34.28 | 1.96× |
| Portland, OR | $70,500 | $33.89 | 0.80× |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $66,330 | $31.89 | 0.34× |
+19 more metros: compare any two below.
Compare plasterer pay across metros
A plasterer at the median earns −$12,020 (−10%) moving from New York, NY to Minneapolis, MN.
| Metric | New York, NY | Minneapolis, MN | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median (annual) | $120,180 | $108,160 | −$12,020 |
| Median (hourly) | $57.78/hr | $52.00/hr | −$5.78 |
| Range (25th–75th) | $73,000–$120,190 | $102,530–$108,160 | : |
| Demand (vs US avg) | 0.72× | 0.41× | −0.31 |
Pay only: cost of living is not included. “Demand” is the BLS location quotient (jobs per worker vs the national average; 1.0 = average). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Published local scales for Plasterers?
Named locals and the difference from the BLS all-worker median. Geography and experience levels differ; this is not a union versus non-union wage gap.
We don't have union scale data for Plasterer across our states yet. Missing scale data does not establish union coverage. Submitting your pay helps build complete data for Plasterer.
Union landscape
TradesPays does not have union scale data for plasterers in any of the 19 states we currently cover. That's a gap we're calling out directly rather than papering over it. Some plasterers are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and union scale rates, which are set through contract negotiations, can differ significantly from the BLS survey figures you see on this page. If you're working under a collective bargaining agreement or considering a union shop, the only reliable source for your current scale rate is your local. Ask them directly for the most recent contract figures; those numbers are specific to your area, your classification, and your current contract period. We won't guess at what they are. When we do have verified union scale data for this trade, it will appear here clearly labeled. Until then, treat the BLS-based wage figures on this page as a reference for the broader labor market, not as a substitute for your actual CBA rate.
What we don't track yet
A few honest limitations worth knowing before you read too much into the numbers here. First, TradesPays does not currently publish metro-level pay data for plasterers. The state figures on this page are statewide averages: they can mask real differences between a rural market and a dense metro area within the same state. A plasterer working in a high-cost urban center may see wages that look nothing like the statewide figure. Second, we don't break out pay tiers by apprentice, journeyman, or master classifications beyond what union scale data would provide: and as noted above, we don't have that data for this trade yet. The BLS figures represent a cross-section of workers at all experience levels rolled into one number. A first-year worker and a 20-year veteran both feed into that median. If you have verified wage data, your own pay stub, a CBA rate sheet, or a reliable shop survey from your area, we want to hear from you. Use the submission form on this page to send it in. Better data benefits everyone in the trade.
Plasterer pay: FAQ
- What is the national median wage for plasterers?
- According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, the national median annual wage for plasterers and stucco masons is $57,660. The 25th percentile sits at $47,970 and the 75th percentile at $71,310.
- Which state pays plasterers the most?
- In the TradesPays dataset, New York is the highest-paying state at $120,180 annually. Minnesota ($102,530) and Illinois ($93,790) are second and third. These are statewide figures: metro areas within those states may vary.
- Which state has the lowest plasterer wages in your data?
- Florida is the lowest-paying state in our current 19-state set, at $47,420 annually. That's below both the national median and the 25th percentile for the trade overall.
- How many states does TradesPays cover for this trade?
- TradesPays currently covers plasterer wage data across 19 states. Coverage expands as we verify data, so check back if your state isn't listed yet.
- Why is there such a big gap between the lowest and highest state wages?
- The gap between Florida ($47,420) and New York ($120,180) is over $72,000. State wages reflect differences in cost of living, local demand for the trade, prevailing wage laws on public projects, and union density: none of which are uniform across the country.
- Does TradesPays show plasterer wages by city or metro area?
- Not yet. All figures currently shown are statewide. Metro-level data is something we're working to add. If you have reliable local wage data to share, use the submission form on this page.
- Are these wages for residential or commercial plastering work?
- The BLS OEWS figures TradesPays publishes cover the trade as a whole: they don't split out residential versus commercial work. Pay can differ meaningfully between those sectors, particularly where prevailing wage rules apply to commercial or public work.
- How much do plasterers make an hour in the US?
- The median plasterer in the US earns about $27.72/hr, based on the $57,660/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025, at 2,080 hours a year). Overtime and union scale can run higher.
- How much do plasterers make a month in the US?
- That is about $4,805/mo before taxes, from the $57,660/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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TradesPays. "Plasterer Salary by State (2026)." Based on BLS OEWS May 2025. https://tradespays.com/plasterer/salary
Negotiating your plasterer pay?
The full kit for New York: your estimated pay position, pay by metro, the union scale where one is public, and three ready counter-offer scripts. $19 once.
See the full kitBuilt per state. This opens the New York kit, where plasterers earn the most; pick your state from the states above.