How much do plasterers make in California in 2026?

The median plasterer in California earns $59,940 a year, which works out to about $28.82 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That figure sits in the middle of the field — half of plasterers in the state earn more, half earn less. If you want to know where you stand or what to aim for, start with that number.

The full spread matters more than the median alone. At the 25th percentile, plasterers earn $49,730 a year (~$23.91/hr). These are typically workers still building hours, newer to the trade, or working in lower-cost regions of the state. At the 75th percentile, pay climbs to $74,130 a year (~$35.64/hr). Workers at that level usually have years of specialized experience, are working in high-demand metro areas, or are handling higher-skill applications like ornamental plaster, exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), or historical restoration work.

That gap between the 25th and 75th percentile — nearly $24,400 a year — tells you there is real earning potential in this trade if you develop the right skills and get into the right markets.

California's geography has a big effect on pay. The Bay Area, Los Angeles metro, and San Diego tend to drive higher wages because of strong construction demand and the higher cost of doing business there. Inland regions — the Central Valley, for example — generally pay less. A plasterer working on luxury residential or commercial projects in Santa Clara County is likely pulling different numbers than one doing patch-and-repair work in Fresno. BLS OEWS data reflects a statewide average and doesn't break out every metro pocket, so local conditions can push your actual pay above or below what these figures show.

Overtime is a real income driver in California construction. Plasterers who are willing to work Saturdays or push longer days during peak project schedules can add meaningful dollars to their annual take-home beyond what any base-rate figure captures. California's overtime laws kick in after 8 hours in a day and after 40 hours in a week, so the overtime premium is often in play on busy job sites.

The type of work you specialize in shapes your ceiling. Ornamental and historic plaster restoration is slow, skilled work that commands a premium. Wet plaster systems on high-end commercial or hospitality projects pay better than production stucco on tract housing. If you can apply both veneer plaster and three-coat work, and handle the prep and lathing side when needed, you're more valuable to a contractor than someone who does one thing.

Some plasterers in California work under a collective bargaining agreement. The terms of that agreement — including base rates, benefits, and apprenticeship structure — are set in the specific agreement. If that applies to you, your local's agreement is the authoritative source on your pay, not a statewide average.

Apprenticeship is the established path into this trade. Apprentices typically start at a percentage of the journeyman rate and step up as they log hours and complete coursework. By the time someone completes an apprenticeship program, they're generally working near or above the median wage. If you're weighing whether to formalize your training, the wage progression built into apprenticeship programs makes a real difference over a four- to five-year arc.

These figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. BLS collects data from employer payroll records across industries, so the numbers reflect actual reported wages. What they don't capture: under-the-table pay, tips, per diem, or the value of employer-paid benefits like health insurance and pension contributions, which can add substantially to total compensation — especially for workers covered by a benefits package.