How much do plasterers make in Indiana in 2026?

The median plasterer in Indiana earns $53,930 a year, which works out to roughly $25.93 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the midpoint — half of Indiana's plasterers earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or working in a slower market, you're more likely to land in the 25th percentile range: $48,580 annually, or about $23.36 an hour. Experienced hands in busier markets push into the 75th percentile at $63,170 a year, roughly $30.37 an hour. That $14,590 spread between the bottom and top quartiles tells you there's real money to be gained by building skills and picking your spots carefully.

Indiana's plastering work is concentrated in the Indianapolis metro, with secondary pockets of activity around Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Evansville. Urban commercial projects — hotels, hospitals, office renovations — tend to pay closer to or above the median. Residential repair and remodel work in smaller markets more often tracks toward the lower quartile. If you have the flexibility to chase the bigger commercial jobs in the metro, the difference in your annual take-home can be significant.

The type of plastering you specialize in matters as much as location. Ornamental and restoration plasterers who work on historic buildings command a premium because the skill set is narrow and the pool of qualified workers is thin. Lath and plaster systems, Venetian finishes, and three-coat stucco over masonry all require more time and precision than standard drywall finishing, and contractors who need that work done pay accordingly. Picking up certifications or formal apprenticeship credentials through a plastering or masonry program will move you out of the lower quartile faster than time alone.

Hours are another lever. Plasterers who work overtime on fast-track commercial schedules stack up additional income quickly. At the median rate of $25.93 an hour, a single week of 10 hours of overtime at time-and-a-half adds about $389 to a paycheck. Run that through a busy construction season and the annual total climbs well above the headline median figure.

No union scale data is available for plasterers in Indiana. In states and trades where union scale data exists, the union rate often sets a firm floor for commercial work, but Indiana plasterers on non-union jobs negotiate wages based on local market conditions, employer size, and individual track record.

Benefits vary by employer. Larger commercial contractors typically offer health insurance, paid time off, and some form of retirement contribution. Smaller plastering shops and sole proprietors more commonly pay a higher straight hourly rate in lieu of a full benefits package. When comparing offers, factor in the dollar value of benefits — a job at $27 an hour with solid health coverage can easily outperform one at $29 an hour with no benefits at all.

The BLS OEWS May 2025 figures here cover plastering and stucco workers (SOC 47-2161) employed in Indiana. Self-employed plasterers and owner-operators are not captured in this data, and their earnings vary widely based on how much work they generate and how they price jobs. If you run your own plastering business, your effective hourly rate depends entirely on your overhead, your bidding accuracy, and how much of the year you keep crews busy.

Bottom line: Indiana plasterers at the median make just under $54,000 a year. Skilled workers in the right markets who target commercial work and add specialty finishing skills can push solidly past $63,000 annually. The floor is real, but so is the ceiling for anyone willing to put in the time to build a reputation.