How much do plasterers make in New Jersey in 2026?

The median plasterer salary in New Jersey is $69,990 per year, which works out to about $33.65 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That number sits in the middle of the pack — half of plasterers in the state earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or working in a slower market, expect something closer to the 25th percentile: $62,060 annually, or roughly $29.84 an hour. Experienced workers on high-end residential and commercial projects land at the 75th percentile: $96,600 a year, around $46.44 an hour.

The gap between the bottom and top quartile is significant — more than $34,500 per year. That spread reflects real differences in skill, specialty, and the type of work a plasterer takes on. Decorative and ornamental plasterwork, restoration of historic buildings, and Venetian finish techniques command premiums that standard patch-and-skim work simply doesn't. New Jersey has no shortage of older commercial buildings, brownstones, and historic properties across Newark, Trenton, and Jersey City that require skilled finish work rather than drywall.

Geography within New Jersey matters. The northern counties closest to New York City — Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic — tend to support stronger wage rates because they draw on the same labor market and cost-of-living pressures as metro New York. Down in South Jersey or the Shore region, project volume can be more seasonal, which affects annual earnings even when hourly rates are competitive. A plasterer billing $38 an hour but working only nine months a year takes home less than someone at $34 an hour working a full 52-week schedule.

Overtime is a real factor in this trade. Plastering is often deadline-driven — contractors need surfaces ready before painters, tile setters, or finish carpenters move in. When schedules compress, overtime kicks in fast. A plasterer at the median rate of $33.65 an hour earns $50.48 per overtime hour. Pulling consistent overtime through the busy spring and fall construction seasons can push a $69,990 base salary well above $80,000 in total earnings for the year.

Experience and specialization are the two fastest levers for moving up the pay scale. Plasterers who can handle EIFS (exterior insulation and finish systems), stucco, and three-coat hard plaster are more valuable than those limited to a single application type. Adding estimating skills or moving into a working foreman role also opens the door to higher compensation without leaving the tools entirely.

Apprenticeship programs provide the most structured path into the trade, typically running three to four years and combining on-the-job hours with classroom instruction in mix ratios, substrate preparation, and finish techniques. Completing a formal apprenticeship and building a documented portfolio of finish work sets you apart when bidding on high-margin restoration or luxury residential projects.

Some workers in this trade may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

New Jersey does not require a state-level plastering license for journeyworkers, but some municipalities have their own contractor licensing requirements. If you're running your own plastering business in the state, verify local requirements before bidding commercial work. Licensing overhead doesn't directly affect journeyworker wages, but it does affect which jobs are available to smaller shops that hire plasterers.

All figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. BLS data captures base wages and does not include overtime pay, benefits, per diem, or tool allowances. Your actual take-home will vary based on employer, location within New Jersey, hours worked, and specialization. TradesPays presents this data as a benchmark — use it alongside local job postings and direct conversations with contractors to get the sharpest picture of current market rates in your area.