How much do plasterers make in Texas in 2026?

The median plasterer in Texas earns $51,140 a year, which works out to roughly $24.59 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the middle of the pack — half of Texas plasterers earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or working in a slower market, expect to land closer to the 25th percentile at $45,920 a year ($22.08/hr). Experienced hands and those working in high-demand metros tend to push into the 75th percentile at $60,370 a year ($29.02/hr).

The spread between the bottom quarter and top quarter is about $14,450 annually — that's not trivial. It tells you that experience, specialization, and geography move the needle in this trade. A plasterer doing ornamental or historical restoration work will command more than someone doing basic scratch-and-brown coats on new construction. Similarly, a journeyman running their own small crew or working commercial jobs in Dallas-Fort Worth or Houston will generally land above the median. Residential tract work in smaller Texas markets tends to sit closer to or below the $51,140 figure.

Texas does not have a prevailing wage law that covers most private construction, so there is no enforced union scale to push wages up on the majority of job sites. That means your pay is largely driven by the employer, your track record, and how tight the local labor market is at any given time. No union scale data is available for this trade in Texas.

Hours matter too. Plasterers in Texas often work seasonally heavy schedules during peak construction periods — spring and fall are typically the busiest. Some workers pull in significant overtime during these stretches, which can push annual take-home well above the base figures shown here. Overtime at 1.5x a $24.59/hr base rate comes to about $36.89/hr for those hours, which adds up quickly on a 50- or 55-hour week.

On the lower end, entry-level workers or helpers who have not yet completed an apprenticeship will typically earn below $22.08/hr. Many plastering employers in Texas train on the job rather than through formal apprenticeship programs, so the path from laborer wages to full journeyman pay can vary widely depending on the shop.

For comparison, the statewide median of $51,140 translates to about $4,262 per month before taxes. That's a livable wage in most Texas cities, though it goes further in smaller markets like Lubbock or Amarillo than in Austin or the Houston metro, where cost of living eats into purchasing power.

If you're negotiating a wage or evaluating a job offer, the numbers here come from BLS OEWS May 2025 data — the most current government survey of employer-reported wages. Use the $45,920–$60,370 band as your reference. If an offer comes in under $22/hr for experienced work, that's below the bottom quarter of the Texas market and worth pushing back on.

Plasterers who diversify into EIFS (exterior insulation and finish systems), venetian plaster, or stucco repair and restoration consistently report stronger demand and better pay. Those skills aren't as common, and contractors are willing to pay for them. If you're already in the trade and looking to bump your hourly rate, adding one of those specializations is one of the more direct ways to do it without leaving plastering altogether.