Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$40,470
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$19.46
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$52,000
entry level starts ~$31,200
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 7,000 employed

How much do Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons make?

Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons earn a median annual salary of $40,470 in the United States, which works out to roughly $19.46 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $31,200 at the entry level and $52,000 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $36,830 and $49,090 a year.

That is $20,920 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons salary range by percentile

Half of all Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons earn between $36,830 and $49,090 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$31,200$15.00
25th percentile (early career)$36,830$17.71
50th percentile (median)$40,470$19.46
75th percentile (experienced)$49,090$23.60
90th percentile (top earners)$52,000$25.00

Highest-paying states for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Ohio leads the country for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons pay at $53,340 a year, followed by New York ($52,000) and Hawaii ($51,540). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $23,470 — a gap of $29,870 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Ohio$53,340$25.64+32%
2New York$52,000$25.00+28%
3Hawaii$51,540$24.78+27%
4California$46,220$22.22+14%
5Montana$44,720$21.50+11%

Workforce and education

About 7,000 people work as Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $42,440 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons make in the United States?
The median Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons salary in the United States is $40,470 per year, or about $19.46 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $31,200, while the top 10% of earners make $52,000 or more.
How does Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons median of $40,470 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons the most?
Ohio is the highest-paying state for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons, with a median salary of $53,340 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons work in the United States?
About 7,000 people were employed as Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.