Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary: $38,140 Median Pay (2026 stats)
Executive Summary
About 7,220 helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons work nationally, and $38,140 is the BLS national median annual wage. Employment in the series shown fell about 9% from the first to the last year; projections imply about 2.6% annual decline.
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons: what the data shows
Common questions about helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons careers, answered from BLS OEWS and O*NET in this repository.
What is a helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons?
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons is tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under SOC 47-3014.
U.S. employment in our OEWS extract is about 7,220 workers.
What does a helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons do?
O*NET work activities rated highest for this occupation include Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Performing General Physical Activities, Handling and Moving Objects, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials, Getting Information, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, and related tasks. See Work Activities for the full list.
How much does a helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons make?
BLS national median annual wage: $38,140 (May 2024 in our extract).
Mean annual wage in our occupational extract: $49,936 — higher than the median, which often reflects top earners in the distribution.
Wage percentiles below are from the California OEWS extract (not national unless noted).
| Wage percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,674 |
| 25th percentile | $40,682 |
| Median (50th) | $47,074 |
| 75th percentile | $52,221 |
| 90th percentile | $59,746 |
What skills do you need?
O*NET ratings for this occupation emphasize skills such as Coordination, Speaking, Active Listening, Time Management, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, and knowledge areas including Building and Construction, English Language, Administration and Management, Public Safety and Security. See Education & Skills for detail.
Is helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons in demand?
Historical employment trend in our series implies about 2.6% annual decline (compound rate in the extract).
Five-year projected employment change: -12.4%.
Ten-year projected employment change: -23.3%.
Current U.S. headcount: 7,220.
We report federal series only—compare wages, growth, and openings against your target market.
Where do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masonss work?
Top industries by employment share in our OEWS industry extract:
| Industry | Employment | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-industry | 7,220 | 17.5% |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | 7,170 | 17.4% |
| Construction | 6,710 | 16.3% |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 5,900 | 14.3% |
| Building Finishing Contractors | 5,360 | 13.0% |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors | 4,310 | 10.4% |
See Industry for charts.
What degrees lead to this career?
Common majors for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons in O*NET:
See Related degrees.
What careers are related?
Other occupations linked through shared degree pathways in our mapping:
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designers | 214,260 | $61,300 |
| Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | 3,320 | $50,280 |
| Floral Designers | 40,160 | $36,120 |
| Craft Artists | 4,370 | $38,480 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | 10,000 | $60,560 |
| Photographers | 51,230 | $42,520 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | 7,370 | $72,760 |
Employment
Employment and salary information for the Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons workforce.
Employment Over Time
7,220 U.S. workforce (OEWS)
California employment for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons shrank from 10,580 in 2009 to 6,920 in 2025 (34.6%).
Historical employment for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons from the California OEWS series, 2009–2025. The U.S. workforce figure is national and is not the endpoint of this line.
Yearly Wage Ranking
$38,140 Median pay (BLS national)
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons earn $38,140 as the BLS national median annual wage.
Wage ranking compared to other occupations.
Wage Distribution
This chart shows the distribution of average salaries by income buckets for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Salary distribution for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Employment Growth Projections
-2.6% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
6,060 Projected Employment (5 years)
Projected growth: -12.4%
5,307 Projected Employment (10 years)
Projected growth: -23.3%
This occupation is experiencing a decline. Consider related fields with better growth prospects.
Historical employment trends and future projections for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Industry
Information on the industries that employ Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons and on wages for those in the field.
Occupations by Industries
This graphic shows the share of Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons employed by various industries.
Industry distribution for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Wage Trends by Industry
16.2% Average Annual Wage Growth Rate
Historical wage growth trends by industry for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Geographic Distribution
Employment and wage information by geographic location for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
State employment and wages are from the U.S. BLS OEWS May 2024 state extract. Metropolitan areas use the national MSA file when available.
Top States by Employment
Top States by Employment:
- CA: 1,920 employees, $48,510 avg wage
- FL: 740 employees, $36,010 avg wage
- TX: 730 employees, $34,910 avg wage
- OR: 420 employees, $41,140 avg wage
- LA: 320 employees, $38,620 avg wage
- WA: 300 employees, $40,510 avg wage
- AZ: 230 employees, $37,540 avg wage
- MD: 230 employees, $39,830 avg wage
- ID: 190 employees, $40,220 avg wage
- NV: 180 employees, $38,950 avg wage
Top 10 states by employment for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Top Metropolitan Areas
Top Metropolitan Areas:
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: 580 employees, $48,790 avg wage
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA: 350 employees, $45,190 avg wage
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: 240 employees, $35,160 avg wage
- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA: 220 employees, $43,640 avg wage
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA: 200 employees, $53,190 avg wage
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA: 190 employees, $46,550 avg wage
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: 190 employees, $36,590 avg wage
- Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ: 170 employees, $38,890 avg wage
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA: 150 employees, $43,260 avg wage
- Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV: 140 employees, $38,800 avg wage
Top 10 metropolitan statistical areas by employment for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Diversity
Demographic information on Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons in the US.
Gender and Age
The U.S. workforce for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons is about 7,220 people in our OEWS extract.
Gender and age distribution for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Races
Racial and ethnic shares when present in the career dataset. If the chart area shows a notice instead, occupational race/ethnicity fields are not yet populated for this extract.
Race and ethnicity distribution for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Education & Skills
Data on higher education choices and required skills for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Majors
The most common majors achieved by Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons in 2023 were Business Administration, Visual Arts, Fine Arts.
Common majors for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Education Levels
The main educational levels achieved by Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons workers.
Education level distribution for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Skills
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons need many skills, but most especially Coordination, Speaking, Active Listening, Time Management, Critical Thinking.
Required skills for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Knowledge & Abilities
Knowledge areas and abilities required for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Knowledge Areas
The most important knowledge areas for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons include Building and Construction, English Language, Administration and Management, Public Safety and Security, Mathematics.
Knowledge areas required for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Abilities
Key abilities needed for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons include Arm-Hand Steadiness, Extent Flexibility, Trunk Strength, Manual Dexterity, Static Strength.
Required abilities for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Work Activities
Common work activities performed by Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
Daily Activities
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons spend their time on activities such as Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Performing General Physical Activities, Handling and Moving Objects, Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials, Getting Information.
Most important work activities for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.
About
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons earn $38,140 as the BLS national median annual wage.
SOC Code
47-3014 - Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
Insights and Analysis
Compensation snapshot: Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons reports an average salary of $49,936.
Labor market presence: The current workforce is approximately 7,220 workers, indicating sustained demand.
Forward outlook: Projected annual decline is -2.6%, which should inform long-term career planning.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), and O*NET Online.
All wage figures represent annual averages and may vary by location, industry, and experience level.