Plasterer
Also known as: heritage plasterer, fibrous plasterer, wall finisher, solid plasterer, plaster labourer, plaster worker
About this occupation
Plasterers apply plaster made from gypsum, cement or other solutions to walls as a smooth finish. They mix dry plaster powder with water, then smear the resulting paste onto a wall. The plaster is then smoothed before it hardens and forms a solid coating on the wall.
Essential skills and knowledge
- install insulation material
- apply proofing membranes
- work safely with chemicals
- use measurement instruments
- plaster surfaces
- prepare surface for plastering
- types of plastering materials
- apply adhesive wall coating
- work ergonomically
- mix construction grouts
- transport construction supplies
- follow safety procedures when working at heights
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Plasterers and Stucco Masons (O*NET 47-2161.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Cover surfaces such as windows, doors, or sidewalks to protect from splashing.
- Apply coats of plaster or stucco to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings, using trowels, brushes, or spray guns.
- Clean and prepare surfaces for applications of plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials, such as by drywall taping.
- Create decorative textures in finish coat, using brushes or trowels, sand, pebbles, or stones.
- Mix mortar and plaster to desired consistency or direct workers who perform mixing.
- Clean job sites.
- Typical education (US)
- Less than a High School Diploma
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Artistic
Top skills: Active Listening, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Speaking, Monitoring, Coordination
US median pay: US$57,660 a year (2025), 19,310 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- WoodworkO*NET: Building and ConstructionVery important (4.1)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.2)
- Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignImportant (3.2)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Less than a High School Diploma
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
- Roofers
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
- Tile and Stone Setters
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.