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Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons vs Plasterers and Stucco Masons: what changes?

Consider Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons if you want to help painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or stucco masons by performing duties requiring less skill. Consider Plasterers and Stucco Masons if you would rather apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. Both list no formal educational credential; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons and Plasterers and Stucco Masons. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons

National median pay (2025)
$40,470
Route into the job
No formal educational credential; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate
Clean work areas and equipment.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
700
Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (7,600 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons brief

Plasterers and Stucco Masons

National median pay (2025)
$57,660
Route into the job
No formal educational credential; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience
No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing
More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate
Cover surfaces such as windows, doors, or sidewalks to protect from splashing.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
1,500
Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (22,900 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Plasterers and Stucco Masons brief
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Plasterers and Stucco Masons has the edge on median pay

Plasterers and Stucco Masons is at $57,660, compared with $40,470 for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.

2

Plasterers and Stucco Masons has the edge on annual openings

Plasterers and Stucco Masons is at 1,500 annual openings, compared with 700 annual openings for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.

3

Plasterers and Stucco Masons has the edge on projected growth

Plasterers and Stucco Masons is at 2.8% projected growth, compared with 1.5% projected growth for Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons.

28.6/ 100

Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons

vs
45.6/ 100

Plasterers and Stucco Masons

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons vs Plasterers and Stucco Masons

DimensionHelpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco MasonsPlasterers and Stucco Masons
Median pay (2025)$40,470$57,660
Pay percentile11.9 percentile43.1 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)1.5%2.8%
Annual openings (2025–2035)7001,500
2025 employment7,60022,900
How you qualifyNo formal educational credential; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensingNo formal educational credential; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation groupJob Zone 2Job Zone 2
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingOne month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons briefRead Plasterers and Stucco Masons brief

Try another comparison

Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons vs Helpers--Roofers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
$40,470 · 1.5% growth
Helpers--Roofers
$44,160 · -0.1% growth
Compare careers →

Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons vs Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
$40,470 · 1.5% growth
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
$57,020 · 1.6% growth
Compare careers →

Plasterers and Stucco Masons vs Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Plasterers and Stucco Masons
$57,660 · 2.8% growth
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
$58,930 · 2.5% growth
Compare careers →
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