Plasterers and Stucco Masons vs Roofers: $58K vs $55K Median Pay

Plasterers and Stucco Masons vs Roofers: what changes?

Consider Plasterers and Stucco Masons if you want to apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. Consider Roofers if you would rather cover roofs of structures with shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, wood, or related materials. Both list no formal educational credential; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Plasterers and Stucco Masons and Roofers. 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

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

Roofers

National median pay (2025): $55,440
Route into the job: No formal educational credential; More than one month and up to 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 one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Inspect problem roofs to determine the best repair procedures.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 12,000

Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Roofers brief

How the national numbers differ

Roofers has the edge on annual openings

Roofers is at 12,000 annual openings, compared with 1,500 annual openings for Plasterers and Stucco Masons.

Roofers has the edge on projected growth

Roofers is at 5.3% projected growth, compared with 2.8% projected growth for Plasterers and Stucco Masons.

Plasterers and Stucco Masons has the edge on median pay

Plasterers and Stucco Masons is at $57,660, compared with $55,440 for Roofers.

45.6/ 100

Plasterers and Stucco Masons

62.8/ 100

Roofers

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

Plasterers and Stucco Masons vs Roofers

Dimension	Plasterers and Stucco Masons	Roofers
Median pay (2025)	$57,660	$55,440
Pay percentile	43.1 percentile	40.3 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	2.8%	5.3%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	1,500	12,000
2025 employment	22,900	166,900
How you qualify	No formal educational credential; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	No formal educational credential; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 2	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	More than one month and up to 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 Plasterers and Stucco Masons brief Read Roofers brief

Plasterers and Stucco Masons vs Roofers: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Plasterers and Stucco Masons

Roofers

How the national numbers differ

Roofers has the edge on annual openings

Roofers has the edge on projected growth

Plasterers and Stucco Masons has the edge on median pay

Plasterers and Stucco Masons vs Roofers

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