Construction and extraction
Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
Help painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or stucco masons by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Median pay
$40,470
Growth to 2035
+2%
little or no change
Openings a year
700
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons: 7% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Clean work areas and equipment.
- Supply or hold tools and materials.
- Apply protective coverings, such as masking tape, to articles or areas that could be damaged or stained by work processes.
- Smooth surfaces of articles to be painted, using sanding and buffing tools and equipment.
- Erect scaffolding.
- Perform support duties to assist painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or masons.
- Fill cracks or breaks in surfaces of plaster articles or areas with putty or epoxy compounds.
Also called: Helper · Painter Assistant · Painter Helper · Plaster Helper · Plaster Tender
Outlook and AI
Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons held 7,600 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 7,700 by 2035 (+2%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
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