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Skilled Trades

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 salary (BLS)

$40,470

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$31k – $52k

Job outlook

+2% (about average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons

    Entry / Junior

    $31,200

    ~2 yrs to advance

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

    Established

    $40,470

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons

    Senior

    $46,235

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Clean work areas and equipment.
  • •Perform support duties to assist painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or masons.
  • •Apply protective coverings, such as masking tape, to articles or areas that could be damaged or stained by work processes.
  • •Erect scaffolding.
  • •Fill cracks or breaks in surfaces of plaster articles or areas with putty or epoxy compounds.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.