Plasterers apply coats of plaster (a pasty mixture of lime, sand, and water) to inside walls, ceilings, and partitions of buildings to produce fire-resistant and soundproof surfaces. They may also work on outside building surfaces or form, cast, and mold ornamental panels and trim.

JOB DUTIES

Plasterers may:

Mix plaster and mortar, and erect scaffolds or direct helpers doing so

Install guide wires on exterior building surfaces to indicate thickness of plaster to be applied

Apply the rough coat of plaster to wood, metal, or board lath (wire, screen, wood, or other material attached to building surfaces to hold plaster in place)

Rough the surface with a scratcher (wire or metal scraper) so the finish (final) coat of plaster will adhere well

Spread a finish coat of plaster and smooth it with tools to create a uniform thickness over the rough or scratch coat

Apply thin-coat or veneer plaster on interior masonry surfaces, specially manufactured wallboard, or drywall prepared with a bonding agent

Create decorative textures in the finish coat by marking it with a brush and towel or by spattering it with small stones

Using a trowel or spray, apply weatherproof, decorative coverings to exterior surfaces of buildings

Spray acoustic materials over walls and ceilings

Click here to see Plasterers at work!

The tools, equipment, and materials used may include:

• Stilts
   
• Ladders

• Blueprints

• Heating units
   
• Levels

• Tamping tools

• Bonding agents

• Plastic coatings

• Hatchets & rakes

• Shovels & brushes

• Straightedges & floats

• Plaster mixing machines

• Plaster spraying machines

• Hawks (small boards used to hold plaster)

• Darbies (narrow level boards with handles used to smooth plaster)
   
• Putty knives
   
• Trowels

• Screeds (wood/metal strips that indicate thickness to apply plaster
   
• Cellular Telephones

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OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Plasterers may specialize in applying rough or finish coats of plaster and be designated as rough plasterer or finish plasterer. Some Plasterers may perform particular types of work. They may also specialize in:

842.361-018 PLASTERERS apply coats of plaster (a pasty mixture of lime, sand, and water) to inside walls, ceilings, and partitions of buildings to produce fire-resistant and soundproof surfaces. They may also work on outside building surfaces or form, cast, and mold ornamental panels and trim.

842.381-014 STUCCO MASONS apply weatherproof, decorative coverings of Portland cement or gypsum plaster to outside building surfaces.

842.361-026 MOLDING PLASTERERS mold and install ornamental plaster panels and trim and cast ornamental plaster cornices and moldings.

842.361-018 SPRAY GUN PLASTERERS use spray guns to apply plaster to ceilings, walls, and partitions of buildings.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration scripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Plasterers work according to blueprints, drawings, or oral instructions. They may work alone on small projects or with a crew on large projects. They often work in cooperation with other construction workers, after carpenters and electricians and before painters and paperhangers. Plasterers supervise and instruct apprentice Plasterers.

Plasterers work in newly constructed and renovated buildings, in occupied buildings, and on the outside of buildings. As a result, working conditions vary. Lighting is not always good. When they begin their work, buildings need to be heated to allow the plaster to dry. Work is done on the outside of buildings only when the weather is favorable. Work areas may also be noisy. Hazards may include skin irritations from plaster mixtures, falls from scaffolds and ladders, and injuries from tools.

Plasterers usually work a 5-day, 40-hour week, with occasional overtime to meet deadlines. They may travel to many locations or work in one area. Regularity of employment depends on the volume of construction activity, ability of the worker, and, to a lesser degree, on weather conditions. Most Plasterers work at least nine months each year.

Plasterers may have to provide their own hand tools and may also need a car to travel from job to job.

A large number of Plasterers are union members. Two of the unions which represent them are Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association of the United States and Canada  and The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsman . Union members must pay dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Working with tools and using special processes and techniques

• Performing activities that produce tangible results

You Should Be Able To:

• Compare/see differences in size/shape/form of lines/figures/objects

• Picture objects in 3 dimensions from drawings or diagrams,

• Meet set standards

• Make decisions based on personal judgment

• Make decisions based on standards that can be measured

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

There is 320 square feet of wall space in a given room. You want to plaster an inch thick and you are using a plaster that takes a pound of mix per square foot. How much plaster should you estimate that you would use?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

A consumer is anyone who buys goods or services for personal use. At one time or another, everyone is a consumer.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

You should be able to write a report to your supervisor explaining any problems that you may have had during the day.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

You should be able to decide the most efficient way to plaster a room so that it takes you the least time as possible.

To become an apprentice, you must be at least 18, have a high school diploma or its equivalent, and pass both a written and physical examination. Those self-employed Plasterers who do maintenance or alteration work, valued at over $600, must be licensed by the Michigan Residential Builders Board. The State of Michigan requires a license for this occupation.  Click here  for "Michigan Licensed Occupations," see Residential Maintenance and Alteration Contractor  for specific licensing information.

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EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer, a High School Diploma or an Apprenticeship (usually three to four years of training beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the Career Exploration script:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0500 BUILDING TRADES , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 2200 MATH , 3200 TECHNICAL DRAWING , 3300 TECHNOLOGY , 3400 WOODS

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration script

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

There are no Postsecondary Programs related to this Career Exploration script.  

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program  

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

036 PLASTERER

Many people enter occupations within this Career Exploration script through an apprenticeship program. An apprenticeship program is a formal program that takes 3 - 5 years to complete with most of the time spent on the job.

WHAT IS LEARNED ON THE JOB

WHAT IS LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

There are no Military Programs related to this Career Exploration script. 

  E-Learning Courses and Programs

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OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Individuals may be able to work part-time or during the summer as a Plasterer's helper. Experience may also be gained through an apprenticeship program.

School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Plasterer employer

internships

volunteer work with a Plasterer employer

community service work with an agency

Plasterers may enter this trade by applying directly to employers and completing an apprenticeship. Assistance in locating a job may be obtained from local unions, high school placement offices, a local office of the Michigan Works!, and newspaper want ads.  In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

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EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings are affected by the extent of unionization, the skill level of the worker, and the area of employment. Union workers usually receive a higher hourly rate than nonunion workers, whose wages vary greatly. Small cities and rural communities usually have lower wage rates than metropolitan areas.

Hourly pay for Plasterers ranks among the highest in the skilled building trades. However, because they work fewer total hours per year, their annual earnings as a group are slightly lower than the average for the skilled building trades.

Nationally, unionized Plasterers working in residential construction averaged $24.85 per hour in early 2009, while plasterer helpers in residential construction earned $19.18 per hour. Commercial construction plasterers earned $37.78 per hour. Commercial construction plasterer helpers earned $31.06 per hour. Median weekly earnings for all Plasterers were $561 or $14.02 per hour in 2008. The median weekly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $722 or $18.05 per hour in 2008.  

Plasterers working for the State of Michigan earned between $16.41 and $25.20 per hour in mid 2009.

Hourly union wage rates, including fringe benefits, for Plasterers in several Michigan areas were         (early 2009):

Apprenticeship Plasterers start at a wage that is about 40% to 65% of a journeyperson Plasterer's rate. Overtime pay is usually 1-1/2 to 2 times the regular hourly wage. Some employers provide travel pay for Plasterers.

Most of the fringe benefits received by Plasterers are paid, all or in part, by employers. Employers and union Plasterers may jointly contribute to a union trust fund for benefits. Benefits may include paid vacations and holidays; life, health, accident, and disability insurance; pension plans; and sick pay.

Steps on a possible career ladder might be helper or apprentice, Plasterer, crew leader, supervisor, and owner of a business. Opportunity for advancement is good if the worker has mastered the skills of plastering and has the ability to supervise. Self-employment is also a method of advancement. However, business skills and investment capital for materials and equipment are required.

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EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, approximately 61,100 Plasterers were employed in 2006. Employment of Plasterers is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2016. Although most plasterers worked for independent construction contractors, about 15.7% of them were self-employed. The industry distribution for this occupation looked like this:  

To find employers, click Employer/Business Locator.

As a result of the presidential stimulus package in 2009, more plasterers in the construction industry will be needed as more funding is provided to complete more construction projects.  Even though Plasterers will find more work during times of greater construction activity and economic growth, the general trend toward less plaster and more drywall construction continues to lower the demand for Plasterers.

About 250 Plasterers are employed in Michigan. Most work in urban areas on new construction. Some repair and renovate old buildings.

Employment of Plasterers in Michigan is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2014. Less than 10 openings are expected each year. Some of these openings will result from the need to replace workers who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as Plasterers transfer to other jobs or occupations. In late 2008, there were 10 apprentices in training for this occupation.

MICHIGAN 'S AREA EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2014  

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from sources below.

 Copyright © 2009 Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth