Construction & Extraction
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
Also called: Helper, Painter Assistant, Painter Helper, Plaster Helper
US median pay
$40,470
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+1.5%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
700
7,600 employed
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Mix plaster, and carry plaster to plasterers.
- Pour specified amounts of chemical solutions into stripping tanks.
- Place articles to be stripped into stripping tanks.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Coordination3.0/5
- Time Management2.8/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.6/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.6/5
- Operations Monitoring2.6/5
- Troubleshooting2.5/5
- Service Orientation2.5/5
- Repairing2.5/5
Knowledge
- Building and Construction3.1/5
- English Language3.1/5
- Administration and Management2.3/5
- Public Safety and Security2.2/5
- Mathematics2.2/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): No formal educational credential.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Less than high school68%
- High school diploma26%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.