Plasterer salary in New Jersey
Median $33.65 an hour for 50 plasterers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Plasterer pay in New Jersey: the full range
New Jersey ranks 10th of 28 states for median plasterer pay, and 11th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.93). 50 plasterers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $26.44 – $29.84 | $54,990 – $62,060 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $29.84 – $46.44 | $62,060 – $96,600 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $46.44 – $52.16 | $96,600 – $108,490 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Plasterer pay by metro in New Jersey
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $29.75 | $57.78 | $51.31 | $57.79 | 840 | 72% above |
| Philadelphia | $30.10 | $37.60 | $36.65 | $46.44 | 80 | 12% above |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Plasterer wages in New Jersey over time
Table
| Year | New Jersey $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $15.08 | $29.14 | $14.48 | — |
| 2000 | $16.75 | $31.32 | $16.00 | 1,110 |
| 2001 | $17.34 | $31.52 | $15.79 | 890 |
| 2002 | $18.66 | $33.39 | $15.91 | 990 |
| 2003 | $21.80 | $38.14 | $15.90 | 460 |
| 2004 | $21.49 | $36.63 | $15.60 | 460 |
| 2005 | $22.31 | $36.78 | $16.08 | 290 |
| 2006 | $18.71 | $29.88 | $16.68 | 330 |
| 2007 | $15.77 | $24.49 | $17.52 | 440 |
| 2008 | $15.57 | $23.28 | $18.01 | 660 |
| 2009 | $18.27 | $27.42 | $18.16 | 520 |
| 2010 | $18.35 | $27.09 | $17.89 | 410 |
| 2011 | $18.98 | $27.17 | $17.71 | 340 |
| 2012 | $17.13 | $24.02 | $17.85 | 280 |
| 2013 | $19.35 | $26.74 | $17.64 | 160 |
| 2014 | $24.13 | $32.81 | $18.05 | 370 |
| 2015 | $20.24 | $27.49 | $17.94 | 500 |
| 2016 | $19.46 | $26.10 | $18.70 | 570 |
| 2017 | $17.49 | $22.97 | $19.59 | 270 |
| 2018 | $26.20 | $33.59 | $20.93 | 150 |
| 2021 | $25.60 | $30.42 | $23.24 | — |
| 2022 | $24.19 | $26.61 | $23.91 | 110 |
| 2023 | $39.20 | $41.42 | $25.31 | 160 |
| 2024 | $45.21 | $46.40 | $26.93 | — |
| 2025 | $33.65 | $33.65 | $27.72 | 50 |
In today's dollars, the median plasterer wage in New Jersey changed by +22.4% over the last ten years of data.
Are there more plasterer jobs in New Jersey?
BLS counted 50 plasterers in New Jersey in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 28%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for plasterers in New Jersey
New Jersey's labor market agency projects the number of plasterers in the state to change by +7.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 130 to 140, with about 10 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 50 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: New Jersey labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for plasterers in New Jersey
On federally funded construction in New Jersey, contractors must pay plasterers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 17 of the 21 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $70.01 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $42.33). 4 of the 21 counties still use a survey rate dated 2009 or earlier (for example Burlington County at $42.33). The market median for the state is $33.65.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen | Union PLAS0029-003 2025-05-01 | $54.64 | $30.95 | $85.59 | NJ20260026 |
| Essex | Union PLAS0029-003 2025-05-01 | $54.64 | $30.95 | $85.59 | NJ20260031 |
| Hudson | Union PLAS0029-003 2025-05-01 | $54.64 | $30.95 | $85.59 | NJ20260033 |
| Morris | Union PLAS0029-003 2025-05-01 | $54.64 | $30.95 | $85.59 | NJ20260038 |
| Passaic | Union PLAS0029-003 2025-05-01 | $54.64 | $30.95 | $85.59 | NJ20260040 |
| Sussex | Union PLAS0029-003 2025-05-01 | $54.64 | $30.95 | $85.59 | NJ20260043 |
| Union | Union PLAS0029-003 2025-05-01 | $54.64 | $30.95 | $85.59 | NJ20260044 |
| Warren | Union PLAS0029-003 2025-05-01 | $54.64 | $30.95 | $85.59 | NJ20260045 |
| Atlantic | Union PLAS0008-007 2021-05-01 | $38.37 | $31.64 | $70.01 | NJ20260025 |
| Cape May | Union PLAS0008-007 2021-05-01 | $38.37 | $31.64 | $70.01 | NJ20260029 |
| Cumberland | Union PLAS0008-007 2021-05-01 | $38.37 | $31.64 | $70.01 | NJ20260030 |
| Hunterdon | Union PLAS0008-008 2021-05-01 | $38.37 | $31.64 | $70.01 | NJ20260034 |
| Mercer | Union PLAS0008-007 2021-05-01 | $38.37 | $31.64 | $70.01 | NJ20260035 |
| Middlesex | Union PLAS0008-008 2021-05-01 | $38.37 | $31.64 | $70.01 | NJ20260036 |
| Monmouth | Union PLAS0008-007 2021-05-01 | $38.37 | $31.64 | $70.01 | NJ20260037 |
| Ocean | Union PLAS0008-007 2021-05-01 | $38.37 | $31.64 | $70.01 | NJ20260039 |
| Somerset | Union PLAS0008-008 2021-05-01 | $38.37 | $31.64 | $70.01 | NJ20260042 |
| Burlington | Survey SUNJ2004-003 2009-01-02 | $42.33 | $0.00 | $42.33 | NJ20260027 |
| Camden | Survey SUNJ2004-004 2009-01-02 | $42.33 | $0.00 | $42.33 | NJ20260028 |
| Gloucester | Survey SUNJ2004-008 2009-01-02 | $42.33 | $0.00 | $42.33 | NJ20260032 |
| Salem | Survey SUNJ2004-017 2009-01-02 | $42.33 | $0.00 | $42.33 | NJ20260041 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New Jersey prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in New Jersey?
Keep comparing
Plasterer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Jersey
More on New Jersey
Questions this page answers
How much do plasterers make in New Jersey?
The median plasterer in New Jersey earned $33.65 an hour ($69,990 a year) in May 2025, 21% above the national median of $27.72. The middle half earn $29.84–$46.44; the top 10% earn more than $52.16.
Where does New Jersey rank for plasterer pay?
New Jersey ranks 10th of 28 states for plasterer pay, with a median of $33.65 an hour, and 11th after adjusting for New Jersey's cost of living (BEA price parity 108.8, US = 100).
What is the union plasterer rate in New Jersey?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plasterers in 17 counties, with a typical package of $70.01 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many plasterers work in New Jersey?
BLS counted 50 plasterers in New Jersey in May 2025, 0.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.09; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is plasterer work growing in New Jersey?
New Jersey's labor market agency projects +7.9% growth for plasterers between 2024 and 2034, from 130 to 140 jobs.
How many plasterer openings a year are there in New Jersey?
New Jersey projects about 10 openings a year for plasterers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 1,500 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Jersey and metro areas, SOC 47-2161. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: New Jersey labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.