Plasterer salary in Pennsylvania
Median $33.67 an hour for 180 plasterers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Plasterer pay in Pennsylvania: the full range
Pennsylvania ranks 9th of 28 states for median plasterer pay, and 8th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.50). 180 plasterers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.6× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $26.72 – $30.10 | $55,570 – $62,600 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $30.10 – $37.60 | $62,600 – $78,200 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $37.60 – $43.34 | $78,200 – $90,160 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Plasterer pay by metro in Pennsylvania
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $30.10 | $37.60 | $36.65 | $46.44 | 80 | 12% above |
| Pittsburgh | $27.60 | $31.89 | $33.67 | $39.74 | 50 | 5% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Plasterer wages in Pennsylvania over time
Table
| Year | Pennsylvania $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $15.12 | $29.22 | $14.48 | 930 |
| 2000 | $18.45 | $34.49 | $16.00 | 2,010 |
| 2001 | $17.35 | $31.54 | $15.79 | 1,720 |
| 2002 | $16.62 | $29.74 | $15.91 | 1,660 |
| 2003 | $16.97 | $29.69 | $15.90 | 1,790 |
| 2004 | $16.63 | $28.34 | $15.60 | 1,300 |
| 2005 | $17.96 | $29.61 | $16.08 | 940 |
| 2006 | $19.53 | $31.19 | $16.68 | 670 |
| 2007 | $21.18 | $32.89 | $17.52 | 720 |
| 2008 | $21.82 | $32.63 | $18.01 | 570 |
| 2009 | $23.07 | $34.62 | $18.16 | 550 |
| 2010 | $18.20 | $26.87 | $17.89 | 470 |
| 2011 | $24.20 | $34.64 | $17.71 | 350 |
| 2012 | $22.56 | $31.63 | $17.85 | 340 |
| 2013 | $23.19 | $32.05 | $17.64 | 360 |
| 2014 | $22.48 | $30.57 | $18.05 | 400 |
| 2015 | $22.33 | $30.33 | $17.94 | 260 |
| 2016 | $23.43 | $31.43 | $18.70 | 250 |
| 2017 | $23.95 | $31.46 | $19.59 | 230 |
| 2018 | $23.02 | $29.51 | $20.93 | 430 |
| 2019 | $28.21 | $35.52 | $21.85 | 520 |
| 2020 | $28.89 | $35.94 | $22.61 | 460 |
| 2021 | $28.45 | $33.80 | $23.24 | 340 |
| 2022 | $29.74 | $32.72 | $23.91 | 370 |
| 2023 | $31.30 | $33.07 | $25.31 | 220 |
| 2024 | $30.03 | $30.82 | $26.93 | 230 |
| 2025 | $33.67 | $33.67 | $27.72 | 180 |
In today's dollars, the median plasterer wage in Pennsylvania changed by +11.0% over the last ten years of data and by -5.2% since 2019.
Are there more plasterer jobs in Pennsylvania?
BLS counted 180 plasterers in Pennsylvania in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 21%. 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 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects the number of plasterers in the state to change by +4.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 260 to 280, with about 20 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 180 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Pennsylvania labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for plasterers in Pennsylvania
On federally funded construction in Pennsylvania, contractors must pay plasterers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 23 of the 34 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $49.68 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $31.75). 10 of the 34 counties still use a survey rate dated 2014 or earlier (for example Bedford County at $31.75). The market median for the state is $33.67.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucks | Union PLAS0592-014 2025-05-01 | $45.08 | $33.59 | $78.67 | PA20260078 |
| Chester | Union PLAS0592-014 2025-05-01 | $45.08 | $33.59 | $78.67 | PA20260083 |
| Delaware | Union PLAS0592-014 2025-05-01 | $45.08 | $33.59 | $78.67 | PA20260087 |
| Montgomery | Union PLAS0592-014 2025-05-01 | $45.08 | $33.59 | $78.67 | PA20260099 |
| Philadelphia | Union PLAS0592-014 2025-05-01 | $45.08 | $33.59 | $78.67 | PA20260003 |
| Armstrong | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260074 |
| Beaver | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260075 |
| Butler | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260079 |
| Clarion | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260046 |
| Clearfield | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260047 |
| Crawford | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260049 |
| Fayette | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260089 |
| Forest | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260051 |
| Greene | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260053 |
| Indiana | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260055 |
| Lawrence | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260058 |
| Venango | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260070 |
| Warren | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260071 |
| Washington | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260104 |
| Westmoreland | Union PLAS0526-026 2021-06-01 | $30.69 | $18.99 | $49.68 | PA20260105 |
| Erie | uavg UAVGPA0025 2025-01-01 | $28.26 | $18.62 | $46.88 | PA20260088 |
| Blair | Union PLAS0526-025 2021-06-01 | $29.20 | $12.86 | $42.06 | PA20260077 |
| Cambria | Union PLAS0526-025 2021-06-01 | $29.20 | $12.86 | $42.06 | PA20260080 |
| Centre | Union PLAS0526-025 2021-06-01 | $29.20 | $12.86 | $42.06 | PA20260082 |
| Bedford | Survey SUPA2011-001 2014-08-20 | $20.97 | $10.78 | $31.75 | PA20260043 |
| Cameron | Survey SUPA2011-003 2014-08-20 | $20.97 | $10.78 | $31.75 | PA20260045 |
| Clinton | Survey SUPA2011-006 2014-08-20 | $20.97 | $10.78 | $31.75 | PA20260048 |
| Elk | Survey SUPA2011-008 2014-08-20 | $20.97 | $10.78 | $31.75 | PA20260050 |
| Fulton | Survey SUPA2011-010 2014-08-20 | $20.97 | $10.78 | $31.75 | PA20260052 |
| Huntingdon | Survey SUPA2011-012 2014-08-20 | $20.97 | $10.78 | $31.75 | PA20260054 |
| Jefferson | Survey SUPA2011-014 2014-08-20 | $20.97 | $10.78 | $31.75 | PA20260056 |
| McKean | Survey SUPA2011-017 2014-08-20 | $20.97 | $10.78 | $31.75 | PA20260059 |
| Potter | Survey SUPA2011-020 2014-08-20 | $20.97 | $10.78 | $31.75 | PA20260062 |
| Somerset | Survey SUPA2011-023 2014-08-20 | $20.97 | $10.78 | $31.75 | PA20260065 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Pennsylvania prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Pennsylvania?
Keep comparing
Plasterer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Pennsylvania
More on Pennsylvania
Questions this page answers
How much do plasterers make in Pennsylvania?
The median plasterer in Pennsylvania earned $33.67 an hour ($70,030 a year) in May 2025, 21% above the national median of $27.72. The middle half earn $30.10–$37.60; the top 10% earn more than $43.34.
Where does Pennsylvania rank for plasterer pay?
Pennsylvania ranks 9th of 28 states for plasterer pay, with a median of $33.67 an hour, and 8th after adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.6, US = 100).
What is the union plasterer rate in Pennsylvania?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plasterers in 23 counties, with a typical package of $49.68 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many plasterers work in Pennsylvania?
BLS counted 180 plasterers in Pennsylvania in May 2025, 0.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.24; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is plasterer work growing in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's labor market agency projects +4.5% growth for plasterers between 2024 and 2034, from 260 to 280 jobs.
How many plasterer openings a year are there in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania projects about 20 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, Pennsylvania 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: Pennsylvania labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.