Plasterer

Job description

Plasterers finish interior walls and ceilings of residential and commercial buildings, apply plaster on masonry, metal, and wire lath or gypsum. They also apply cement on masonry, metal, and wire lath (stucco). Most of these finishes are applied by hand.

Working conditions

Plasterers perform about 75 percent of their work outside on scaffolds. The work is often seasonal, depending on weather conditions, with intermittent periods of unemployment, and involves heavy lifting, bending, climbing, and standing.

Length of Apprenticeship The apprenticeship lasts 3½ years. Apprentices must complete a minimum of 100 related classroom training hours per year and 7,000 on-the-job training hours.

Minimum qualifications

Apprenticeship applicants must be at least 17 years of age. In addition, they must provide proof of high school graduation or general education development (GED) equivalent. Local apprenticeship committees may require additional qualifications.

Wages

The beginning apprentice starts at approximately 50 percent of the journey-level wage. Upon successful completion of required class work and on-the-job hours, wages increase usually every six months, until the journey-level rate is achieved.