Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Occupation · SOC 47-2161.00
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.
Also called: Plaster Applicator · Plaster Mechanic · Plasterer · Plasterer Journeyman · Applicator · Artisan Plasterer · Plaster and Stucco Worker · Plastering Contractor · Artisan · Decorative Plasterer · Dry Plasterer · Hard Surface Plasterer
Job family: Construction and Extraction Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-47-2161-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- About average employment outlook (+4.1% by 2034)
- 1,900 openings/yr
- Low AI exposure
- Median pay $56,020/yr
- Work is mostly on-site (not teleworkable)
- 2013 flagged this for computerization (69th); today's AI task-overlap is comparatively low (12th)
12th-percentile task overlap — yet about 1,900 openings a year (+4.1% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Low | 2nd | -1.8 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Low | 11th | 0.1 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Low | 31st | 0.1 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.1), with simple added tooling (β 0.1), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.1). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
Mixed signals. Today's AI/LLM studies show relatively low exposure for this job, but the older (2013) Frey–Osborne work rated it higher for computerization and robotics. Different eras, different technologies — the AI measures above reflect the current state.
Historical automation estimate (2013)
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.8 · 69th percentile among occupations · High
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | About average · +4.1% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 1,900 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 24,200 → 25,200 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Plasterers and Stucco Masons sits at the 6th percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
— exposure eased from 2023 to 2025. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
11% mean task exposure (2025)
6th percentile of 427 placed occupations
−1 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Plasterers · 7123 | 11% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Tasks
All 15 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Cover surfaces such as windows, doors, or sidewalks to protect from splashing. Core · importance 4.3
- Clean job sites. Core · importance 4.2
- Mix mortar and plaster to desired consistency or direct workers who perform mixing. Core · importance 4.1
- Apply coats of plaster or stucco to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings, using trowels, brushes, or spray guns. Core · importance 4.1
- Set up scaffolds. Core · importance 4.1
- Cure freshly plastered surfaces. Supplemental · importance 4.1
- Determine materials needed to complete the job and place orders accordingly. Core · importance 4.1
- Install guide wires on exterior surfaces of buildings to indicate thickness of plaster or stucco and nail wire mesh, lath, or similar materials to the outside surface to hold stucco in place. Supplemental · importance 4.0
- Apply weatherproof, decorative coverings to exterior surfaces of buildings, such as by troweling or spraying on coats of stucco. Core · importance 4.0
- Clean and prepare surfaces for applications of plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials, such as by drywall taping. Core · importance 3.9
- Create decorative textures in finish coat, using brushes or trowels, sand, pebbles, or stones. Core · importance 3.9
- Apply insulation to building exteriors by installing prefabricated insulation systems over existing walls or by covering the outer wall with insulation board, reinforcing mesh, and a base coat. Core · importance 3.7
- Rough the undercoat surface with a scratcher so the finish coat will adhere. Core · importance 3.7
- Spray acoustic materials or texture finish over walls or ceilings. Supplemental · importance 3.6
- Mold or install ornamental plaster pieces, panels, or trim. Supplemental · importance 3.5
Work activities
- Protect structures or surfaces near work areas to avoid damage.
- Clean equipment or facilities.
- Assemble temporary equipment or structures.
- Estimate materials requirements for projects.
- Order construction or extraction materials or equipment.
- Apply decorative or textured finishes or coverings.
- Mix substances or compounds needed for work activities.
- Install insulation in equipment or structures.
- Clean surfaces in preparation for work activities.
- Prepare surfaces for finishing.
- Mark reference points on construction materials.
- Install trim or paneling.
- Fabricate parts or components.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Building and Construction | 4.1 | |
| Administration and Management | 3.2 | |
| Design | 3.2 | |
| English Language | 3.1 | |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.0 | |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.0 | |
| Mathematics | 2.9 |
Abilities
| Near Vision | 3.8 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.6 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.6 | |
| Trunk Strength | 3.5 | |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.5 | |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.3 | |
| Static Strength | 3.3 | |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 3.3 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.1 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.1 | |
| Visualization | 3.1 | |
| Dynamic Strength | 3.1 | |
| Stamina | 3.1 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.0 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.0 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.0 | |
| Control Precision | 3.0 | |
| Gross Body Coordination | 3.0 | |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 3.0 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.0 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 2.9 | |
| Category Flexibility | 2.9 | |
| Selective Attention | 2.9 | |
| Far Vision | 2.9 | |
| Speech Recognition | 2.9 |
Essential skills
| Active Listening | 3.0 | |
| Speaking | 2.9 | |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
Transferable skills
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 | |
| Time Management | 3.0 | |
| Coordination | 2.9 | |
| Service Orientation | 2.9 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.9 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Tools & technology
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Typical entry-level education
- No formal educational credential · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Preparation level
- SVP (Below 6.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| Less than a High School Diploma | 68.0% | |
| High School Diploma | 27.9% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 2.8% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 1.4% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 7.0 | |
| Conventional | 3.3 | |
| Artistic | 2.6 | |
| Investigative | 1.6 | |
| Social | 1.4 |
Interest areas
Work styles
| Dependability | 2.1 | |
| Attention to Detail | 1.9 | |
| Cautiousness | 1.6 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $38,610 |
| 25th percentile | $46,990 |
| Median (50th) | $56,020 |
| 75th percentile | $72,210 |
| 90th percentile | $92,930 |
| People employed | 20,880 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Construction · Sector | 19,590 | $54,820 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors · National industry | 10,960 | $57,830 |
| Masonry Contractors · National industry | 5,190 | $50,530 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 90 | $64,180 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors · National industry | 80 | $69,160 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 80 | $69,600 |
| Roofing Contractors · National industry | — | $40,760 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | — | $64,110 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | — | $74,640 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors · National industry | 329.42× | 10,960 |
| Masonry Contractors · National industry | 266.89× | 5,190 |
| Construction · Sector | 17.81× | 19,590 |
Related occupations
Part of the Construction career cluster.
- Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons · 47-3014.00 Compare →
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers · 47-2081.00 Compare →
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters · 47-3011.00 Compare →
- Roofers · 47-2181.00 Compare →
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance · 47-2141.00 Compare →
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall · 47-2131.00 Compare →
- Tile and Stone Setters · 47-2044.00 Compare →
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons · 47-2021.00 Compare →
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers · 47-2051.00 Compare →
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles · 47-2042.00 Compare →
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers · 47-2053.00 Compare →
- Carpenters · 47-2031.00 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Plasterers and Stucco Masons — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- No formal educational credential · typical entry level
- Job zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed · preparation tier
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 6th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Plasterers and Stucco Masons show 12th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 1,900 annual U.S. openings
- Plasterers and Stucco Masons rank in the 12th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 1,900 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be about average (+4.1%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $56,020, across about 20,880 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Plasterers and Stucco Masons show 12th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 1,900 annual U.S. openings • Plasterers and Stucco Masons rank in the 12th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 1,900 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be about average (+4.1%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $56,020, across about 20,880 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Plasterers and Stucco Masons". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-47-2161-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Plasterers and Stucco Masons." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-47-2161-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Plasterers and Stucco Masons. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-47-2161-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-47-2161-00,
title = {Plasterers and Stucco Masons},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-47-2161-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.