Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary
In Arizona, helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons earn $32,000 at the median, or about $15.39 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $33,192 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,437/month, about 64.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $32K get you in Arizona?
About helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
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What this looks like in Arizona
Pay for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons in Arizona runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $40K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,437/month, which is 64% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masonss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons salary by metro in Arizona
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $39K | +23% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco mason afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $32K, rent takes 64% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,882/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 76% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco mason a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $32K here vs. $40K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons?
Arizona pays $32K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $33K — below the national median.
How much do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons make in Arizona?
The median is $32,000 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,370, and experienced helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons can clear $48,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,246/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 64% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons salary is worth about $33,192 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.