Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary
In California, helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons earn $46,220 at the median, or about $22.22 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $43,546 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 77.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in California?
About helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $40K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 77.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons salary by metro in California
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $50K | +9% | 300 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $47K | +2% | 550 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $47K | +1% | 350 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $44K | -4% | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $42K | -9% | 260 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco mason afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 77.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,276/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 109% 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 California?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $46K here vs. $40K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons?
California pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons make in California?
The median is $46,220 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,940, and experienced helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons can clear $59,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,176/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 77.8% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons salary is worth about $43,546 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.