Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary
In Idaho, helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons earn $38,760 at the median, or about $18.64 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $43K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $41,287 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,136/month, about 43% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in Idaho?
About helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
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What this looks like in Idaho
Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons pay in Idaho tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $40K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,136/month, which is 42.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $43K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons salary by metro in Idaho
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $39K | +0% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco mason afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 42.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Idaho?
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 $1,872/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 Idaho?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $40K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons?
Idaho pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons make in Idaho?
The median is $38,760 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons can clear $43,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,666/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 42.6% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $41,287 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.