Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary
In Indiana, helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons earn $36,550 at the median, or about $17.57 an hour. The range runs from $20K at the entry level to $40K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $39,810 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,144/month, about 45.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Indiana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $37K get you in Indiana?
About helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
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What this looks like in Indiana
Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $40K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,144/month, which is 45.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% 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, Indiana
Entry-level helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons (10th percentile) start around $20K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $40K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco mason afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 45.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/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 Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons typically earn — is $20K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,189/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 96% 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 Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $40K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons?
Indiana pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons make in Indiana?
The median is $36,550 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $19,810, and experienced helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons can clear $40,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,524/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 45.3% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $39,810 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.