Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary
In Maryland, helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons earn $39,080 at the median, or about $18.79 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $39,571 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 66.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in Maryland?
About helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
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What this looks like in Maryland
Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons pay in Maryland tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $40K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,795/month, which is 67.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons salary by metro in Maryland
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $39K | +0% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco mason afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 67.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/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 Maryland?
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 $1,795/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 Maryland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $40K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons?
Maryland pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons make in Maryland?
The median is $39,080 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 $43,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,646/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 67.8% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $39,571 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.