Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary
In Michigan, helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons earn $30,300 at the median, or about $14.57 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $68K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $32,272 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 61.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Michigan. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $30K get you in Michigan?
About helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
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What this looks like in Michigan
Pay for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons in Michigan runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $40K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,272/month, which is 60.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. 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, Michigan
Entry-level helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $30K. Top earners bring in $68K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
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 Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $30K, rent takes 60.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/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 Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,733/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 73% 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 Michigan?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $30K here vs. $40K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons?
Michigan pays $30K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $32K — below the national median.
How much do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons make in Michigan?
The median is $30,300 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,890, and experienced helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons can clear $68,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $30K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,091/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 60.8% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $32,272 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.