Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary
In Montana, helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons earn $44,720 at the median, or about $21.5 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $46,103 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 37% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $45K get you in Montana?
About helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
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What this looks like in Montana
Montana sits well above the national pay line for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons, local pay runs about 11% 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 $1,129/month, which is 37.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $9K 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 Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco mason afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 37.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,371/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Montana?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $45K here vs. $40K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons?
Montana pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons make in Montana?
The median is $44,720 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,520, and experienced helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons can clear $48,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,037/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 37.2% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $46,103 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.