Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary
In New Mexico, helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons earn $35,860 at the median, or about $17.24 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $38,534 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 45.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Mexico. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $36K get you in New Mexico?
About helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons in New Mexico runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $40K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 44.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
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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 New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 44.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/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 New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,780/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 New Mexico?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $36K here vs. $40K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons?
New Mexico pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — below the national median.
How much do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons make in New Mexico?
The median is $35,860 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,660, and experienced helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons can clear $44,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,508/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 44.6% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $38,534 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.