Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary
In New Orleans-Metairie, LA, helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons earn $37,240 at the median, or about $17.9 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $40,216 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,331/month, about 52.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $37K get you in New Orleans-Metairie?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New Orleans-Metairie’s Regional Price Parity (92.6). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
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What this looks like in New Orleans-Metairie
Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons pay in New Orleans-Metairie tracks closely to the national median, $37K locally vs. $40K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,331/month, which is 51.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons in metros near New Orleans-Metairie, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $44K | $49K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $37K | $37K |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $40K | $39K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $38K | $39K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Entry-level helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $53K | +32% | 40 |
| New York | $52K | +28% | N/A |
| Hawaii | $52K | +27% | 130 |
| California | $46K | +14% | 1,990 |
| Montana | $45K | +11% | 50 |
| Utah | $45K | +10% | N/A |
| Virginia | $43K | +7% | N/A |
| Connecticut | $43K | +6% | N/A |
| Colorado | $42K | +5% | N/A |
| Oregon | $40K | -1% | 240 |
| Washington | $39K | -3% | 160 |
| Maryland | $39K | -3% | 90 |
| Idaho | $39K | -4% | 230 |
| Nevada | $38K | -5% | 80 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -8% | 250 |
| Texas | $37K | -8% | 1,220 |
| Indiana | $37K | -10% | N/A |
| Tennessee | $36K | -11% | 40 |
| Florida | $36K | -11% | 310 |
| North Carolina | $36K | -11% | 260 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -11% | 50 |
| Georgia | $35K | -12% | N/A |
| Arizona | $32K | -21% | 110 |
| Michigan | $30K | -25% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $23K | -42% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 25 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Orleans-Metairie numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco mason afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Orleans-Metairie?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 51.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,331/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 Orleans-Metairie?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,667/month. At HUD’s $1,331/month FMR, rent would take 80% 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 Orleans-Metairie?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $37K locally vs. $40K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does New Orleans-Metairie compare to the national average for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons?
New Orleans-Metairie pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median is $37,240 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,780, and experienced helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons can clear $44,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in New Orleans-Metairie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,572/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,331/month, which eats 51.7% 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 Orleans-Metairie?
New Orleans-Metairie has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $40,216 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.