Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Salary
In North Carolina, helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons earn $35,980 at the median, or about $17.3 an hour. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $41K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $38,830 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 51.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $36K get you in North Carolina?
About helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons in North Carolina 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 $1,284/month, which is 52.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (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, North Carolina
Entry-level helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $41K or more, a $13K 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 North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco mason afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $36K, rent takes 52.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 North Carolina?
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 $1,676/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 77% 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 North Carolina?
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 North Carolina compare to the national average for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons?
North Carolina pays $36K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — below the national median.
How much do helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons make in North Carolina?
The median is $35,980 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,940, and experienced helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons can clear $41,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,444/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 52.5% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $38,830 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.