Plasterers and Stucco Masons Salary
The median pay for a plasterers and stucco masons in Modesto, CA is $61,360/year ($29.5/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.11), that's roughly $58,938 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,758/month, about 43.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $61K actually covers in Modesto, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Modesto’s Regional Price Parity (104.11). 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 plasterers and stucco masons
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What this looks like in Modesto
Plasterers and stucco masons pay in Modesto tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,758/month, which is 42.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 104.11) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for plasterers and stucco masons in metros near Modesto, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $58K | $51K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $54K | $50K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $71K | $62K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $61K | $55K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Modesto, CA
Entry-level plasterers and stucco masons (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Plasterers and Stucco Masons pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Plasterers and Stucco Masons salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $120K | +108% | N/A |
| Hawaii | $104K | +81% | 110 |
| Minnesota | $103K | +78% | 160 |
| Illinois | $94K | +63% | 270 |
| New Hampshire | $93K | +61% | N/A |
| Missouri | $79K | +38% | 420 |
| Michigan | $73K | +27% | 210 |
| Oregon | $71K | +23% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $70K | +21% | 180 |
| New Jersey | $70K | +21% | 50 |
| Virginia | $64K | +11% | 100 |
| Ohio | $62K | +8% | 180 |
| California | $60K | +4% | 6,780 |
| Maryland | $57K | -1% | 140 |
| Indiana | $54K | -6% | 60 |
| Utah | $54K | -7% | 820 |
| Nevada | $54K | -7% | 1,150 |
| Kansas | $53K | -7% | 80 |
| Washington | $52K | -10% | 440 |
| Texas | $51K | -11% | 1,400 |
| Wisconsin | $51K | -12% | 40 |
| Louisiana | $50K | -13% | 40 |
| Arizona | $50K | -14% | 1,910 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -14% | N/A |
| Colorado | $48K | -17% | 480 |
| Florida | $47K | -18% | 1,970 |
| Montana | $47K | -19% | 50 |
| New Mexico | $45K | -21% | 460 |
Showing 1–10 of 28 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track plasterers and stucco masons salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Modesto numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a plasterers and stucco mason afford a 2BR apartment alone in Modesto?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 42.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,758/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for plasterers and stucco masons in Modesto?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new plasterers and stucco masons typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,379/month. At HUD’s $1,758/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is plasterers and stucco mason a high-paying job in Modesto?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Modesto compare to the national average for plasterers and stucco masons?
Modesto pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.11), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do plasterers and stucco masons make in Modesto, CA?
The median is $61,360 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,490, and experienced plasterers and stucco masons can clear $75,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Modesto?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,111/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,758/month, which eats 42.8% 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 plasterers and stucco masons salary go in Modesto?
Modesto has a Regional Price Parity of 104.11 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median plasterers and stucco masons salary is worth about $58,938 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do 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.