Plasterers and Stucco Masons Salary
The median pay for a plasterers and stucco masons in New Mexico is $45,350/year ($21.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $48,732 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 36.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in New Mexico?
About plasterers and stucco masons
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for plasterers and stucco masons in New Mexico runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $58K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 36.1% 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 plasterers and stucco masonss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level plasterers and stucco masons (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Plasterers and Stucco Masons salary by metro in New Mexico
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $57K | +26% | 60 |
| Albuquerque | $37K | -17% | 320 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a plasterers and stucco mason afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 36.1% 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 $900/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 New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new plasterers and stucco masons typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,246/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 New Mexico?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $45K here vs. $58K 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 plasterers and stucco masons?
New Mexico pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do plasterers and stucco masons make in New Mexico?
The median is $45,350 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,440, and experienced plasterers and stucco masons can clear $61,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,104/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 36.1% 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 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 plasterers and stucco masons salary is worth about $48,732 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.