Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Machines can already do 21% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 59%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Plasterers and Stucco Masons in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 21% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2033, and 59% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 19,310 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $57,660 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 64% for contact with people.
- Also called: Applicator, Ornamental Plasterer, Plaster Applicator, Plaster Mechanic.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apply coats of plaster or stucco to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings, using trowels, brushes, or spray guns | 20% | 20% to 60% | |
| Apply weatherproof, decorative coverings to exterior surfaces of buildings, such as by troweling or spraying on coats of stucco | 17% | 20% to 60% | |
| Clean and prepare surfaces for applications of plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials, such as by drywall taping | 10% | 20% to 60% | |
| Mix mortar and plaster to desired consistency or direct workers who perform mixing | 9% | 45% to 85% | |
| Create decorative textures in finish coat, using brushes or trowels, sand, pebbles, or stones | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Clean job sites | 6% | 20% to 60% | |
| Apply insulation to building exteriors by installing prefabricated insulation systems over existing walls or by covering the outer wall with insulation board, reinforcing mesh, and a base coat | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Install guide wires on exterior surfaces of buildings to indicate thickness of plaster or stucco and nail wire mesh, lath, or similar materials to the outside surface to hold stucco in place | 6% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills plasterers and stucco masons use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Segmental Pavers40% of tasks by 2035
- Pipelayers58% of tasks by 2035 · US median $49,000
- Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $47,630
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $54,890
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Plasterers and Stucco Masons?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2033. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of plasterers and stucco masons?
Machines can do 21% of the tasks of plasterers and stucco masons today and 59% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 47-2161.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Plasterers and Stucco Masons: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/plasterers-and-stucco-masons/