On-site

Plasterer

Plasterers apply plaster to walls and ceilings ready for decorating and finishing.

Annual Salary

£21,000 to £38,000

Working hours

40 to 45 a week

You could work: between 8am and 6pm;

2.4%
Future employment

There will be 2.4% fewer Plasterer jobs in 2029.
In your local area

What's it all about?

Day-to-day tasks

As a plasterer, you'll:

  • estimate the amount of materials needed for a job
  • prepare surfaces and level off uneven areas
  • mix plaster to the right consistency by hand or with an electric mixer
  • apply 'wet' finishes to walls and ceilings
  • create ornamental features like ceiling roses, cornices and architraves
  • fit internal plasterboard or wallboard partitions in rooms
  • coat outside walls with protective coverings like pebble dash or render

Working environment

You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

You could work at a client's home, on a construction site or at a client's business.

Your working environment may be at height.

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
College

You can do a college course that will teach you some of the skills needed for the job. Courses include:

  • plastering
  • construction skills - plastering
  • T Level in On Site Construction

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
  • guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
  • search for courses|/find-a-course
Apprenticeship

You can apply to do a Plasterer Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, or Craft Plasterer Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, which may lead into a trainee position with a company.

These can take around 2 years to complete and are a mix of on-the-job training and time spent with a college or training provider.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Work

You can begin working as a plasterer's labourer or 'mate'. You may not need formal qualifications but some employers look for on-site construction experience.

Your employer may then offer you the chance to take training on the job to qualify as a plasterer.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

  • You may need a driving licence for some jobs.
  • have a good level of fitness
  • be able to cope with working at height

More information

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a plasterer from Go Construct and House Building Careers.

With experience, you could move to a supervisory job, or into related areas like:dry lining; tiling or ceiling fixing; estimating; heritage conservation; site management

You could also train apprentices in further education or set up your own business.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

  • knowledge of building and construction
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • the ability to work well with others
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
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