How to become a Plasterer
Official title: Plasterers
Also called: Plasterer, Plasterer-tiler, Fibrous plasterer, Dry liner, Rough caster, Fibrous fixer, Dryliner fixer, Dry wall liner, Plastering contractor
Plasterers apply dry linings, plaster and cement mixtures to walls and ceilings, fix fibrous sheets and cast and fix ornamental plasterwork to the interior or exterior of buildings.
Main tasks
- Selects appropriate plasterboard or dry lining panels, cuts them to required size and fixes them to ceilings and walls
- Mixes, or directs the mixing of, plaster to desired consistency
- Applies and smooths one or more coats of plaster and produces a finished surface, using hand tools or mechanical spray
- Pours liquid plaster into mould to cast ornamental plaster work
- Measures, cuts, installs and secures plaster board and/or ornamental plasterwork to walls and ceilings
- Covers and seals joints between boards and finishes surface
- Checks surface level using line, spirit level and straight edge
How to become one
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though GCSEs/S grades are advantageous. Entry is typically through an approved apprenticeship programme or college course in conjunction with on-the-job training, leading to a NVQ/SVQ level 2/3 qualification, or through building up work experience supplemented with short courses.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Plasterer (level 2). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0096.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £34,016 a year The middle half earn £28,909 to null.
- About 54,100 people work in this job now, and about 50,800 are projected by 2035. (-6.1%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Plasterer?
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though GCSEs/S grades are advantageous. Entry is typically through an approved apprenticeship programme or college course in conjunction with on-the-job training, leading to a NVQ/SVQ level 2/3 qualification, or through building up work experience supplemented with short courses.
How much does a Plasterer earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £34,016 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a Plasterer a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 54,100 to about 50,800 people (Department for Education).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03