Plasterer

Work Tasks

Put plaster on interior walls and ceilings of both old and new buildings
May put ornamental designs in plaster, make swirls, or put in marble or gravel chips for decoration
Put on a brown coat of gypsum plaster for a base, then put on the finish coat (white coat)
Put a mixture of Portland cement, lime, and sand (stucco) over cement, concrete, masonry, and lath for exterior work
Work for contractors or themselves in their own businesses
Work with Portland cement, lime, plaster of Paris, sand, gypsum, polymer-based acrylic, stucco, marble and gravel chips, plaster mixing machines, trowels, brushes, hand and power tools, straightedges, sprayers, blueprints, architects' drawings, ladders, and scaffolding

Minimum for Entry: On-the-job training
Employers Prefer: A high school diploma and an apprenticeship in drywall installation
Skills/Courses: Courses in applied math, wood shop, blueprint reading, and mechanical drawing.