Plaster Moulder and Ornamental Plasterer
Impact: Restoring and creating the ornamental plasterwork that defines the character of great buildings
Design and produce ornamental plasterwork including cornices, ceiling roses, columns, and decorative panels for heritage restoration, new luxury residential, and hospitality projects. Cast and run mouldings in lime and gypsum plaster; restore historic plasterwork using period-appropriate materials and techniques; and undertake new commissions for architects and interior designers. Develop proficiency in fibrous plaster fabrication for large-scale architectural elements.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- 40% Team / 60% Solo
- Client facing
- Frequent
- Impact visibility
- Very High
- Travel
- 20-40% regional travel to sites
- Schedule flexibility
- Flexible
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40-55 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $52,000
- Entry-level
- $26,000 - $38,000
- Senior
- $80,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 7% (heritage restoration and luxury residential driving strong demand)
- Demand
- Growing
- Freelance potential
- High
- Salary growth potential
- High -- 100-200% growth from apprentice to master ornamental plasterer or heritage specialist
- Typical student debt
- $1,000 - $5,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Running mouldings (horse and profile)
- Casting (rubber and plaster moulds)
- Fibrous plaster fabrication
- Lime plaster restoration
- Heritage plaster conservation
- Architectural ornament design
Soft skills
- Artistic vision
- Attention to detail
- Physical stamina
- Client communication
- Heritage knowledge
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Certificate or Vocational Training
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 4-7 years
- Years to senior
- 8-15 years
- Career switching
- Hard
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
- Plasterer
- Stonemason
Where you can go from here
- Heritage Plaster Conservator
- Architectural Ornament Specialist
Typical progression
- Apprentice
- Ornamental Plasterer
- Senior Plasterer
- Master Plasterer / Heritage Specialist
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 8% -- ornamental plasterwork design and installation cannot be automated
- AI disruption risk
- Very Low
- Demand trend
- Growing
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 8.2/10
- Meaning
- 8.8/10
- Work-life balance
- 7/10
- Prestige
- 7/10
- Social perception
- High