Plasterer
Prepare walls and ceilings for decorating so people can have attractive and safe places to live and work.
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About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£404
Entry level
£731
Experienced
Monthly
£1,750
Entry level
£3,167
Experienced
Yearly
£21,000
Entry level
£38,000
Experienced
1,200
people are currently employed
Low growth
100 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
A day in the life – Plasterer
What it's like
You'd work in people’s homes and other buildings to prepare the walls and ceilings for decorating and to protect the building from the weather.
You’d apply different kinds of plaster to internal walls and ceilings. You’d cover external walls with coatings, such as sand and cement render or pebble-dash.
You’d calculate how much plaster you need for the size of the job. Once it's mixed and ready to use you’d need to work quickly and accurately by hand.
As part of a small team, you’d work on one of these processes:
Solid plastering – applying wet finishes to surfaces and putting protective coverings such as pebble-dashing on external walls
Fibrous plastering – creating ornamental plasterwork, such as ceiling roses, cornices, and architraves, using a mixture of plaster and short fibres shaped with moulds and casts
Dry lining – fixing internal plasterboard or wallboard partitions by fastening them together on a timber or metal frame ready for decorating
You could work on small jobs, repairs and restoration in people’s homes. Other jobs could be at big commercial developments such as schools or hospitals.
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Hours
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Environment
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Travel
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Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- time management
- concentrating
- attention to detail
- observation
- working with numbers
- problem solving
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Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Practical Craft Skills
Skills for Work: Construction Craft
Skills for Work: Practical Experiences: Construction and Engineering
You'd need a Modern Apprenticeship registered with the Scottish Building Apprenticeship Training Council (SBATC).
You don't always need formal qualifications to enter this apprenticeship but most employers value a good general education. Some employers may ask for qualifications at SCQF Level 4/5.
Qualifications and experience that show practical skills such as Skills for Work Construction Crafts (SCQF Level 4/5).
A driving licence can be useful.
You usually have to take an aptitude test before you can start training.
You must have a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on site and will need to pass a health and safety test.
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