73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
TEER 3Occupations usually requiring a college diploma or apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training
Lead statement
Plasterers apply finish, and maintain and restore plaster or similar materials, on interior and exterior walls, ceilings and building partitions to produce plain or decorative surfaces. Apprentices are also included in this occupation.
Main duties
- Clean and prepare surfaces
- Mix plaster ingredients in trough to desired consistency
- Apply, level and smooth coats of plaster using trowels, floats, brushes and spraying equipment
- Trowel or spray coats of stucco over exteriors of buildings to form weatherproof surfaces
- Finish corners and angles and create decorative designs in finish coat, if required
- Cure freshly plastered surfaces
- Mould and install ornamental plaster panels, cornices and trim
- Spray acoustic materials or texture finish over walls and ceilings.
- Measure, cut and fit drywall sheets for installation on walls and ceilings
- Position and secure sheets to metal or wooden studs or joists
- Cut and install metal corner beads to protect exterior corners
- Fill joints, nail indentations, holes and cracks with joint compound using trowel and broad knife
- Tape over joints using taping machine and embed tape in compound
- Smooth out excess compound and allow coat to dry
- Apply successive coats of compound and sand seams and joints
- Fabricate and install suspended metal ceiling grids and place in panels to form acoustical and coffered ceilings.
- Prepare wall and ceiling layouts
- Install metal stud framing and furring for interior drywall or plaster walls and ceilings, using hand and power tools
- Attach metal or gypsum lath to studs or furring using nails, screws, clips or wire ties
- Cut openings in lath for heating and ventilation piping, ducts and electrical outlets
- Install corner beads and wire mesh around beams to which plaster is to be applied
- May install acoustic tile, hangers for suspended ceilings and metal studs for composition wallboard or lath.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a three- or four-year apprenticeship program in plastering, drywalling or lathing ora combination of over three years of work experience and some high school, college or industry courses in plastering, drywalling or lathing is usually required.
- Plasterer trade certification is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
- Drywall installer and finisher trade certification is available, but voluntary, in British Columbia.
- Trade certification for lathers (interior systems mechanics) is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the Yukon.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified lathers (interior systems mechanic) upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Example job titles
fireproofing plasterer · moulding plasterer · stucco plasterer · plasterer · drywall hanger · drywall applicator · drywall installer · drywall finisher · drywall nailing person · drywall nailer · lather applicator · lather · metal lather
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $23.00 | $33.00 | $43.75 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $20.00 | $25.00 | $33.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $18.88 | $28.00 | $35.13 |
| New Brunswick | $21.00 | $28.00 | $34.28 |
| Quebec | $25.00 | $38.00 | $43.34 |
| Ontario | $24.00 | $35.48 | $48.73 |
| Manitoba | $19.00 | $26.52 | $34.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $20.00 | $26.50 | $35.00 |
| Alberta | $20.00 | $28.65 | $37.00 |
| British Columbia | $22.00 | $30.00 | $39.84 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.