Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

The Work

Plasterers mix and apply plaster to inside walls and ceilings. They may also apply cement mixes to floors and outside walls or do decorative work. Plasterers use tools such as trowels, floats and hawks.  
 
 
They also make ornamental plasterwork and decorative panels by moulding and casting plaster in workshops. The finished pieces are then fixed on-site. Fibrous plasterers may work from architects' designs or copy pieces of plasterwork from artists' drawings or from photographs.  
 
They must finish off their work to a high standard and leave it ready for painters and decorators to work on.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Cover surfaces such as windows, doors, or sidewalks to protect from splashing.
• Clean job sites.
• Mix mortar and plaster to desired consistency or direct workers who perform mixing.
• Apply coats of plaster or stucco to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings, using trowels, brushes, or spray guns.
• Set up scaffolds.
• Determine materials needed to complete the job and place orders accordingly.
• Apply weatherproof, decorative coverings to exterior surfaces of buildings, such as by troweling or spraying on coats of stucco.
• Clean and prepare surfaces for applications of plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials, such as by drywall taping.
• Create decorative textures in finish coat, using brushes or trowels, sand, pebbles, or stones.
• Apply insulation to building exteriors by installing prefabricated insulation systems over existing walls or by covering the outer wall with insulation board, reinforcing mesh, and a base coat.

Further Information

• Plasterer - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Apprenticeship Route

The official entry route for a Plasterer is through undertaking an apprenticeship.

Click here to find information on the Plastering apprenticeship

There are many pathways to developing skills & qualifications to prepare you for a career as a Plasterer:

Key Skills certs 

-Safepass 

-Manual Handling

-Working at height 

-Interior Dry lining

-Construction skills search FET courses 

Training & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship Construction skills NFQ level 4 search our FET Coursefinder

FET Centre Post leaving cert Pre-Apprenticeship Construction skills, Construction and Building courses at NFQ level 5 search our FET PLC coursefinder

Apprenticeship The Plastering apprenticeship is offered at NFQ level 6 search apprenticeships

Employers are formally approved by SOLAS in advance of employing apprentices. Apprentices get a formal contract of employment as part of their apprenticeship To find a live Apprenticeship or Employer, you can search Apprenticeship vacancies. You can search for vacancies by location and by apprenticeship Plasterer Apprenticeship 

Plastering Apprenticeship

Entry Requirements

The minimum age at which the employment of an apprentice may commence is 16 years of age. The minimum educational requirements are:

Grade D in five subjects in the Department of Education & Skills Junior Certificate Examination or an approved equivalent

or

The successful completion of an approved Pre-Apprenticeship course at Post leaving cert or Traineeship, in preparation for apprenticeship entry Plastering Apprenticeship brochure. 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €45k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed/ Glassdoor/ Solas/ WRC/ Excel

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This occupation has been identified as a Job in Demand by the most recent National Skills Bulletin.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was below average for this occupation with little growth in recent years and a decline in levels between 2021 and 2022. Census 2022 data shows that employment was relatively evenly split between bricklayers/masons and plasterers. There were almost 200 employment permits issued in 2022 for bricklayers, stonemasons, and plasterers (including specialist clay plasterers).

There was also a relatively high volume of vacancies notified through the DSP across similar roles to that of the employment permits (there may be some overlap as a labour market test is required for employment permit applications for these roles which includes advertising the positions on DSP Jobs Ireland). The 2022 DFHERIS report suggests that demand for plasterers will be strong in the short-term when retrofitting activity increases. However, the report also indicates that demand for both bricklayers and plasterers for housing will decline in the coming years; apartments account for an increasing share of housing stock and have fewer requirements for bricklayers due to the use of pre-cast concrete. and modern methods of construction where much of this work is carried out off-site. Although demand is evident at present, the data does not point to shortages.

• Construction Industry Federation

  • Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6
  • (01) 406 6000
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• SOLAS

  • Castleforbes House, Castleforbes Road, Dublin, 1
  • (01) 533 2500
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here