SOC 5321 Skilled construction and building trades

Plasterers Salary

Median salary £33,789 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £34,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For plasterers, £34,016 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -13% versus the national average.

About this role

Printers produce printed materials using digital, lithographic, flexographic and screen printing processes. They set up and operate printing machinery, manage colour, monitor quality and maintain equipment across commercial and specialist printing environments.

Key responsibilities

Setting up and operating printing presses and digital printers
Managing colour consistency and print quality
Preparing print plates, screens or digital files
Monitoring production runs and resolving quality issues
Maintaining printing equipment and managing consumables

Qualifications and entry routes

Typically enters through apprenticeship or on-the-job training. NVQ Level 2/3 in Print or Machine Printing. BPIF (British Printing Industries Federation) provides industry standards.

Career outlook

Traditional print volumes are declining but packaging, label and specialist printing remain strong. Digital print technology skills are increasingly important.

Key skills

Print technology Colour management Machine operation Quality control Problem-solving

Common industries

Commercial printing
Packaging printing
Newspaper and magazine production
Label printing
Digital print services

Data coverage

SOC code 5321

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 7,000

Median Salary

£33,789

Mean Salary

£33,403

Jobs (000s)

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £27,623Median: £33,789

P10: --P25: £28kMedian: £34kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£27,623

0-2 years

Mid Level

£27,623

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +43.7%Real growth: +4.2%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£33,789

Full-time Only

£34,016

Full-time premium: +£227

Plasterers salary: common questions

How much do plasterers earn in the UK?

Plasterers earn a median of £34,016 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £34,016 a good salary in the UK?

For plasterers, £34,016 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -13% versus the national average.

What is the starting salary for plasterers?

Entry-level plasterers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £27,623, though this varies by employer and region.

Have plasterers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median plasterers pay has risen from £23,508 to £34,016 — +45% in cash terms, or +5.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).