How to hire helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Apply protective coverings, such as masking tape, to articles or areas that could be damaged or stained by work processes. • Clean work areas and equipment. • Erect scaffolding. • Fill cracks or breaks in surfaces of plaster articles or areas with putty or epoxy compounds. • Perform support duties to assist painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or masons. • Smooth surfaces of articles to be painted, using sanding and buffing tools and equipment. • Supply or hold tools and materials. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: No formal educational credential] • Strong speaking skills • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $19.46 an hour ($40,470 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to apply protective coverings, such as masking tape, to articles or areas that could be damaged or stained by work processes. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to clean work areas and equipment. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to erect scaffolding. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to fill cracks or breaks in surfaces of plaster articles or areas with putty or epoxy compounds. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons do
- Apply protective coverings, such as masking tape, to articles or areas that could be damaged or stained by work processes.
- Clean work areas and equipment.
- Erect scaffolding.
- Fill cracks or breaks in surfaces of plaster articles or areas with putty or epoxy compounds.
- Perform support duties to assist painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or masons.
- Smooth surfaces of articles to be painted, using sanding and buffing tools and equipment.
- Supply or hold tools and materials.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +1.5% over ten years, little or no change · about 700 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| California | $46,220 |
| Texas | $37,040 |
See helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons pay in every state
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Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.