National Occupational Classification, TEER 3
NOC 73102: Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
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. Below are the main duties, all 54 job titles it covers, what it means for Express Entry and what it pays in each province.
Updated
- Official NOC 2021 data
- Job Bank wages
What is NOC 73102?
NOC 73102 is the code for plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include acoustical ceiling installer, ceiling installer, drywall applicator and drywall finisher. It is a TEER 3 occupation (usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training), so it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $33.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 73102
- TEER
- 3: College diploma, apprenticeship under 2 years or 6+ months of training
- Broad category
- Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $33.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 73102
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. Drywall installers and finishers install and finish drywall sheets and various types of ceiling systems. Lathers install support framework for ceiling systems, interior and exterior walls and building partitions. They are employed by construction companies and by plastering, drywalling and lathing contractors, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main job titles
- acoustical ceiling installer
- ceiling installer
- drywall applicator
- drywall finisher
- drywall installer and finisher apprentice
- drywall taper
- lather
- lather (interior systems mechanic)
- lather apprentice
- plasterer
- plasterer apprentice
- sheetrock applicator
- wood lather
All 54 job titles in the NOC index
acoustic tile and drywall installer, acoustic tile installer, acoustical ceiling installer, apprentice drywall applicator, apprentice plasterer, ceiling installer, ceiling system installer, drywall and acoustic mechanic, drywall and ceiling system installer, drywall and lather applicator, drywall applicator, drywall finisher, drywall finisher apprentice, drywall hanger, drywall installer, drywall installer and finisher, drywall installer and finisher apprentice, drywall installer lead hand, drywall installer team leader, drywall interior systems installer, drywall mechanic, drywall nailer, drywall nailing person, drywall taper, exterior plasterer, finish plasterer, fireproofing applicator, fireproofing plasterer, gyproc applicator, gypsum lather, gypsum plasterboard applicator, interior drywall installer, interior drywall systems installer, journeyman/woman drywall installer, journeyman/woman lather, journeyman/woman plasterer, lather, lather (interior systems mechanic), lather applicator, lather apprentice, metal lather, moulding plasterer, ornamental plasterer, plasterer, plasterer apprentice, plasterer-decorator, sheetrock applicator, stucco lather, stucco plasterer, wall and ceiling installer, wallboard installer, wallboard taper, wire lather, wood lather.
Main duties of NOC 73102
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Plasterers
- 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.
Drywall installers and finishers
- 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.
Lathers
- 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 or A 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.
Additional information
- The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Is NOC 73102 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 3 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.
| Program or draw | NOC 73102 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | A listed skilled trade |
| Occupation category draws (2026) | Not on any occupation list |
| French-language proficiency (category draw) | Open to any occupation with NCLC 7 in French |
Read how TEER categories work and the full list of NOC codes in each 2026 category draw. Category draws also need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed occupation within the past 3 years.
How much does NOC 73102 pay?
Job Bank wages for this occupation, per hour. Low and high are, in most cases, the 10th and 90th percentiles, so 8 in 10 workers earn somewhere between them.
| Area | 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, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2023-2024 (Employment Insurance Survey Data). Wages for job offers in LMIA and provincial programs are compared with these figures, so check the current numbers on Job Bank before you rely on them.
Using NOC 73102 duties on your resume
Canadian resumes do not list NOC codes. Employers read your job titles, what you did and what came of it. The NOC duties are still a useful checklist: if you did these tasks, say so in your own words and add the numbers that prove it.
For Express Entry, the reference letter from your employer should describe the duties you really performed, in line with this lead statement and most of the main duties, without copying the NOC text word for word. The free reference letter generator checks your duties against NOC 73102 as you write.
- Start each bullet with a strong verb and end it with a result: how many, how often, how fast.
- Use the job title your employer used, even if the NOC title is different.
- Keep immigration details such as your NOC code and permit type off the resume.
Turn my duties into a resume Free to start, no card.
Where this information comes from
Occupation codes, titles and descriptions are adapted from Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Wages come from Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Express Entry rules come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): the program pages for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the category-based selection page as modified on June 22, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for a acoustical ceiling installer?
NOC 73102, Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers, a TEER 3 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 73102?
TEER 3. Usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 73102 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes. As a TEER 3 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, and it is also a listed Federal Skilled Trades occupation. You still have to meet every other requirement, and your duties must match the NOC description.
Is NOC 73102 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
No. It is not on any 2026 occupation list. The French-language proficiency category is open to any occupation if you reach NCLC 7 in French. See every category.
How much does NOC 73102 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $33.00 an hour, with most wages between $23.00 and $43.75. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 73102 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
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More on NOC codes and Canadian resumes
- NOC Code Finder: Describe your duties and get your NOC 2021 code, TEER and Express Entry eligibility. Free.
- NOC Codes Canada: Full List: All 516 NOC 2021 codes with their TEER, duties and wages.
- TEER Categories Explained: What TEER 0 to 5 means, which count for Express Entry, and every job in each one.
- Express Entry Category Draws: NOC Codes: Every NOC code on the 2026 healthcare, STEM, trades, education and other lists.
- Canadian Resume Examples by Job: Real examples for cashiers, caregivers, trades, tech, students and more.
- Newcomer Resume Guide: Turn international experience into a resume Canadian employers understand.