The median pay for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers is $58,930 a year ($28.33/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 2.5% through 2035, with about 6,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 47-2081
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $58,930a year, or $28.33/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $38KTop 10% $102K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.5%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6,600102,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025102.2K
- Projected 2035104.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 102.2K Projected 2035 104.7K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school41.9%
- High school24.4%
- Certificate19.3%
- Some college9.7%
- Bachelor's4.8%
Highest education held by drywall and ceiling tile installers Segment Value Less than high school 41.9% High school 24.4% Certificate 19.3% Some college 9.7% Bachelor's 4.8%
Also advertised as: Ceiling Installer, Drywall Finisher, Drywall Hanger, Drywall Installer, Drywall Mechanic, Installer.
Pay
How much do Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers make?
Every drywall and ceiling tile installer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$58,930
Middle half earn $47,440 to $74,230
- 10th
- $38,460
- 25th
- $47,440
- 75th
- $74,230
- 90th
- $102,010
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $38,460 |
| 25th | $47,440 |
| Median | $58,930 |
| 75th | $74,230 |
| 90th | $102,010 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $58,930
- Median hourly wage
- $28.33/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $63,600
- People employed
- 83,080
Versus all US occupations
At $58,930, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers earn 16% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $7,950 a year.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
The median is typical for the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $102,010 or more while the bottom 10% earn $38,460, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 31% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Hawaii pays the most at $104,830, and still leads at $95,342 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hawaii | $104,830 | $95,342 | 800 |
| 2New Jersey | $75,080 | $69,004 | 1,340 |
| 3Alaska | $73,690 | $71,992 | 100 |
| 4Oregon | $73,530 | $71,139 | 1,680 |
| 5Washington | $73,130 | $68,337 | 2,670 |
| 6Massachusetts | $69,500 | $65,717 | 590 |
| 7California | $65,880 | $59,501 | 27,280 |
| 8Illinois | $63,180 | $63,207 | 740 |
| 9Missouri | $62,580 | $68,908 | 550 |
| 10New Hampshire | $61,960 | $59,483 | 370 |
Job outlook
Is Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +2.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | +2.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers to change 2.5% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 6,600 openings are projected each year, 6.5% of the 102,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 7,600 openings for drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers varies by occupation (see table).
Getting in
How to become a Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer
Most drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers learn their trade on the job. A formal educational credential is typically not required to enter the occupation.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as drywall and ceiling tile installers.
- Less than a High School Diploma41.9%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)24.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate19.3%
- Some College Courses9.7%
- Bachelor's Degree4.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 41.9% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 24.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 19.3% |
| Some College Courses | 9.7% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 4.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer do?
Apply plasterboard or other wallboard to ceilings or interior walls of buildings. Apply or mount acoustical tiles or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings and walls of buildings to reduce or reflect sound. Materials may be of decorative quality. Includes lathers who fasten wooden, metal, or rockboard lath to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings to provide support base for plaster, fireproofing, or acoustical material.
Drywall installers and ceiling tile installers hang wallboard and install ceiling tile inside buildings. Tapers prepare the wallboard for painting, using tape and other materials. Many workers both install and tape wallboard.
Day-to-day tasks
- Trim rough edges from wallboard to maintain even joints, using knives.
- Measure and cut openings in panels or tiles for electrical outlets, windows, vents, plumbing, or other fixtures, using keyhole saws or other cutting tools.
- Hang drywall panels on metal frameworks of walls and ceilings in offices, schools, or other large buildings, using lifts or hoists to adjust panel heights, when necessary.
- Fit and fasten wallboard or drywall into position on wood or metal frameworks, using glue, nails, or screws.
- Coordinate work with drywall finishers who cover the seams between drywall panels.
- Install horizontal and vertical metal or wooden studs to frames so that wallboard can be attached to interior walls.
- Measure and mark surfaces to lay out work, according to blueprints or drawings, using tape measures, straightedges or squares, and marking devices.
- Read blueprints or other specifications to determine methods of installation, work procedures, or material or tool requirements.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers work full time.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where drywall and ceiling tile installers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Drywall and insulation contractors61%
- Self-employed workers19%
- Nonresidential building construction7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Drywall and insulation contractors | 61% |
| Self-employed workers | 19% |
| Nonresidential building construction | 7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Speaking2.9
- Monitoring2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Active Listening2.8
- Mathematics2.3
- Writing2.1
- Active Learning2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Active Listening | 2.8 |
| Mathematics | 2.3 |
| Writing | 2.1 |
| Active Learning | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.6
- Social Perceptiveness2.5
- Operations Monitoring2.5
- Operation and Control2.5
- Quality Control Analysis2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.6 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.5 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.5 |
| Operation and Control | 2.5 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Optical character reader OCR or scanning software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.1
- Artistic2.3
- Investigative2.0
- Social1.2
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer
O*NET related occupations
- Construction and Extraction
Insulation Worker, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
$49,120median a year
Most earn $37K to $78K
+2.4%No formal credential - Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
Floor Layer, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
$56,460median a year
Most earn $38K to $97K
+9.0%No formal credential
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with drywall and ceiling tile installers highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer$58,930
- Roofer$55,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer | $58,930 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer appears on
Questions
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer: frequently asked questions
How much do Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers make?
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers earn a median of $58,930 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 16% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $28.33/hr. The middle half earn between $47,440 and $74,230. The top 10% earn $102,010 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 41.9% hold less than a high school diploma.
Is Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 2.5% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 6,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer do?
Drywall installers and ceiling tile installers hang wallboard and install ceiling tile inside buildings. A core O*NET task: trim rough edges from wallboard to maintain even joints, using knives. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Operating system software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers the most?
The highest state medians for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers are Hawaii ($104,830), New Jersey ($75,080), Alaska ($73,690) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer?
O*NET scores Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.