How much does a drywall and ceiling tile installer make?
The median drywall and ceiling tile installer in the United States earns $58,140 per year, about $27.95 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all drywall and ceiling tile installers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 47-2081.
Drywall and ceiling tile installer salary range
Pay for drywall and ceiling tile installers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $37,810 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $101,380. The average (mean) wage of $62,810 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,810 | $18.18 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $46,880 | $22.54 | |
| Median (50th) | $58,140 | $27.95 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $72,660 | $34.93 | |
| 90th percentile | $101,380 | $48.74 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for drywall and ceiling tile installers (SOC 47-2081), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Drywall and ceiling tile installer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Drywall and ceiling tile installers earn the most in Hawaii at $104,670 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $36,780. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $104,670 | 820 |
| Connecticut | $79,510 | N/A |
| Alaska | $75,150 | 120 |
| Washington | $70,310 | 3,710 |
| Illinois | $69,810 | 750 |
| Massachusetts | $67,390 | 890 |
| California | $65,880 | 27,350 |
| New Jersey | $64,940 | 650 |
| Minnesota | $62,390 | 560 |
| New Hampshire | $61,810 | 380 |
| Maine | $60,060 | 310 |
| New York | $59,960 | 2,940 |
| Ohio | $59,560 | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $59,050 | 480 |
| West Virginia | $58,750 | 70 |
| Colorado | $58,640 | 1,610 |
| Oregon | $58,460 | 1,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,270 | 1,610 |
| Wisconsin | $57,990 | 1,440 |
| Georgia | $53,590 | 920 |
| Delaware | $53,300 | 380 |
| Michigan | $53,170 | 740 |
| New Mexico | $52,470 | 490 |
| Indiana | $52,370 | 640 |
| Virginia | $51,760 | 1,800 |
| Maryland | $51,540 | 1,740 |
| Nevada | $51,290 | 2,930 |
| Utah | $50,860 | 1,830 |
| Texas | $50,120 | 6,300 |
| Iowa | $49,940 | 530 |
| Vermont | $48,480 | 80 |
| Nebraska | $48,470 | 710 |
| North Carolina | $48,460 | 1,860 |
| Wyoming | $48,380 | 160 |
| South Dakota | $48,280 | 400 |
| Arizona | $48,130 | 3,420 |
| Kansas | $48,090 | 630 |
| Oklahoma | $47,490 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $46,950 | 470 |
| Florida | $46,930 | 4,970 |
| Alabama | $46,880 | 640 |
| Montana | $46,030 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $45,990 | 930 |
| Idaho | $45,830 | 1,120 |
| South Carolina | $44,670 | 570 |
| Arkansas | $43,470 | 290 |
| Mississippi | $43,470 | 160 |
| Louisiana | $36,780 | 410 |
State median wages for drywall and ceiling tile installers (SOC 47-2081), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for drywall and ceiling tile installers
The BLS projects employment of drywall and ceiling tile installers to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 102,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 104,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 6,600 openings a year for drywall and ceiling tile installers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a drywall and ceiling tile installer
The typical entry-level education for drywall and ceiling tile installers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a drywall and ceiling tile installer earns
Experience, licensing, certifications, region, and overtime move these numbers the most. A licensed, experienced worker in a high cost metro or a strong union market lands near the top of the range, while apprentices and workers in rural areas start closer to the bottom.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Hawaii, $104,670) and the lowest (Louisiana, $36,780) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 82,900 people work as drywall and ceiling tile installers in the United States. At $58,140 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Drywall and ceiling tile installer salary FAQ
How much does a drywall and ceiling tile installer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a drywall and ceiling tile installer is $27.95. The middle half of drywall and ceiling tile installers earn between $22.54 and $34.93 per hour.
What is the highest drywall and ceiling tile installer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of drywall and ceiling tile installers earn more than $101,380 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a drywall and ceiling tile installer make a year?
The median annual salary for a drywall and ceiling tile installer is $58,140. The average (mean) wage of $62,810 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a drywall and ceiling tile installer a well paid job?
At $58,140 a year, a drywall and ceiling tile installer earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 82,900 people work as drywall and ceiling tile installers in the United States.
Which state pays drywall and ceiling tile installers the most?
Hawaii has the highest median salary for drywall and ceiling tile installers at $104,670 a year. Connecticut ($79,510) and Alaska ($75,150) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a drywall and ceiling tile installer a good career?
Employment of drywall and ceiling tile installers is projected to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 6,600 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a drywall and ceiling tile installer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for drywall and ceiling tile installers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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