Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer Salary
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers earn a median $58,930 a year nationally. Construction and Extraction Occupations
What drywall and ceiling tile installers 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.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.5% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 6,600
- Self-employed
- 19%
Employment of drywall and ceiling tile installers is projected to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 6,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,892
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,654
- Medicare (1.45%)$854
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$49,530
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,460 | $18.49 | $33,083 |
| 25th percentile | $47,440 | $22.81 | $40,298 |
| Median (50th) | $58,930 | $28.33 | $49,530 |
| 75th percentile | $74,230 | $35.69 | $61,051 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,010 | $49.04 | $80,594 |
Best cities for drywall and ceiling tile installers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $82,160 | $62,150 | $53,757 | 2,510 |
| 2 | San Diego, CA | $76,290 | $58,617 | $52,390 | 3,220 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $71,320 | $55,749 | $49,527 | 2,560 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $63,540 | $50,537 | $47,377 | 2,500 |
| 5 | Riverside, CA | $61,420 | $48,998 | $46,032 | 3,640 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $62,800 | $50,006 | $44,032 | 7,710 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $82,160
- San Diego, CA — $76,290
- New York, NY — $71,320
- Sacramento, CA — $63,540
- Los Angeles, CA — $62,800
- Riverside, CA — $61,420
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $104,830 | +0.2% | $76,141 | $50,230 – $119,660 | 800 |
| New Jersey | $75,080 | +15.6% | $59,048 | $37,990 – $118,200 | 1,340 |
| Alaska | $73,690 | −1.9% | $60,671 | $46,800 – $88,300 | 100 |
| Oregon | $73,530 | +25.8% | $54,954 | $36,460 – $114,670 | 1,680 |
| Washington | $73,130 | +4.0% | $60,277 | $50,360 – $127,970 | 2,670 |
| Massachusetts | $69,500 | +3.1% | $54,468 | $34,220 – $93,810 | 590 |
| California | $65,880 | +0.0% | $52,200 | $46,050 – $120,240 | 27,280 |
| Illinois | $63,180 | −9.5% | $49,963 | $41,870 – $110,620 | 740 |
| Missouri | $62,580 | +6.0% | $50,459 | $46,310 – $91,780 | 550 |
| New Hampshire | $61,960 | +0.2% | $51,965 | $44,180 – $102,130 | 370 |
| Colorado | $61,780 | +5.4% | $49,810 | $44,520 – $79,460 | 1,560 |
| Ohio | $61,420 | +3.1% | $50,624 | $42,410 – $74,400 | 1,680 |
| Minnesota | $61,290 | −1.8% | $48,782 | $45,570 – $91,520 | 1,050 |
| New York | $61,280 | +2.2% | $48,706 | $46,860 – $118,450 | 2,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,160 | +5.0% | $49,444 | $39,410 – $77,980 | 1,690 |
| Connecticut | $60,480 | −23.9% | $48,979 | $45,690 – $82,480 | 300 |
| Montana | $60,140 | +30.7% | $48,433 | $45,870 – $79,240 | 170 |
| Maine | $60,080 | +0.0% | $47,581 | $49,070 – $71,220 | 150 |
| Wisconsin | $59,970 | +3.4% | $48,508 | $38,490 – $85,340 | 1,140 |
| Vermont | $59,820 | +23.4% | $48,675 | $47,590 – $71,280 | 90 |
| Michigan | $58,440 | +9.9% | $46,904 | $42,640 – $76,960 | 1,050 |
| Georgia | $58,260 | +8.7% | $46,591 | $34,180 – $78,990 | 690 |
| Virginia | $55,840 | +7.9% | $44,651 | $39,040 – $71,330 | 2,480 |
| Maryland | $54,680 | +6.1% | $43,882 | $39,400 – $73,230 | 1,470 |
| New Mexico | $53,900 | +2.7% | $44,121 | $37,440 – $77,150 | 580 |
| Nevada | $52,280 | +1.9% | $44,187 | $41,430 – $101,780 | 2,980 |
| Iowa | $51,030 | +2.2% | $41,895 | $36,750 – $67,650 | 290 |
| Utah | $51,020 | +0.3% | $41,845 | $37,160 – $68,920 | 2,610 |
| Arizona | $50,290 | +4.5% | $41,540 | $37,470 – $66,750 | 2,590 |
| Delaware | $50,170 | −5.9% | $40,384 | $35,720 – $62,390 | 350 |
| Indiana | $49,810 | −4.9% | $40,762 | $43,730 – $69,850 | 680 |
| Florida | $48,970 | +4.3% | $41,527 | $33,460 – $61,520 | 6,000 |
| South Dakota | $48,850 | +1.2% | $41,431 | $42,400 – $59,380 | 360 |
| Nebraska | $48,620 | +0.3% | $39,914 | $37,140 – $62,580 | 770 |
| Kentucky | $48,340 | +3.0% | $39,447 | $23,020 – $68,760 | 490 |
| Alabama | $48,000 | +2.4% | $38,613 | $37,280 – $60,890 | 650 |
| Texas | $47,590 | −5.0% | $40,419 | $35,260 – $61,030 | 5,760 |
| Tennessee | $47,510 | +3.3% | $40,354 | $37,220 – $65,650 | 1,150 |
| Louisiana | $47,420 | +28.9% | $39,246 | $28,310 – $77,740 | 310 |
| Rhode Island | $47,110 | — | $38,883 | $38,090 – $79,510 | 440 |
| Oklahoma | $46,080 | −3.0% | $37,677 | $41,860 – $49,790 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $45,340 | +1.5% | $37,047 | $32,340 – $68,600 | 340 |
| North Dakota | $45,110 | — | $38,426 | $37,340 – $57,510 | 130 |
| North Carolina | $45,080 | −7.0% | $37,112 | $31,420 – $60,180 | 1,520 |
| Arkansas | $44,550 | +2.5% | $36,451 | $34,520 – $48,800 | 240 |
| Wyoming | $43,990 | −9.1% | $37,526 | $39,470 – $55,470 | 140 |
| Idaho | $43,790 | −4.5% | $36,153 | $29,580 – $64,820 | 920 |
| Kansas | $39,890 | −17.1% | $32,805 | $35,880 – $61,410 | 650 |
| Mississippi | $37,310 | −14.2% | $31,398 | $28,100 – $52,900 | 110 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taper | $68,270 | No formal educational credential | -1.6% |
| Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker | $58,970 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.3% |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $58,340 | High school diploma or equivalent | +5.1% |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.6% |
| Plasterer and Stucco Mason | $57,660 | No formal educational credential | +2.8% |
| Stonemason | $57,390 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.4% |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.9% |
| Glazier | $57,080 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.9% |
| Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher | $57,020 | No formal educational credential | +1.6% |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $56,460 | No formal educational credential | +9.0% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a drywall and ceiling tile installer make?
The national median salary for drywall and ceiling tile installers is $58,930 a year ($28.33 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,460 and the top 10% earn over $102,010. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays drywall and ceiling tile installers the most?
Hawaii has the highest median pay at $104,830. After taxes and local prices, San Francisco, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many drywall and ceiling tile installers are there in the U.S.?
About 83,080 people work as drywall and ceiling tile installers nationwide.