How much does a drywall installer make?
a year · about $28 an hour
A typical drywall installer in the United States makes $58,930 a year, about $28 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They read plans, measure and cut panels, then fasten drywall or ceiling tiles to wall and ceiling frames. They may use lifts to raise panels, trim edges, and work with finishers who cover the seams.
Did you know? Some drywall installers wear stilts—like tall leg extensions—so they can move around and use tools overhead.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $38,460 and $102,010How do you become one?
In the U.S., you can start without a formal school credential and learn on the job, often on less-visible areas. A high-school diploma is usually needed for a 2–4-year apprenticeship that combines job training and classes.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay may differ with experience and skill, sought-after certificates or licenses, the employer or industry, and location. More complex tasks, added responsibility, and hours worked can also change earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Hawaii ($104,830), lowest in Kansas ($39,890).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $38,460 | $58,930 | $102,010 | about 83,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $104,830 | about 800 |
| Oregon | $73,530 | about 2,000 |
| Washington | $73,130 | about 3,000 |
| Massachusetts | $69,500 | about 590 |
| California | $65,880 | about 27,000 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Carpenters” (47-2031), “Carpet Installers” (47-2041), and “Tile and Stone Setters” (47-2044).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/drywall-and-ceiling-tile-installers-
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/47-2081.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY