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Drywall finisher: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$58,930median pay per year, or $28.33 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $38,460lowest 10% earn less
  2. $47,44025th percentile
  3. $58,930median
  4. $74,23075th percentile
  5. $102,010top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Drywall and ceiling tile installers earned a median of $58,930 a year in May 2025, above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. No formal education is typically needed to start, and the work is learned on the job[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2.5%[5]
Openings per year
6,600[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[3]

How much do drywall and ceiling tile installers make?

The median wage was $58,930 a year, or $28.33 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $63,600 a year, or $30.58 an hour[7]. For all occupations the median was $50,980[2].

Pay varies a lot within the job. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $38,460 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $47,440[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $74,230, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $102,010[4]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $18.49 and the 90th was $49.04[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9].

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits[10]. That matters here, because 19.4% of installers were self-employed in 2025[11].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $38,460
Median[1] $58,930
90th percentile[4] $102,010

Pay by state and city

Hawaii had the highest median wage at $104,830, followed by New Jersey at $75,080 and Alaska at $73,690[12]. Oregon ($73,530) and Washington ($73,130) came next[12]. Mississippi had the lowest published median at $37,310[12].

California had the most jobs, 27,280, then Florida with 6,000, Texas with 5,760, Nevada with 2,980 and New York with 2,840[13]. California's median was $65,880[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Urban Honolulu led at $105,910[14]. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA ($82,650) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($82,160) followed[14]. The metro with the most jobs was Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, with 7,710 jobs and a median of $62,800[15].

Show median pay in 49 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[12]$104,830800
New Jersey$75,0801,340
Alaska$73,690100
Oregon$73,5301,680
Washington$73,1302,670
Massachusetts$69,500590
California$65,88027,280
Illinois$63,180740
Missouri$62,580550
New Hampshire$61,960370
Colorado$61,7801,560
Ohio$61,4201,680
Minnesota$61,2901,050
New York$61,2802,840
Pennsylvania$61,1601,690
Connecticut$60,480300
Montana$60,140170
Maine$60,080150
Wisconsin$59,9701,140
Vermont$59,82090
Michigan$58,4401,050
Georgia$58,260690
Virginia$55,8402,480
Maryland$54,6801,470
New Mexico$53,900580
Nevada$52,2802,980
Iowa$51,030290
Utah$51,0202,610
Arizona$50,2902,590
Delaware$50,170350
Indiana$49,810680
Florida$48,9706,000
South Dakota$48,850360
Nebraska$48,620770
Kentucky$48,340490
Alabama$48,000650
Texas$47,5905,760
Tennessee$47,5101,150
Louisiana$47,420310
Rhode Island$47,110440
Oklahoma$46,080280
South Carolina$45,340340
North Dakota$45,110130
North Carolina$45,0801,520
Arkansas$44,550240
Wyoming$43,990140
Idaho$43,790920
Kansas$39,890650
Mississippi$37,310110

How to become a drywall finisher

The path is short and does not need a degree. The training details below come from a profile that covers a wider group of related occupations[16].

In an O*NET survey of 22 workers, 42% said less than a high school diploma was required, 24% said a high school diploma or equivalent, and 19% said a post-secondary certificate[22]. The survey is small, so treat these shares as a rough guide.

Other useful qualities include balance, attention to detail and the ability to work at heights on ladders, scaffolding, lifts or stilts[23][24][25].

What drywall and ceiling tile installers do

These workers put up wallboard on ceilings and interior walls. They also mount sound-absorbing tiles and panels[26]. Common tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as ceiling installer, drywall finisher, drywall hanger and metal stud framer[28].

Where they work

The work is indoors and physically demanding. Workers spend much of the day standing, bending or reaching, and often lift heavy wallboard[29]. Most work full time[30]. Drywall and insulation contractors were the largest employer group at 61%[31]. These details describe the wider group in the profile[16].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 102,200 to 104,700 jobs[5]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[32]. So growth is a little slower than average.

About 6,600 openings are projected each year[6]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or switch fields, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.3% of workers leave the labor force and 3.9% move to a different occupation[33].

The projection counts self-employed workers, so its job totals are larger than the 83,080 wage and salary jobs counted in May 2025[34][5].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who want to start without a degree and learn by doing[3][18]. Pay was above the all-occupations median[1][2], and the top 10% earned more than $102,010[4]. The work is physically demanding and often means heights[23][29]. Growth is slower than average, though openings still come up each year[32][6]. Pay differs a lot by state, so local figures matter[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a drywall finisher make an hour?
The median was $28.33 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $18.49 and the 90th was $49.04[8].
Do you need a degree to be a drywall installer?
No formal educational credential is typically needed[3]. Training is on the job[18].
How long does it take to learn drywall installation?
On-the-job training typically lasts up to 12 months[18]. Apprenticeships typically last 2 to 4 years[19]. This comes from a profile covering a wider group[16].
Is drywall installation in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, versus 3.5% for all occupations[5][32]. About 6,600 openings are projected each year[6].
What is the highest paying state for drywall installers?
Hawaii, with a median of $104,830[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers in the US was $58,930 per year and $28.33 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers: 10th percentile $38,460, 25th percentile $47,440, 75th percentile $74,230, 90th percentile $102,010. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers is projected to grow 2.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 102,200 to 104,700 jobs (a change of +2,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 6,600 openings for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers was $63,600 per year and $30.58 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers: 10th percentile $18.49, 25th percentile $22.81, 75th percentile $35.69, 90th percentile $49.04. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 19.4% of Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. Median annual wage for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers jobs: California 27,280; Florida 6,000; Texas 5,760; Nevada 2,980; New York 2,840. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Urban Honolulu, HI $105,910; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $82,650; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $82,160; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $81,100; Worcester, MA $80,280; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $79,430; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $76,290; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $75,560. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 7,710 (median $62,800); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 3,640 (median $61,420); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 3,220 (median $76,290); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,560 (median $71,320); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 2,510 (median $82,160); Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 2,500 (median $63,540). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Drywall Installers, Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers" covers Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 47-2081.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 42%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 24%, Post-Secondary Certificate 19%, Some College Courses 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET description of Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET 47-2081.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Ceiling Installer, Drywall Finisher, Drywall Hanger, Drywall Installer, Drywall Mechanic, Installer, Metal Framer, Metal Stud Framer. O*NET OnLine
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers in 2025: Drywall and insulation contractors 61%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers: 2.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 83,080 people were employed as Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.