Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Salary
The median drywall and ceiling tile installers salary in the United States is $58,930 per year ($28.33/hour). Salaries range from $38,460 at the entry level to $102,010+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 83,080 drywall and ceiling tile installers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 4.2% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Training Needed
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for drywall and ceiling tile installerss.
Drywall + Ceiling Tile Installers hang and finish drywall, install acoustic ceilings, and finish interior walls. Career splits: residential drywall (homes + remodels), commercial (offices + retail + hospitals), specialty (curved walls, sound-rated assemblies, historic restoration), ceiling systems (grid + tile + acoustic panels). Path: high school + on-the-job apprenticeship or union 3-4 year apprenticeship (Carpenters Union). Compensation: entry $32-48k; skilled $48-70k; specialty + commercial $58-85k; foreman $65-95k; union prevailing wage $65-105k; contractor $80-300k+.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
- 1Age 18+ + high school diploma preferredPhysical fitness + basic math.
- 2Apply to drywall contractorResidential + commercial + union hall.
- 3On-the-job apprenticeship or 3-4 year union apprenticeship (Carpenters Union β UBC)Learn hanging + finishing + ceilings.
- 4OSHA + safety certificationsRequired. $60-200 per course.
- 5Specialize (commercial finish, sound-rated, ceilings)Specialty commands 20-40% premium.
- 6Advance to foreman + contractor5-15 years. Higher pay.
Career Progression
- β’Basic installation under supervision
- β’Independent hanging + finishing
- β’Complex specialty work
- β’Crew management
- β’Business ownership
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 9 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Tell me about your drywall experience.situational
Q2. How do you handle a Level 5 finish?technical
Q3. Tell me about a difficult project.behavioral
Q4. Why our contractor?culture
Q5. How do you handle safety with silica dust?situational
Resume Template β Journeyman Drywall Installer (3-6 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈJourneyman Drywall Installer, [Contractor], 4 years commercial + residential.
- βΈOSHA 10 + Silica + Fall Protection + specialty finishes.
- βΈBilingual English + Spanish. Trained 3 helpers.
- βΈZero call-backs on commercial projects.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak safety awareness (silica exposure).
- βPoor finish quality.
- βBad-mouthing prior employer.
- βAttendance issues.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βHourly rate + overtime.
- βUnion vs non-union (union 30-50% more + pension).
- βSpecialty pay.
- βSign-on $500-2k.
- βFull benefits + pension (union).
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired drywall and ceiling tile installerss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Career Kit β $19
- β All 9 interview questions with expert answers
- β 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 5 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $104,830 | +77.9% |
| New Jersey | $75,080 | +27.4% |
| Alaska | $73,690 | +25.0% |
| Oregon | $73,530 | +24.8% |
| Washington | $73,130 | +24.1% |
| Massachusetts | $69,500 | +17.9% |
| California | $65,880 | +11.8% |
| Illinois | $63,180 | +7.2% |
| Missouri | $62,580 | +6.2% |
| New Hampshire | $61,960 | +5.1% |
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $105,910 | +79.7% |
| Napa, CA | $84,410 | +43.2% |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $83,190 | +41.2% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $82,650 | +40.3% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,160 | +39.4% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $81,100 | +37.6% |
| Worcester, MA | $80,280 | +36.2% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79,430 | +34.8% |
| El Centro, CA | $78,020 | +32.4% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $76,290 | +29.5% |