Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary in the U.S.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers in the U.S. earn a median of $58,930 a year ($28.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 83,080 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,010 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $63,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for drywall and ceiling tile installers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| 25th percentile | $47,440 | $22.81 |
| Median | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| 75th percentile | $74,230 | $35.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,010 | $49.04 |
| Average (mean) | $63,600 | $30.58 |
Half of drywall and ceiling tile installers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,910.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,455.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,266.54 |
| Weekly | $1,133.27 |
| Hourly | $28.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $104,830 | 800 |
| New Jersey | $75,080 | 1,340 |
| Alaska | $73,690 | 100 |
| Oregon | $73,530 | 1,680 |
| Washington | $73,130 | 2,670 |
| Massachusetts | $69,500 | 590 |
| California | $65,880 | 27,280 |
| Illinois | $63,180 | 740 |
| Missouri | $62,580 | 550 |
| New Hampshire | $61,960 | 370 |
| Colorado | $61,780 | 1,560 |
| Ohio | $61,420 | 1,680 |
| Minnesota | $61,290 | 1,050 |
| New York | $61,280 | 2,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,160 | 1,690 |
| Connecticut | $60,480 | 300 |
| Montana | $60,140 | 170 |
| Maine | $60,080 | 150 |
| Wisconsin | $59,970 | 1,140 |
| Vermont | $59,820 | 90 |
| Michigan | $58,440 | 1,050 |
| Georgia | $58,260 | 690 |
| Virginia | $55,840 | 2,480 |
| Maryland | $54,680 | 1,470 |
| New Mexico | $53,900 | 580 |
| Nevada | $52,280 | 2,980 |
| Iowa | $51,030 | 290 |
| Utah | $51,020 | 2,610 |
| Arizona | $50,290 | 2,590 |
| Delaware | $50,170 | 350 |
| Indiana | $49,810 | 680 |
| Florida | $48,970 | 6,000 |
| South Dakota | $48,850 | 360 |
| Nebraska | $48,620 | 770 |
| Kentucky | $48,340 | 490 |
| Alabama | $48,000 | 650 |
| Texas | $47,590 | 5,760 |
| Tennessee | $47,510 | 1,150 |
| Louisiana | $47,420 | 310 |
| Rhode Island | $47,110 | 440 |
| Oklahoma | $46,080 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $45,340 | 340 |
| North Dakota | $45,110 | 130 |
| North Carolina | $45,080 | 1,520 |
| Arkansas | $44,550 | 240 |
| Wyoming | $43,990 | 140 |
| Idaho | $43,790 | 920 |
| Kansas | $39,890 | 650 |
| Mississippi | $37,310 | 110 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,420 | 320 |
Best-paying metro areas for drywall and ceiling tile installers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $105,910 | 710 |
| Napa, CA | $84,410 | 50 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $83,190 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $82,650 | 700 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,160 | 2,510 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $81,100 | 1,100 |
| Worcester, MA | $80,280 | 120 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $79,430 | 1,960 |
| El Centro, CA | $78,020 | 90 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $76,290 | 3,220 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $75,560 | 1,840 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $74,740 | 120 |
| Salinas, CA | $73,650 | 160 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $73,520 | 450 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,320 | 2,560 |
Metro areas with the most drywall and ceiling tile installers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 7,710 | $62,800 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,640 | $61,420 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3,220 | $76,290 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,560 | $71,320 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,510 | $82,160 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 2,500 | $63,540 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 2,340 | $52,280 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,210 | $59,070 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,960 | $79,430 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,930 | $52,270 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,870 | $48,220 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,840 | $75,560 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,640 | $47,610 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,300 | $50,170 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,110 | $64,260 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Roofer | $55,440 | $26.65 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Glazier | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,120 | $23.62 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $53,340 | $25.64 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2081. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a drywall and ceiling tile installers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for drywall and ceiling tile installers in the U.S. is $58,930 a year, or $28.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid drywall and ceiling tile installers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of drywall and ceiling tile installers in the U.S. earn at least $102,010 a year. The top 25% earn $74,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for drywall and ceiling tile installers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,460 a year, and a quarter of drywall and ceiling tile installers earn $47,440 or less.
How many drywall and ceiling tile installers work in the U.S.?
About 83,080 drywall and ceiling tile installers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.