Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary in California
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers in California earn a median of $65,880 a year ($31.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 27,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,240 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $58,930. California ranks 7th of 49 states for drywall and ceiling tile installers pay. There are 1.5 drywall and ceiling tile installers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $74,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for drywall and ceiling tile installers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,050 | $22.14 |
| 25th percentile | $55,810 | $26.83 |
| Median | $65,880 | $31.67 |
| 75th percentile | $85,180 | $40.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,240 | $57.81 |
| Average (mean) | $74,680 | $35.91 |
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 | $5,490 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,745 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,533.85 |
| Weekly | $1,266.92 |
| Hourly | $31.67 |
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 in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $84,410 | 50 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $82,650 | 700 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,160 | 2,510 |
| 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 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $74,740 | 120 |
| Salinas, CA | $73,650 | 160 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $73,520 | 450 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $67,060 | 180 |
| Modesto, CA | $65,770 | 400 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $64,370 | 440 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $63,760 | 650 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $63,540 | 2,500 |
| Merced, CA | $63,060 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $62,800 | 7,710 |
| Fresno, CA | $62,280 | 800 |
| Redding, CA | $61,870 | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $61,420 | 3,640 |
| Chico, CA | $61,410 | 60 |
| Yuba City, CA | $60,970 | 70 |
| Visalia, CA | $46,600 | 300 |
Highest-paying states for drywall and ceiling tile installers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $104,830 |
| New Jersey | $75,080 |
| Alaska | $73,690 |
| Oregon | $73,530 |
| Washington | $73,130 |
| Massachusetts | $69,500 |
| California | $65,880 |
| Illinois | $63,180 |
| Missouri | $62,580 |
| New Hampshire | $61,960 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenter | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,270 | $28.98 |
| Electrician | $76,160 | $36.62 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $72,830 | $35.01 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $59,020 | $28.38 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $87,160 | $41.90 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $62,700 | $30.15 |
| Roofer | $63,600 | $30.58 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $76,590 | $36.82 |
| Tile and Stone Setters | $58,880 | $28.31 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $76,370 | $36.72 |
| Glazier | $64,040 | $30.79 |
| Solar Photovoltaic Installer | $60,600 | $29.14 |
| Plasterers and Stucco Masons | $59,940 | $28.82 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for drywall and ceiling tile installers in California is $65,880 a year, or $31.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid drywall and ceiling tile installers make in California?
The top 10% of drywall and ceiling tile installers in California earn at least $120,240 a year. The top 25% earn $85,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for drywall and ceiling tile installers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,050 a year, and a quarter of drywall and ceiling tile installers earn $55,810 or less.
How many drywall and ceiling tile installers work in California?
About 27,280 drywall and ceiling tile installers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.