Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary in Illinois
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers in Illinois earn a median of $63,180 a year ($30.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 740 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,620 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $58,930. Illinois ranks 8th of 49 states for drywall and ceiling tile installers pay. There are 0.12 drywall and ceiling tile installers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.23). The average (mean) salary is $72,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for drywall and ceiling tile installers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,870 | $20.13 |
| 25th percentile | $51,540 | $24.78 |
| Median | $63,180 | $30.38 |
| 75th percentile | $102,480 | $49.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,620 | $53.18 |
| Average (mean) | $72,690 | $34.95 |
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 | $5,265 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,632.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,430 |
| Weekly | $1,215 |
| Hourly | $30.38 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $69,120 | 540 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $60,250 | 250 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,350 | 40 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Electrician | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| Carpenter | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $99,950 | $48.05 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $97,740 | $46.99 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,260 | $29.45 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $78,170 | $37.58 |
| Roofer | $77,900 | $37.45 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $86,630 | $41.65 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $101,850 | $48.97 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $89,980 | $43.26 |
| Glazier | $61,840 | $29.73 |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $69,880 | $33.60 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $100,400 | $48.27 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for drywall and ceiling tile installers in Illinois is $63,180 a year, or $30.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid drywall and ceiling tile installers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of drywall and ceiling tile installers in Illinois earn at least $110,620 a year. The top 25% earn $102,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for drywall and ceiling tile installers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,870 a year, and a quarter of drywall and ceiling tile installers earn $51,540 or less.
How many drywall and ceiling tile installers work in Illinois?
About 740 drywall and ceiling tile installers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.