47 Series · SOC 47-2081

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$58,930
Median / year
+1.4%
2024→2025
$102,010
Top 10% earn
+4.2%
Growth '24–'34
83,080
Estimated US jobs

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers earn a median of $58,930 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $58,930, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $38,460 (10th percentile) to $102,010 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 83,080 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Hawaii ($104,830).

47 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers earn a median of $58,930, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 46% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #24 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.2% by 2034.

$58,930
Median annual wage
Top 54%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#24 of 60
in Construction and Extraction
2.7×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Hawaii at $104,830. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers moved from $45,700 in May 2019 to $58,930 in May 2025 (+28.9%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers sits +4.5 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers (SOC 47-2081) has a national median of $58,930 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $38,460 to $102,010, and the published mean is $63,600. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 83,080 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 50 state or territory areas and 209 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $58,140 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $58,930 in May 2025, a rise of $790 (+1.4%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 7,700 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns No formal educational credential as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Construction and Extraction Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Hawaii pays the highest state median at $104,830, which is +78% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Urban Honolulu, HI at $105,910. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 83,080 jobs Median $58,930/yr

Median Salary

$58,930

per year

Median Hourly

$28.33/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$63,600

average

Employment

83,080

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$58,930 Bottom 46% higher than 46% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$58,930 · 46th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 47-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 47-series occupations with growth data, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers sits on the slower-growing side at +4.2% growth and $58,930 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $40000$50000$60000$70000$80000$90000 -5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Construction Laborers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 7.3% · Median annual wage: $47120First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.3% · Median annual wage: $79920Electricians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 9.5% · Median annual wage: $63190Carpenters - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $60580Operating Engineers … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.6% · Median annual wage: $59850Plumbers, Pipefitter… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $63800Painters, Constructi… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.8% · Median annual wage: $49400Cement Masons and Co… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.8% · Median annual wage: $57020Highway Maintenance … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3% · Median annual wage: $50260Construction and Bui… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.8% · Median annual wage: $74690Roofers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.9% · Median annual wage: $55440Sheet Metal Workers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.4% · Median annual wage: $61800Drywall and Ceiling … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.2% · Median annual wage: $58930Structural Iron and … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.4% · Median annual wage: $62780Helpers--Electricians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.2% · Median annual wage: $42670Glaziers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $57080Brickmasons and Bloc… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.2% · Median annual wage: $62120Hazardous Materials … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1% · Median annual wage: $49450Roustabouts, Oil and… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.5% · Median annual wage: $46960Insulation Workers, … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.8% · Median annual wage: $49120Helpers--Pipelayers,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.9% · Median annual wage: $42360Service Unit Operato… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.4% · Median annual wage: $58160Paving, Surfacing, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.2% · Median annual wage: $53340Tile and Stone Setters - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 10.1% · Median annual wage: $55690
Among 24 47-series occupations with growth data, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers sits on the slower-growing side at +4.2% growth and $58,930 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Construction Laborers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.3%, Median annual wage $47120
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.3%, Median annual wage $79920
  • Electricians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.5%, Median annual wage $63190
  • Carpenters: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $60580
  • Operating Engineers …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.6%, Median annual wage $59850
  • Plumbers, Pipefitter…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $63800
  • Painters, Constructi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $49400
  • Cement Masons and Co…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.8%, Median annual wage $57020
  • Highway Maintenance …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $50260
  • Construction and Bui…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.8%, Median annual wage $74690
  • Roofers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.9%, Median annual wage $55440
  • Sheet Metal Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.4%, Median annual wage $61800
  • Drywall and Ceiling …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.2%, Median annual wage $58930
  • Structural Iron and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $62780
  • Helpers--Electricians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.2%, Median annual wage $42670
  • Glaziers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $57080
  • Brickmasons and Bloc…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $62120
  • Hazardous Materials …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $49450
  • Roustabouts, Oil and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $46960
  • Insulation Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $49120
  • Helpers--Pipelayers,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $42360
  • Service Unit Operato…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.4%, Median annual wage $58160
  • Paving, Surfacing, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $53340
  • Tile and Stone Setters: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10.1%, Median annual wage $55690

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+4.2%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

7,700

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+4,300

103,100 (2024) → 107,400 (2034)

Typical Education

No formal educational credential

On-the-Job Training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Construction and Extraction Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

12.4/100K

Injury Rate

3.5/100

Danger Index

20.2/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Critical Thinking 3.0
Speaking 2.9
Monitoring 2.9
Coordination 2.9
Judgment and Decision Making 2.9
Time Management 2.9
Reading Comprehension 2.8
Active Listening 2.8
Complex Problem Solving 2.6
Social Perceptiveness 2.5

Knowledge Areas

Building and Construction 4.5
Mathematics 3.5
Mechanical 3.3
Public Safety and Security 3.2
Administration and Management 3.1
Design 3.0
English Language 3.0
Engineering and Technology 2.7
Customer and Personal Service 2.7
Production and Processing 2.5

Key Tasks

  • Read blueprints or other specifications to determine methods of installation, work procedures, or material or tool requirements.
  • Measure and mark surfaces to lay out work, according to blueprints or drawings, using tape measures, straightedges or squares, and marking devices.
  • Fit and fasten wallboard or drywall into position on wood or metal frameworks, using glue, nails, or screws.
  • Measure and cut openings in panels or tiles for electrical outlets, windows, vents, plumbing, or other fixtures, using keyhole saws or other cutting tools.
  • Assemble or install metal framing or decorative trim for windows, doorways, or vents.
  • Cut metal or wood framing and trim to size, using cutting tools.
  • Inspect furrings, mechanical mountings, or masonry surfaces for plumbness and level, using spirit or water levels.
  • Cut fixture or border tiles to size, using keyhole saws, and insert them into surrounding frameworks.
  • Cut and screw together metal channels to make floor or ceiling frames, according to plans for the location of rooms or hallways.
  • Hang drywall panels on metal frameworks of walls and ceilings in offices, schools, or other large buildings, using lifts or hoists to adjust panel heights, when necessary.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$38,460
25th$47,440
Median$58,930
75th$74,230
90th$102,010

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$18.49
25th$22.81
Median$28.33
75th$35.69
90th$49.04

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $39,220National median - 2016: $41,090National median - 2017: $42,860National median - 2018: $43,730National median - 2019: $45,700National median - 2020: $47,460National median - 2021: $48,040National median - 2022: $50,440National median - 2023: $55,700National median - 2024: $58,140National median - 2025: $58,930$58,930
National median annual wage for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $39,220
2016 $41,090
2017 $42,860
2018 $43,730
2019 $45,700
2020 $47,460
2021 $48,040
2022 $50,440
2023 $55,700
2024 $58,140
2025 $58,930

2015 median

$39,220

2025 median

$58,930

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$13,230 (+28.9%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+4.3%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $39,220 First banked release 88,490
May 2016 $41,090 +4.8% 93,180
May 2017 $42,860 +4.3% 96,550
May 2018 $43,730 +2.0% 101,900
May 2019 $45,700 Classification break 102,850
May 2020 $47,460 +3.9% 99,700
May 2021 $48,040 +1.2% 97,070
May 2022 $50,440 +5.0% 91,590
May 2023 $55,700 +10.4% 90,860
May 2024 $58,140 +4.4% 82,900
May 2025 $58,930 +1.4% 83,080

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $39,220 in May 2015 to $58,930 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.3% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 102,850 in May 2019 to 83,080 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 50 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Hawaii $104,830 +78% above national
2 New Jersey $75,080 +27% above national
3 Alaska $73,690 +25% above national
4 Oregon $73,530 +25% above national
5 Washington $73,130 +24% above national
6 Massachusetts $69,500 +18% above national
7 California $65,880 +12% above national
8 Illinois $63,180 +7% above national
9 Missouri $62,580 +6% above national
10 New Hampshire $61,960 +5% above national
11 Colorado $61,780 +5% above national
12 Ohio $61,420 +4% above national
13 Minnesota $61,290 +4% above national
14 New York $61,280 +4% above national
15 Pennsylvania $61,160 +4% above national
16 Connecticut $60,480 +3% above national
17 Montana $60,140 +2% above national
18 Maine $60,080 +2% above national
19 Wisconsin $59,970 +2% above national
20 Vermont $59,820 +2% above national
21 Michigan $58,440 1% below national
22 Georgia $58,260 1% below national
23 Virginia $55,840 5% below national
24 Maryland $54,680 7% below national
25 New Mexico $53,900 9% below national
26 Nevada $52,280 11% below national
27 Iowa $51,030 13% below national
28 Utah $51,020 13% below national
29 Arizona $50,290 15% below national
30 Delaware $50,170 15% below national
31 Indiana $49,810 15% below national
32 Florida $48,970 17% below national
33 South Dakota $48,850 17% below national
34 Nebraska $48,620 17% below national
35 Kentucky $48,340 18% below national
36 Alabama $48,000 19% below national
37 Texas $47,590 19% below national
38 Tennessee $47,510 19% below national
39 Louisiana $47,420 20% below national
40 Rhode Island $47,110 20% below national
41 Oklahoma $46,080 22% below national
42 South Carolina $45,340 23% below national
43 North Dakota $45,110 23% below national
44 North Carolina $45,080 24% below national
45 Arkansas $44,550 24% below national
46 Wyoming $43,990 25% below national
47 Idaho $43,790 26% below national
48 Kansas $39,890 32% below national
49 Mississippi $37,310 37% below national
50 Puerto Rico $28,420 52% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 169 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Urban Honolulu, HI $105,910 +80% above national
2 Napa, CA $84,410 +43% above national
3 Kahului-Wailuku, HI $83,190 +41% above national
4 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $82,650 +40% above national
5 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $82,160 +39% above national
6 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $81,100 +38% above national
7 Worcester, MA $80,280 +36% above national
8 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $79,430 +35% above national
9 El Centro, CA $78,020 +32% above national
10 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $76,290 +29% above national
11 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $75,560 +28% above national
12 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $74,740 +27% above national
13 Salinas, CA $73,650 +25% above national
14 Stockton-Lodi, CA $73,520 +25% above national
15 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $71,320 +21% above national
16 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $69,120 +17% above national
17 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $67,730 +15% above national
18 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $67,060 +14% above national
19 Akron, OH $66,450 +13% above national
20 Modesto, CA $65,770 +12% above national
21 Columbus, OH $65,450 +11% above national
22 Anchorage, AK $65,200 +11% above national
23 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $64,700 +10% above national
24 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $64,370 +9% above national
25 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $64,260 +9% above national
26 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $64,080 +9% above national
27 Bend, OR $63,970 +9% above national
28 Kennewick-Richland, WA $63,870 +8% above national
29 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $63,760 +8% above national
30 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $63,550 +8% above national
31 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $63,540 +8% above national
32 Madison, WI $63,500 +8% above national
33 Manchester-Nashua, NH $63,340 +7% above national
34 Cleveland, OH $63,150 +7% above national
35 Merced, CA $63,060 +7% above national
36 Toledo, OH $62,920 +7% above national
37 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $62,800 +7% above national
38 Salem, OR $62,400 +6% above national
39 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $62,400 +6% above national
40 Fresno, CA $62,280 +6% above national
41 Bellingham, WA $61,980 +5% above national
42 Redding, CA $61,870 +5% above national
43 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $61,710 +5% above national
44 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $61,500 +4% above national
45 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $61,420 +4% above national
46 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $61,420 +4% above national
47 Chico, CA $61,410 +4% above national
48 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $61,280 +4% above national
49 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $61,260 +4% above national
50 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $61,120 +4% above national
51 Yuba City, CA $60,970 +3% above national
52 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $60,800 +3% above national
53 Pittsburgh, PA $60,600 +3% above national
54 Lancaster, PA $60,510 +3% above national
55 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $60,280 +2% above national
56 St. Louis, MO-IL $60,250 +2% above national
57 Duluth, MN-WI $60,220 +2% above national
58 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $60,080 +2% above national
59 Rochester, NY $59,910 +2% above national
60 Youngstown-Warren, OH $59,890 +2% above national
61 Greeley, CO $59,830 +2% above national
62 Portland-South Portland, ME $59,740 +1% above national
63 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $59,670 +1% above national
64 Eugene-Springfield, OR $59,240 +1% above national
65 Eau Claire, WI $59,220 same as national
66 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $59,070 same as national
67 Yakima, WA $58,950 same as national
68 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $58,820 same as national
69 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $58,020 2% below national
70 Wilmington, NC $57,540 2% below national
71 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $57,350 3% below national
72 Colorado Springs, CO $57,080 3% below national
73 Springfield, MO $56,550 4% below national
74 Reno, NV $56,480 4% below national
75 Omaha, NE-IA $56,430 4% below national
76 Traverse City, MI $55,750 5% below national
77 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $55,470 6% below national
78 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $55,460 6% below national
79 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $54,830 7% below national
80 Santa Fe, NM $54,830 7% below national
81 Albuquerque, NM $54,620 7% below national
82 Yuma, AZ $54,400 8% below national
83 Ogden, UT $54,240 8% below national
84 Syracuse, NY $54,100 8% below national
85 Evansville, IN $53,860 9% below national
86 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $53,820 9% below national
87 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $53,340 9% below national
88 Grand Junction, CO $53,320 10% below national
89 Naples-Marco Island, FL $52,830 10% below national
90 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $52,280 11% below national
91 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $52,270 11% below national
92 Missoula, MT $51,310 13% below national
93 St. George, UT $50,900 14% below national
94 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $50,640 14% below national
95 Albany, OR $50,540 14% below national
96 Greensboro-High Point, NC $50,530 14% below national
97 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $50,500 14% below national
98 Medford, OR $50,440 14% below national
99 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $50,440 14% below national
100 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $50,170 15% below national
101 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $49,760 16% below national
102 Jacksonville, FL $49,750 16% below national
103 Fort Wayne, IN $49,680 16% below national
104 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $49,670 16% below national
105 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $49,560 16% below national
106 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $49,560 16% below national
107 Richmond, VA $49,260 16% below national
108 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $49,230 16% below national
109 Waco, TX $49,160 17% below national
110 Odessa, TX $49,040 17% below national
111 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $48,920 17% below national
112 Logan, UT-ID $48,890 17% below national
113 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $48,850 17% below national
114 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $48,810 17% below national
115 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ $48,780 17% below national
116 Birmingham, AL $48,760 17% below national
117 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $48,680 17% below national
118 Wichita, KS $48,660 17% below national
119 Lynchburg, VA $48,610 18% below national
120 Port St. Lucie, FL $48,530 18% below national
121 Lexington-Fayette, KY $48,340 18% below national
122 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $48,220 18% below national
123 Tucson, AZ $48,180 18% below national
124 Baton Rouge, LA $48,160 18% below national
125 Rapid City, SD $47,980 19% below national
126 Fargo, ND-MN $47,950 19% below national
127 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $47,910 19% below national
128 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $47,760 19% below national
129 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $47,690 19% below national
130 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $47,660 19% below national
131 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $47,610 19% below national
132 Roanoke, VA $47,510 19% below national
133 Harrisonburg, VA $47,360 20% below national
134 Lincoln, NE $47,130 20% below national
135 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $47,100 20% below national
136 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $47,100 20% below national
137 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $47,070 20% below national
138 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $47,000 20% below national
139 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL $47,000 20% below national
140 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $46,830 21% below national
141 Kansas City, MO-KS $46,720 21% below national
142 Visalia, CA $46,600 21% below national
143 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $46,590 21% below national
144 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $46,550 21% below national
145 Asheville, NC $46,340 21% below national
146 Huntsville, AL $46,150 22% below national
147 Tulsa, OK $46,080 22% below national
148 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $45,990 22% below national
149 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $45,900 22% below national
150 Raleigh-Cary, NC $45,900 22% below national
151 Oklahoma City, OK $45,760 22% below national
152 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $45,670 23% below national
153 Chattanooga, TN-GA $45,170 23% below national
154 Fayetteville, NC $45,120 23% below national
155 Tuscaloosa, AL $45,110 23% below national
156 Columbia, SC $44,800 24% below national
157 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $44,570 24% below national
158 Winston-Salem, NC $44,540 24% below national
159 Boise City, ID $44,300 25% below national
160 Ocala, FL $44,250 25% below national
161 El Paso, TX $44,050 25% below national
162 Tyler, TX $43,740 26% below national
163 Dover, DE $43,540 26% below national
164 Killeen-Temple, TX $40,100 32% below national
165 Clarksville, TN-KY $39,480 33% below national
166 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $38,670 34% below national
167 Las Cruces, NM $37,990 36% below national
168 Twin Falls, ID $34,880 41% below national
169 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $28,420 52% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 47 (Construction and Extraction Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 59 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Construction and Extraction Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($58,930 here) and reported employment (83,080 jobs here).

Similar employment scale

Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers make?
The median annual salary for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers is $58,930 ($28.33/hour). The salary range spans from $38,460 at the 10th percentile to $102,010 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $58,930, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers pay is higher than 46% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers the most?
Hawaii pays the highest median salary for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers at $104,830/year, which is +78% above the national median.
What education do Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers need?
BLS assigns Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers to No formal educational credential for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers in this release. WageDex shows the Construction and Extraction Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers a good career?
Employment for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers is projected to grow 4.2% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 7,700 openings are projected each year.
How does Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers pay vary by state?
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $104,830/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $28,420/year. BLS data covers 50 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Urban Honolulu, HI at $105,910/year. BLS reports a median for 169 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $74,230/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Hawaii leads at $104,830/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.