Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers work in a skilled construction trade with a clear national presence and defined growth expectations. National employment stands at 103,000, with projected employment growth of 4.2% and about 8,000 annual openings. This combination points to ongoing demand for people who want to work with their hands and develop a specialized craft. The work draws on strengths such as physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, mechanical ability, and attention to detail, along with problem solving and customer service. Typical entry into this field does not require a formal educational credential, making it accessible to people who prefer to learn on the job and build skills through experience. With a national median salary of $58,140 and a range of opportunities across states and metro areas, this occupation offers a practical pathway for students, job changers, and experienced workers interested in a hands-on construction career.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers earn a national median annual salary of $58,140, with pay varying meaningfully by location. Among the top states, Washington reports a median salary of $73,130 and Massachusetts $69,500, while California, Colorado, and New York fall between $61,280 and $65,880. In metro areas, salaries are even higher in several markets. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, area shows a median of $82,160, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, reports $79,430. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, metro has a median of $71,320, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, sits at $62,800 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, at $59,070. These figures indicate that geography plays a major role in earning potential, with certain metros and states offering higher median pay for this occupation.
This occupation has a sizable national workforce and clear projections for continued activity. Drywall and ceiling tile installers account for 103,000 jobs nationally. Projected employment growth is 4.2%, suggesting that employment is expected to expand rather than decline over the forecast period. In addition to growth, there are an estimated 8,000 annual openings. Those openings can reflect both new positions and the need to replace workers who change jobs or leave the labor force. Together, the current employment level, the projected growth rate, and the annual openings suggest that people entering or advancing in this field can expect ongoing hiring needs across the country. For career planners, these data points support viewing drywall and ceiling tile installation as a viable trade to enter, with both current positions and future opportunities indicated in the projections.
Location choices can significantly shape a career as a drywall and ceiling tile installer. Among states, California stands out with 27,280 employed installers, a median salary of $65,880, growth of 4.2%, and an opportunity score of 67.38, reflecting both a large workforce and solid overall opportunity. Washington combines a relatively high median salary of $73,130 with an opportunity score of 56.29. Massachusetts and New York show median salaries of $69,500 and $61,280, respectively, with opportunity scores in the mid‑60s, while Colorado offers $61,780 and an opportunity score of 56.97. At the metro level, opportunity becomes even more concentrated. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, have the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, with median salaries of $79,430 and $71,320. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, offers the highest listed median salary at $82,160. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, has the largest metro employment (7,710) among the highlighted areas.
The typical education requirement for drywall and ceiling tile installers is no formal educational credential, which makes this occupation accessible to people who prefer to enter the workforce directly. Success in the role, however, depends on a defined set of skills. Physical strength and stamina and fine motor skills support the physical and precise nature of the work. Mechanical skills and mathematics are important for handling tools, measurements, and layout. Being detail oriented helps ensure accuracy and quality. Additional skills such as problem solving and decision making, customer service, leadership, and creativity and innovation contribute to working effectively with others and adapting to different job situations. Science knowledge also appears among the top skills, indicating that understanding basic principles relevant to materials or processes can be useful. For career seekers, focusing on building these abilities can enhance readiness for entry and long-term growth in this trade, even without a formal credential.
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