Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Apply plasterboard or other wallboard to ceilings or interior walls of buildings. Apply or mount acoustical tiles or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings and walls of buildings to reduce or reflect sound. Materials may be of decorative quality. Includes lathers who fasten wooden, metal, or rockboard lath to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings to provide support base for plaster, fireproofing, or acoustical material.
Also called: Acoustical Ceiling Installer, Acoustical Consultant, Acoustical Installer, Acoustical Specialist, Ceiling Installer, Drywall Application Specialist
Median pay
$58,930
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$38,460 – $102,010
People employed
83,080
Holland code
RCA
Realistic · Conventional · Artistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 2.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 3.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 4.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 5.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 6.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 7.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
- Work outdoors in all weather
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (49 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What drywall and ceiling tile installers do
- 01Read blueprints or other specifications to determine methods of installation, work procedures, or material or tool requirements.
- 02Measure and mark surfaces to lay out work, according to blueprints or drawings, using tape measures, straightedges or squares, and marking devices.
- 03Cut and screw together metal channels to make floor or ceiling frames, according to plans for the location of rooms or hallways.
- 04Hang 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.
- 05Fit and fasten wallboard or drywall into position on wood or metal frameworks, using glue, nails, or screws.
- 06Measure and cut openings in panels or tiles for electrical outlets, windows, vents, plumbing, or other fixtures, using keyhole saws or other cutting tools.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Mathematics
Knowledge
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic79% · +8%
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters78% · −19%
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters78% · −13%
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers76% · −9%
- Riggers75% · +6%
Change into drywall and ceiling tile installers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Fence Erectors88% · $47,980
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters83% · $47,550
- Helpers--Roofers81% · $44,160
- Helpers--Carpenters80% · $43,780
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic79% · $63,870
Majors that lead here
- Drywall Installation/Drywaller
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.