Drywall installer
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. Federal job definition
How people get into it
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for workers starting an apprenticeship.
A few groups and contractor associations, sponsor apprenticeship programs for drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers.
Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with technical instruction and typically last 2 to 4 years.
- Typical education to start
- No formal educational credential
- Typical training on the job
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Registered apprenticeships are run by employers, unions and industry groups. To find openings near you, search the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship finder, or contact your state's apprenticeship office.
What it pays
Yearly pay for all workers in this job nationally, including experienced ones. Apprentices usually start lower and get raises as they advance.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025Median pay by state (49 states)
| State | Median pay | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,000 | 650 |
| Alaska | $73,690 | 100 |
| Arizona | $50,290 | 2,590 |
| Arkansas | $44,550 | 240 |
| California | $65,880 | 27,280 |
| Colorado | $61,780 | 1,560 |
| Connecticut | $60,480 | 300 |
| Delaware | $50,170 | 350 |
| Florida | $48,970 | 6,000 |
| Georgia | $58,260 | 690 |
| Hawaii | $104,830 | 800 |
| Idaho | $43,790 | 920 |
| Illinois | $63,180 | 740 |
| Indiana | $49,810 | 680 |
| Iowa | $51,030 | 290 |
| Kansas | $39,890 | 650 |
| Kentucky | $48,340 | 490 |
| Louisiana | $47,420 | 310 |
| Maine | $60,080 | 150 |
| Maryland | $54,680 | 1,470 |
| Massachusetts | $69,500 | 590 |
| Michigan | $58,440 | 1,050 |
| Minnesota | $61,290 | 1,050 |
| Mississippi | $37,310 | 110 |
| Missouri | $62,580 | 550 |
| Montana | $60,140 | 170 |
| Nebraska | $48,620 | 770 |
| Nevada | $52,280 | 2,980 |
| New Hampshire | $61,960 | 370 |
| New Jersey | $75,080 | 1,340 |
| New Mexico | $53,900 | 580 |
| New York | $61,280 | 2,840 |
| North Carolina | $45,080 | 1,520 |
| North Dakota | $45,110 | 130 |
| Ohio | $61,420 | 1,680 |
| Oklahoma | $46,080 | 280 |
| Oregon | $73,530 | 1,680 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,160 | 1,690 |
| Rhode Island | $47,110 | 440 |
| South Carolina | $45,340 | 340 |
| South Dakota | $48,850 | 360 |
| Tennessee | $47,510 | 1,150 |
| Texas | $47,590 | 5,760 |
| Utah | $51,020 | 2,610 |
| Vermont | $59,820 | 90 |
| Virginia | $55,840 | 2,480 |
| Washington | $73,130 | 2,670 |
| Wisconsin | $59,970 | 1,140 |
| Wyoming | $43,990 | 140 |
Job outlook
- People in this job
- 102,200
- Openings each year
- 6,600projected average, 2025–35, including people retiring or changing jobs
- Change in jobs
- +2.5%expected to grow 2.5%, 2025–35
Where these numbers come from
Pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' wage survey (May 2025). Jobs, openings, growth, education and training come from BLS Employment Projections (2025–35). The description of the job is the federal Standard Occupational Classification definition, and the quote is from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. For how many apprentices there are in each state, see the Department of Labor's apprentices by state dashboard. Updated November 5, 2026.