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.

What you'd actually do

• 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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Less than high school. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors; much of the day is spent working solo. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 19.5% of drywall and ceiling tile installers are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

Related careers

• Structural Iron and Steel Workers
• Electricians
• Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
• Construction and Building Inspectors
• First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
• Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers

Quick questions

How much does a drywall and ceiling tile installer make?

The median pay is $28.33 per hour — roughly $59,000 a year, with the real range running from about $18.49/hr (10th percentile) to $49.04/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a drywall and ceiling tile installer?

The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a drywall and ceiling tile installer actually do all day?

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.