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Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $58,930 Median per year · $28.33/hr Most earn $38,460–$102,010

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Measure and mark surfaces to lay out work, according to blueprints or drawings, using tape measures, straightedges or squares, and marking devices.
  • 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.
  • Hang dry lines to wall moldings to guide positioning of main runners.
  • Apply or mount acoustical tile or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings or walls of buildings to reduce reflection of sound or to decorate rooms.
  • Remove existing plaster, drywall, or paneling, using crowbars and hammers.
  • Suspend angle iron grids or channel irons from ceilings, using wire.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 6,600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Drywall and insulation contractors61.3%
  • Self-employed (their own business)19.4%
  • Nonresidential building construction7.3%
  • Residential building construction4.3%
  • Painting and wall covering contractors2.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Drywall and ceiling tile installation is an entry-level trade: you can start with a high school diploma, but people usually need about 1 to 2 years of hands-on experience on job sites before they work on their own. Many learn by helping experienced installers first.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish school with good math skills, since measuring, cutting, and fitting panels all depend on accurate numbers. Hands-on classes help you get comfortable with tools and job sites.

  2. Construction Laborer

    6 months to 1 year

    Working as a helper on building sites teaches you how crews move materials, follow safety rules, and work with tools. It also gives you a chance to watch installers and ask questions.

  3. Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer

    1 to 2 years of experience before this job, then ongoing

    As an installer, you cut, hang, and fasten wallboard and acoustical tiles to ceilings and walls. Skilled installers can later take on leadership or finishing work.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Drywall Installer

    2-4 years of experience first

    You take charge of a small crew, plan the work, check quality, and train newer workers. Strong measuring skills and reliability are what usually lead to this role.

  2. Drywall Foreman

    3-5 years of experience first

    You supervise several crews and schedules on a project, coordinate with other trades, and make sure work meets specifications and safety rules. This role usually requires a proven track record as a lead installer.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, construction, or woodworking classesThese classes teach you tools, measuring, and how buildings are put together, which is the foundation for installer work.
  • Take geometry and math courses seriouslyMeasuring, calculating area, and working with angles are part of cutting and fitting wallboard accurately.
  • Join a trade or skills club, such as a SkillsUSA chapter if your school has oneClubs like this let you practice hands-on skills, meet people in the trades, and sometimes enter skills competitions.
  • Look for a summer or part-time job helping a builder or contractorEven basic helper work shows you how job sites run and gives you real experience to list on applications.
  • Learn basic home repair skillsPatching drywall, hanging shelves, or helping a family member with a small remodel builds comfort with tools and materials.

In college

  • Take construction technology or building trades coursesCourses on building materials, blueprint reading, and construction methods give you a broader understanding of how drywall fits into the whole project.
  • Get a part-time construction job or helper roleWorking on job sites while you study builds practical experience and can lead directly to a full-time installer job.
  • Earn a basic workplace safety certificationA 10-hour construction safety course, such as OSHA 10, is a simple credential that shows employers you take safety seriously.
  • Join a student chapter of a construction or trade association, if one is availableThese groups often offer job site tours, networking with local contractors, and leadership experience.
  • Consider an apprenticeship or union trade programMany drywall and interior trades offer paid, structured training where you learn on the job while earning, which is a common way to become a skilled installer.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local drywall or construction contractor if you can do a summer job or weekend helper work. Showing up on time and learning to clean up well makes a strong first impression.
  • Learn basic workplace safety early, such as a 10-hour OSHA construction course. Many employers value it, and it helps you stay safe on ladders and lifts.
  • Practice simple measuring and layout math, like working with fractions and area. Installers use these skills every day to cut panels and plan ceilings.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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