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Commercial Construction
Turner Construction, Skanska, Gilbane Building Company
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Drywall and ceiling tile installers turn bare framing into finished rooms by measuring, cutting, hanging, and fastening panels and ceiling systems. The work is distinct because success depends on precision and speed at the same time: you have to make walls look clean and straight while working on ladders, lifts, and active job sites. The tradeoff is straightforward—steady hands-on work and solid pay for a trade, but plenty of lifting, overhead work, dust, and physical wear.
Also known as Drywall InstallerDrywall HangerSheetrock InstallerDrywall and Acoustical Ceiling InstallerAcoustical Ceiling Installer
Median Salary
$58,140
Mean $62,810
U.S. Workforce
~83K
7.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4.2%
103.1K to 107.4K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~83K workers, with a median annual pay of $58,140 and roughly 7.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 103.1 K in 2024 to 107.4K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with No formal educational credential, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Construction Laborer / Drywall Helper and can progress toward Foreman. High-value skills usually include Blueprint Reading, Layout & Measuring, Tape Measures, Levels & Squares, and Drywall Hanging, Fastening & Screw Guns, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Coordination, and Judgment and Decision Making.
Core Responsibilities
- Read plans, measure the space, and mark exactly where each wallboard or ceiling panel should go.
- Cut openings in panels for outlets, windows, vents, and plumbing so everything fits around the building’s fixtures.
- Lift drywall sheets into place and fasten them to wood or metal framing, sometimes using hoists or lifts for higher walls and ceilings.
- Install acoustic ceiling tiles or sound-absorbing materials to improve how a room looks and how it handles noise.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Read plans, measure the space, and mark exactly where each wallboard or ceiling panel should go.
02 Cut openings in panels for outlets, windows, vents, and plumbing so everything fits around the building’s fixtures.
03 Lift drywall sheets into place and fasten them to wood or metal framing, sometimes using hoists or lifts for higher walls and ceilings.
04 Install acoustic ceiling tiles or sound-absorbing materials to improve how a room looks and how it handles noise.
05 Check that the framing and mounting surfaces are level and straight before hanging material so finished surfaces do not end up crooked.
06 Place insulation and plastic moisture barriers between studs before the wall is closed up.
Industries That Hire
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Residential Construction
D.R. Horton, Lennar, PulteGroup
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Schools, Hospitals & Public Buildings
Hensel Phelps, McCarthy Building Companies, Balfour Beatty US
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Specialty Trade Contractors
EMCOR Group, Comfort Systems USA, STO Building Group
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Renovation & Restoration
BELFOR, ServiceMaster Restore, Paul Davis Restoration
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You do not need a formal degree to get started, and 41.87% of workers enter with less than a high school diploma.
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Pay is solid for a trade, with a median annual wage of $58,140 and a mean of $62,810.
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The job has steady replacement demand, with about 7.7 thousand annual openings.
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Most of the skill comes from paid, moderate-term on-the-job training instead of years of school.
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You can see the result of your work quickly: a finished wall or ceiling is obvious at the end of the day.
Challenges
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The work is physical: lifting sheets, working overhead, kneeling, and carrying materials can wear on your back, shoulders, and hands.
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Job sites can be dusty, noisy, and tight on deadlines, especially when you have to fit around electrical, plumbing, and HVAC openings.
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Growth is only 4.2% from 2024 to 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field even though there are 82,900 workers now.
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There is a career ceiling if you stay in the hands-on role; the bigger pay jumps usually come from moving into crew leadership or supervision.
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Demand can swing with construction activity, so work can be uneven when projects slow down or get delayed.
Career Progression
Construction Laborer / Drywall Helper
0-2 years
$34K-$44K
Starts with hauling materials, cleaning up job sites, and helping more experienced installers with prep work.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer
2-5 years
$52K-$67K
Handles measuring, cutting, hanging, and fastening panels, and this band includes the role’s median pay of $58,140.
Lead Installer / Crew Lead THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$68K-$83K
Takes on trickier layouts, checks quality, and helps keep helpers moving so the job stays on schedule.
Foreman
8-12 years
$84K-$101K
Runs the crew on site, coordinates with supervisors and other trades, and solves problems before they slow the project down.
Education Paths
No formal educational credential
The most common entry point, held by 41.87% of workers, with training usually handled on the job.
High school diploma or equivalent
A second common route, held by 24.36% of workers, and often enough for employers that provide moderate-term on-the-job training.
Post-secondary certificate in construction or drywall trades
A useful alternative held by 19.3% of workers, especially for people who want more structured trade instruction before starting work.
Apprenticeship or employer training
A practical non-degree path for people who want to learn by working with a crew and building skills on active job sites.
Key Skills
Technical
Blueprint Reading, Layout & Measuring 60%
Tape Measures, Levels & Squares 59%
Drywall Hanging, Fastening & Screw Guns 58%
Ceiling Grid & Acoustical Tile Systems 58%
Drywall Saws, Keyhole Saws & Utility Knives 56%
Lifts, Hoists, Ladders & Scaffolding 55%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingCoordinationJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringSpeakingTime Management Job Outlook and Trends
+4.2%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
7.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 103.1K to 107.4 K over the next decade, representing 4.2% growth. Around 7.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.