How to become a drywall and ceiling tile 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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What drywall and ceiling tile installers do

• 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.
• Assemble or install metal framing or decorative trim for windows, doorways, or vents.
• Cut and screw together metal channels to make floor or ceiling frames, according to plans for the location of rooms or hallways.
• Cut metal or wood framing and trim to size, using cutting tools.
• Cut fixture or border tiles to size, using keyhole saws, and insert them into surrounding frameworks.

Skills that matter most

• Critical Thinking
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Mathematics
• Writing
• Active Learning

Is drywall and ceiling tile installer a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 16% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Hawaii $104,830
• New Jersey $75,080
• Alaska $73,690
• Oregon $73,530
• Washington $73,130

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.