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Salary comparison

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installerss out-earn Construction Laborerss by $12K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installerss land at $58,930 and Construction Laborerss at $47,120. The education gap is real: drywall and ceiling tile installer programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installerss is Hawaii ($104,830); for Construction Laborerss it's Hawaii ($77,110).

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Construction Laborers
Median salary
$58,930
$47,120
Hourly rate
$28.33/hr
$22.66/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$38,460
$35,090
Senior level (90th %)
$102,010
$78,090
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
83,080
1,096,780
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
7.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Hawaii
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers median pay.

State
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Construction Laborers
Hawaii
$104,830
$77,110
New Jersey
$75,080
$64,060
Alaska
$73,690
$58,060
Oregon
$73,530
$50,860
Washington
$73,130
$57,720
Massachusetts
$69,500
$63,390
California
$65,880
$60,270
Illinois
$63,180
$60,690
Missouri
$62,580
$56,730
Ohio
$61,420
$56,080
Minnesota
$61,290
$60,260
New York
$61,280
$55,930
Connecticut
$60,480
$58,290
Wisconsin
$59,970
$56,100
Rhode Island
$47,110
$57,240

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installerss or Construction Laborerss?

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installerss earn more nationally. The median is $58,930 for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installerss versus $47,120 for Construction Laborerss, a difference of $12K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers or Construction Laborers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers or Construction Laborers?

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Construction Laborers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installerss get paid the most?

Hawaii is the top-paying state for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installerss at $104,830/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Hawaii, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installerss earn $104,830 vs. $77,110 for Construction Laborerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary breakdownView →Full Construction Laborers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Construction Laborerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a drywall and ceiling tile installersGuide →How to become a construction laborersGuide →