Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Salary
The median pay for a drywall and ceiling tile installers in Arkansas is $44,550/year ($21.42/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $50,833 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 33.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Arkansas?
About drywall and ceiling tile installers
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for drywall and ceiling tile installers in Arkansas runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level drywall and ceiling tile installers (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary by metro in Arkansas
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $47K | +6% | 90 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $45K | +0% | 60 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a drywall and ceiling tile installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 33.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for drywall and ceiling tile installers in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new drywall and ceiling tile installers typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,071/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is drywall and ceiling tile installer a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $45K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for drywall and ceiling tile installers?
Arkansas pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do drywall and ceiling tile installers make in Arkansas?
The median is $44,550 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,520, and experienced drywall and ceiling tile installers can clear $48,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,022/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 33.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a drywall and ceiling tile installers salary go in Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median drywall and ceiling tile installers salary is worth about $50,833 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do drywall and ceiling tile installers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.