Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Salary
The median pay for a drywall and ceiling tile installers in Florida is $48,970/year ($23.54/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $49,675 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 47.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Florida?
About drywall and ceiling tile installers
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What this looks like in Florida
Pay for drywall and ceiling tile installers in Florida runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 48.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for drywall and ceiling tile installerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level drywall and ceiling tile installers (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary by metro in Florida
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island | $53K | +8% | 200 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $50K | +3% | 250 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $50K | +2% | 1,300 |
| Jacksonville | $50K | +2% | 560 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $50K | +1% | 770 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $49K | -0% | 80 |
| Port St. Lucie | $49K | -1% | 100 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $48K | -2% | 900 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $48K | -3% | 140 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $47K | -4% | 800 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $47K | -4% | 140 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $47K | -4% | 60 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $47K | -5% | 140 |
| Ocala | $44K | -10% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a drywall and ceiling tile installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 48.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new drywall and ceiling tile installers typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,008/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 83% 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 Florida?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $49K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for drywall and ceiling tile installers?
Florida pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do drywall and ceiling tile installers make in Florida?
The median is $48,970 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,460, and experienced drywall and ceiling tile installers can clear $61,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,449/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 48.1% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $49,675 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.