Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Salary
The median pay for a drywall and ceiling tile installers in Idaho is $43,790/year ($21.05/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $46,645 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,136/month, about 38% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $44K get you in Idaho?
About drywall and ceiling tile installers
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What this looks like in Idaho
Pay for drywall and ceiling tile installers in Idaho runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,136/month, which is 38.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. 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, Idaho
Entry-level drywall and ceiling tile installers (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary by metro in Idaho
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $44K | +1% | 480 |
| Twin Falls | $35K | -20% | 50 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a drywall and ceiling tile installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 38.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/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 Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new drywall and ceiling tile installers typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,775/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Idaho?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $44K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for drywall and ceiling tile installers?
Idaho pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do drywall and ceiling tile installers make in Idaho?
The median is $43,790 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,580, and experienced drywall and ceiling tile installers can clear $64,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,979/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 38.1% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $46,645 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.