Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Salary
The median pay for a drywall and ceiling tile installers in Montana is $60,140/year ($28.92/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $62,000 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 28.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Montana?
About drywall and ceiling tile installers
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What this looks like in Montana
Drywall and ceiling tile installers pay in Montana tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level drywall and ceiling tile installers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary by metro in Montana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $51K | -15% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a drywall and ceiling tile installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 28.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for drywall and ceiling tile installers in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new drywall and ceiling tile installers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,752/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Montana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Montana compare to the national average for drywall and ceiling tile installers?
Montana pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do drywall and ceiling tile installers make in Montana?
The median is $60,140 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,870, and experienced drywall and ceiling tile installers can clear $79,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,993/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 28.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a drywall and ceiling tile installers salary go in Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $62,000 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.