Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Salary
The median pay for a drywall and ceiling tile installers in South Dakota is $48,850/year ($23.49/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $54,344 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in South Dakota?
About drywall and ceiling tile installers
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for drywall and ceiling tile installers in South Dakota runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, South Dakota
Entry-level drywall and ceiling tile installers (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $50K | +1% | 220 |
| Rapid City | $48K | -2% | 60 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a drywall and ceiling tile installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 29.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for drywall and ceiling tile installers in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new drywall and ceiling tile installers typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,544/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 South Dakota?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $49K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for drywall and ceiling tile installers?
South Dakota pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do drywall and ceiling tile installers make in South Dakota?
The median is $48,850 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,400, and experienced drywall and ceiling tile installers can clear $59,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,441/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 29.6% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $54,344 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.