Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Salary
The median pay for a drywall and ceiling tile installers in Washington is $73,130/year ($35.16/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $71,689 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 36% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Washington?
About drywall and ceiling tile installers
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for drywall and ceiling tile installers, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 36.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level drywall and ceiling tile installers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $78K spread from bottom to top.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary by metro in Washington
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $76K | +3% | 1,840 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $68K | -7% | 70 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $64K | -13% | 190 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $64K | -13% | 50 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $62K | -15% | 30 |
| Bellingham | $62K | -15% | 80 |
| Yakima | $59K | -19% | 50 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a drywall and ceiling tile installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 36.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new drywall and ceiling tile installers typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,022/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $73K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for drywall and ceiling tile installers?
Washington pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do drywall and ceiling tile installers make in Washington?
The median is $73,130 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,360, and experienced drywall and ceiling tile installers can clear $127,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,986/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 36.7% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median drywall and ceiling tile installers salary is worth about $71,689 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.