🔧 Skilled Trades ↑ 4% growth · Average

Drywall Installer & Finisher

Drywall installers and finishers hang wallboard and apply the joint compound and textures that create the smooth walls inside every building. It's steady, well-paying work that's always in demand wherever new construction or renovation is happening — and it's a trade you can enter quickly.

$48,940 Median Salary
143K US Jobs
2–4 years Training
$0–$2,000 Typical Cost
Get Free Program Info → Find Schools

💰 Salary & Earning Potential

Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Figures represent national averages — local wages vary by state, city, and employer.

Entry Level
$35,000
Median
$48,940
Experienced
$72,000
Want your state's salary? Select a state below to see local wage data, demand, and training programs.

📈 Job Outlook

4%
Projected Growth (10yr)
Average
143K
Total US Jobs
Active positions nationwide
IUPAT or Local Union Apprenticeship + State License
Required Credential
IUPAT or Local Union Apprenticeship + State License (varies)

🎓 Training & Education

Typical Program
Apprenticeship or On-the-Job Training
Program Length
2–4 years
Typical Tuition
$0–$2,000
Work Setting
Residential construction, commercial buildings, renovation projects
🏆 Credential Required: IUPAT or Local Union Apprenticeship + State License (varies)

☀️ Day in the Life

A typical day as a Drywall Installer & Finisher involves working closely with clients and colleagues in a Residential construction environment. You'll apply your training daily while building expertise and advancing your career.

⚖️ Pros & Cons

Advantages

  • ✅ Strong job security
  • ✅ Rewarding work
  • ✅ Clear career progression
  • ✅ Growing demand

Challenges

  • ⚠️ Can be physically demanding
  • ⚠️ May require ongoing certification
  • ⚠️ Entry-level wages vary by region

🗺️ Drywall Installer & Finisher by State

See local salary data, licensing requirements, and schools in your state:

FL FloridaGA GeorgiaTX TexasCA CaliforniaNY New YorkNC North CarolinaIL IllinoisOH OhioPA PennsylvaniaAZ ArizonaAL AlabamaAR ArkansasLA LouisianaMS MississippiSC South CarolinaTN TennesseeVA VirginiaWV West VirginiaKY KentuckyMD MarylandDE DelawareNJ New JerseyCT ConnecticutMA MassachusettsRI Rhode IslandNH New HampshireVT VermontME MaineMI MichiganIN IndianaWI WisconsinMN MinnesotaIA IowaMO MissouriND North DakotaSD South DakotaNE NebraskaKS KansasOK OklahomaCO ColoradoMT MontanaWY WyomingID IdahoUT UtahNV NevadaNM New MexicoWA WashingtonOR OregonAK AlaskaHI HawaiiDC Washington DC