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Current BLS California employee wages for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, SOC 47-2081; includes ceiling tile installation, excludes premium pay and benefits, and separates taping under SOC 47-2082.
Last updated October 21, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.
Salary Guides / California
Read California installer wage ranges alongside national construction-sector figures, then compare paid duties, hours and benefits in offers.
California employee wages span $22.14–$57.81/hr, with published annual earnings of $46,050–$120,240 a year. These figures cover drywall and ceiling tile installers together. Taping belongs to a separate occupation. For an installation offer, connect the wage with paid stocking, cutting and cleanup time. Ask how the employer handles overtime and benefits alongside the stated hourly range. Match the quoted duties to your panel installation experience.
What each rung of the trade is paid, before overtime and per diem.
Enter your hourly rate to see how it compares to other drywall installers in California.
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$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.
Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.
An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.
For California job searches, these national sector figures show different employer settings for panel hanging, ceiling installation and coordination with other trades.
Commercial building crews coordinate partitions and ceilings with services. Ask California employers about inspection sequences, overhead access and material deliveries. Establish who pays for required preparation when the floor is waiting for board or access.
Specialist drywall firms organize hanging around framing and finishing crews. Discuss moves between California sites and responsibility for stocking each floor. Include time spent preparing openings and handling damaged sheets when discussing the expected daily output.
Homebuilding and remodeling place panels in houses and apartments. Ask about occupied rooms, stair access and protection of completed surfaces. Discuss how the crew records smaller repair assignments when several rooms need different panel cuts.
Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.
Sorted by payback speed.
| Certification | Rate bump | Extra / year | Cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nor Cal Carpenters Drywall/Lathing Apprenticeship (journeyperson) | +$3.51 | $7,301 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| Southwest Carpenters Training Fund Apprenticeship (journeyperson) | +$5.44 | $11,315 | $0 | 0 weeks |
| OSHA 30-Hour Construction | +$2.52 | $5,242 | $159 | 2 weeks |
| OSHA 10-Hour Construction | +$0.84 | $1,747 | $59 | 2 weeks |
| Supported Scaffold User | +$0.34 | $707 | $35 | 3 weeks |
| EPA Lead RRP Certified Renovator (Initial) | +$0.67 | $1,394 | $203 | 8 weeks |
Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $31.67/hr.
Verified positions matching this trade and location.
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