Occupation Summary

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers

O*NET 47-2081.00

Description:

Apply plasterboard or other wallboard to ceilings or interior walls of buildings. Apply or mount acoustical tiles or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings and walls of buildings to reduce or reflect sound. Materials may be of decorative quality. Includes lathers who fasten wooden, metal, or rockboard lath to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings to provide support base for plaster, fireproofing, or acoustical material.

Annual Wages:
$50,511.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 4.83%.
Education Level:
Less than a High School Diploma. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Measure and mark surfaces to lay out work, according to blueprints or drawings, using tape measures, straightedges or squares, and marking devices.
  2. Read blueprints or other specifications to determine methods of installation, work procedures, or material or tool requirements.
  3. Fit and fasten wallboard or drywall into position on wood or metal frameworks, using glue, nails, or screws.
  4. Hang dry lines to wall moldings to guide positioning of main runners.
  5. Measure and cut openings in panels or tiles for electrical outlets, windows, vents, plumbing, or other fixtures, using keyhole saws or other cutting tools.
  6. Hang drywall panels on metal frameworks of walls and ceilings in offices, schools, or other large buildings, using lifts or hoists to adjust panel heights, when necessary.
  7. Assemble or install metal framing or decorative trim for windows, doorways, or vents.
  8. Coordinate work with drywall finishers who cover the seams between drywall panels.
  9. Trim rough edges from wallboard to maintain even joints, using knives.
  10. Cut and screw together metal channels to make floor or ceiling frames, according to plans for the location of rooms or hallways.
  11. Inspect furrings, mechanical mountings, or masonry surfaces for plumbness and level, using spirit or water levels.
  12. Cut fixture or border tiles to size, using keyhole saws, and insert them into surrounding frameworks.
  13. Cut metal or wood framing and trim to size, using cutting tools.
  14. Install horizontal and vertical metal or wooden studs to frames so that wallboard can be attached to interior walls.
  15. Scribe and cut edges of tile to fit walls where wall molding is not specified.
  16. Fasten metal or rockboard lath to the structural framework of walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings, using nails, screws, staples, or wire-ties.
  17. Suspend angle iron grids or channel irons from ceilings, using wire.
  18. Seal joints between ceiling tiles and walls.
  19. Mount tile, using adhesives, or by nailing, screwing, stapling, or wire-tying lath directly to structural frameworks.
  20. Install blanket insulation between studs and tack plastic moisture barriers over insulation.
  21. Install metal lath where plaster applications will be exposed to weather or water, or for curved or irregular surfaces.
  22. Apply cement to backs of tiles and press tiles into place, aligning them with layout marks or joints of previously laid tile.
  23. Nail channels or wood furring strips to surfaces to provide mounting for tile.
  24. Wash concrete surfaces before mounting tile to increase adhesive qualities of surfaces, using washing soda and zinc sulfate solution.
  25. Apply or mount acoustical tile or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings or walls of buildings to reduce reflection of sound or to decorate rooms.
  26. Remove existing plaster, drywall, or paneling, using crowbars and hammers.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers employed Annual Growth Rate
Building finishing contractors 61.8 0.18
Residential building construction 6 0.14
Nonresidential building construction 5.2 0.00
Building foundation and exterior contractors 2.5 0.34


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $24.28
2024 National average hourly wage $30.20
2022 National employment 116,400
2022 Texas employment 7,812
Texas projected employment by 2032 8,189
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 564




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
89.40%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
70.00%
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
65.00%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
63.60%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
61.80%
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
59.40%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
59.20%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
54.80%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
54.60%
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
50.60%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
60.00%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
57.60%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
57.60%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
57.60%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
57.60%
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
57.60%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
55.00%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
55.00%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
52.40%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
50.00%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
72.40%
Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
72.40%
Trunk Strength
The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
72.40%
Extent Flexibility
The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
72.40%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
72.40%
Gross Body Equilibrium
The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
70.00%
Static Strength
The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
65.00%
Finger Dexterity
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
65.00%
Visualization
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
65.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
65.00%


  • Handling and Moving Objects
    -- Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Performing General Physical Activities
    -- Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    -- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Other Activities


  • Independence
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

No certifications found.


Tools

Air compressors: Air compressors;

Caulking guns: Caulking guns;

Chalk lines: Chalk lines;

Glue guns: Adhesive guns;

Hacksaw: Hacksaws;

Hammers: Crowhead hammers; Drywall hammers;

Hand sprayers: Pistol hopper guns; Texture guns; Texture sprayers;

Hatchets: Drywall hatchets;

Hole saws: Circle cutters;

Jacks: Drywall jacks;

Ladders: Ladders; Stilts;

Laser printers: Laser printers;

Levels: Torpedo levels; Box beam levels;

Lifts: Drywall lifts; Mini lifters; Roll lifters;

Miter saw: Chop saws;

Notebook computers: Notebook computers;

Pad or keyhole saw: Keyhole saws;

Paint brushes: Texture brushes;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers: Personal digital assistants PDA;

Plaster or mortar mixers: Drywall mud mixers; Fan blade mixers;

Power drills: Power drills;

Power routers: Drywall routers;

Power sanders: Power hand sanders; Pole sanders; Rotary sanders;

Power saws: Saber saws;

Power screwguns: Drywall screw guns;

Putty knives: Taping knives; Wipe-down knives; Feather edge drywall darbies; Joint knives; Corner knives;

Rasps: Rasps;

Respirators: Respirators;

Safety harnesses or belts: Safety harnesses;

Saws: Wallboard saws; Drywall ripping tools; Drywall saws;

Scaffolding: Scaffolding;

Screwdrivers: Drywall screwdrivers;

Scribers: Drywall scoring tools;

Spatulas: Wall scrapers;

Staple guns: Heavy duty staple guns; Staple guns;

T squares: Drywall T-squares; Wallboard T-squares;

Tablet computers: Tablet computers;

Tape guide: Automatic taping tools;

Tape measures: Tape measures;

Tinners snips: Tin snips;

Trowels: Bullnose trowels; Drywall trowels; Inside corner trowels; Outside corner trowels;

Utility knives: Edge cutters; Trimming knives; Utility knives;


Technology

Accounting software: Job costing software;

Data base user interface and query software: Business management software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Operating system software: Microsoft Windows;

Optical character reader OCR or scanning software: Logic Group Scanner Digitizing Software;

Project management software: Construction Software Center EasyEst; DevWave Estimate Works; On Center Quick Bid; Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal;

Word processing software: Wilhelm Publishing Threshold; Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers include:
  • 47-2031.00 Carpenters
  • 47-2042.00 Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
  • 47-2131.00 Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
  • 47-2132.00 Insulation Workers, Mechanical
  • 47-2161.00 Plasterers and Stucco Masons
  • 47-2171.00 Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
  • 47-2181.00 Roofers
  • 47-2211.00 Sheet Metal Workers
  • 47-2082.00 Tapers
  • 47-2044.00 Tile and Stone Setters


Sources of Additional Information
  • For details about apprenticeships or other work opportunities in this trade, contact the offices of the state employment service; the state apprenticeship agency; local contractors or firms that employ drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers; or local union–management finishing trade apprenticeship committees. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship program online or by phone at 877-872-5627. Visit Apprenticeship.gov to search for apprenticeship opportunities.
  • For more information about drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers, visit: Associated Builders and Contractors
  • Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry
  • Finishing Trades Institute
  • National Association of Home Builders
  • NCCER
  • United Brotherhood of Carpenters
  • Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
  • Tapers

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.