Drywall installer salary in Georgia
Median $28.01 an hour for 690 drywall and ceiling tile installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Drywall installer pay in Georgia: the full range
Georgia ranks 22nd of 49 states for median drywall installer pay, and 17th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.09). 690 drywall and ceiling tile installers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $16.43 – $24.62 | $34,180 – $51,210 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $24.62 – $29.83 | $51,210 – $62,050 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $29.83 – $37.98 | $62,050 – $78,990 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Drywall installer pay by metro in Georgia
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $18.42 | $28.69 | $39.09 | 490 | 2% above |
| Chattanooga | $16.83 | $21.72 | $31.62 | 60 | 22% below |
Drywall installer wages in Georgia over time
Table
| Year | Georgia $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $16.25 | $31.40 | $15.34 | 3,720 |
| 2000 | $15.50 | $28.98 | $15.80 | 4,870 |
| 2001 | $15.63 | $28.41 | $15.87 | 3,690 |
| 2002 | $14.86 | $26.59 | $16.21 | 3,030 |
| 2003 | $14.50 | $25.37 | $16.19 | 2,820 |
| 2004 | $15.29 | $26.06 | $16.36 | 2,130 |
| 2005 | $15.49 | $25.53 | $16.70 | 3,270 |
| 2006 | $16.03 | $25.60 | $17.38 | 3,060 |
| 2007 | $15.71 | $24.39 | $17.56 | 3,580 |
| 2008 | $15.06 | $22.52 | $18.12 | 3,300 |
| 2009 | $15.03 | $22.55 | $17.88 | 2,350 |
| 2010 | $14.45 | $21.33 | $17.94 | 1,560 |
| 2011 | $15.84 | $22.67 | $17.78 | 1,860 |
| 2012 | $15.14 | $21.23 | $17.89 | 1,590 |
| 2013 | $16.00 | $22.11 | $17.89 | 1,320 |
| 2014 | $17.27 | $23.49 | $18.32 | 1,510 |
| 2015 | $18.30 | $24.86 | $18.85 | 1,600 |
| 2016 | $19.60 | $26.29 | $19.75 | 1,720 |
| 2017 | $17.85 | $23.44 | $20.60 | 1,620 |
| 2018 | $17.37 | $22.27 | $21.03 | 1,660 |
| 2019 | $17.01 | $21.42 | $21.97 | 1,440 |
| 2020 | $20.60 | $25.62 | $22.82 | 1,210 |
| 2021 | $22.39 | $26.60 | $23.09 | 1,150 |
| 2022 | $22.57 | $24.83 | $24.25 | 700 |
| 2023 | $22.45 | $23.72 | $26.78 | 1,040 |
| 2024 | $25.76 | $26.44 | $27.95 | 920 |
| 2025 | $28.01 | $28.01 | $28.33 | 690 |
In today's dollars, the median drywall installer wage in Georgia changed by +12.7% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for drywall installers in Georgia
On federally funded construction in Georgia, contractors must pay drywall installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 18 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $12.00). 18 of the 18 counties still use a survey rate dated 2012 or earlier (for example Baldwin County at $12.00). The market median for the state is $28.01.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin | Survey SUGA2012-001 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260084 |
| Bleckley | Survey SUGA2012-003 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260086 |
| Crisp | Survey SUGA2012-025 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260106 |
| Dodge | Survey SUGA2012-025 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260106 |
| Dooly | Survey SUGA2012-025 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260106 |
| Laurens | Survey SUGA2012-013 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260095 |
| Macon | Survey SUGA2012-025 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260106 |
| Putnam | Survey SUGA2012-016 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260098 |
| Schley | Survey SUGA2012-025 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260106 |
| Stewart | Survey SUGA2012-025 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260106 |
| Sumter | Survey SUGA2012-025 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260106 |
| Talbot | Survey SUGA2012-018 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260100 |
| Taylor | Survey SUGA2012-025 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260106 |
| Troup | Survey SUGA2012-021 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260103 |
| Upson | Survey SUGA2012-025 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260106 |
| Webster | Survey SUGA2012-025 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260106 |
| Wilcox | Survey SUGA2012-025 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260106 |
| Wilkinson | Survey SUGA2012-025 2012-08-11 | $12.00 | $0.00 | $12.00 | GA20260106 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Georgia prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Georgia?
Keep comparing
Drywall installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Georgia
Questions this page answers
How much do drywall installers make in Georgia?
The median drywall installer in Georgia earned $28.01 an hour ($58,260 a year) in May 2025, 1% below the national median of $28.33. The middle half earn $24.62–$29.83; the top 10% earn more than $37.98.
Where does Georgia rank for drywall installer pay?
Georgia ranks 22nd of 49 states for drywall installer pay, with a median of $28.01 an hour, and 17th after adjusting for Georgia's cost of living (BEA price parity 96.3, US = 100).
What is the union drywall installer rate in Georgia?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a drywall installer classification for most Georgia counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many drywall installers work in Georgia?
BLS counted 690 drywall and ceiling tile installers in Georgia in May 2025, 0.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.27; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Georgia and metro areas, SOC 47-2081.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.