Skilled Wages

Drywall installer salary in Michigan

Median $28.10 an hour for 1,050 drywall installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$28.10/hrMedian hourly wageMichigan, May data
$58,440/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$20.50 – $37.0010th to 90th percentilehourly range
1,050Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Drywall installer pay in Michigan: the full range

Wage percentiles, MichiganMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrMichigan: 10th $20.50 · 25th $22.82 · median $28.10 · 75th $34.00 · 90th $37.00Michigan$28.10$20.50$37.00United States: 10th $18.49 · 25th $22.81 · median $28.33 · 75th $35.69 · 90th $49.04United States$28.33
Hourly wage percentiles for drywall installers: Michigan vs United States, May 2025.

Michigan ranks 21st of 49 states for median drywall installer pay, and 16th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.21). 1,050 drywall installers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$20.50 – $22.82$42,640 – $47,470roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$22.82 – $34.00$47,470 – $70,720the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$34.00 – $37.00$70,720 – $76,960the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Drywall installer pay by metro in Michigan

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrLansing: $28.98Lansing$28.98Detroit: $28.89Detroit$28.89Grand Rapids: $28.28Grand Rapids$28.28Traverse City: $26.80Traverse City$26.80
Median hourly wage for drywall installers by metro area in Michigan, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Lansing$21.34$28.98$30.51$37.77403% above
Detroit$22.32$28.89$28.80$37.014103% above
Grand Rapids$21.24$28.28$29.61$35.711801% above
Traverse City$22.50$26.80$28.69$35.18305% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Drywall installer wages in Michigan over time

Michigan, 1999-2025MichiganUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30200020052010201520202025$28.33United States$28.10Michigan
Median hourly wage for drywall installers, Michigan vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMichigan $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$16.58$32.04$15.341,280
2000$19.72$36.87$15.801,220
2001$17.63$32.05$15.871,420
2002$17.24$30.85$16.211,850
2004$17.71$30.18$16.362,220
2005$18.62$30.69$16.701,890
2006$18.64$29.77$17.381,910
2007$18.61$28.90$17.561,750
2008$18.53$27.71$18.121,580
2009$16.09$24.15$17.881,090
2010$15.91$23.49$17.94830
2011$14.72$21.07$17.78870
2012$15.38$21.57$17.89990
2013$17.04$23.55$17.891,140
2014$19.82$26.95$18.321,090
2015$21.34$28.99$18.851,330
2016$19.56$26.24$19.751,290
2017$20.79$27.31$20.601,400
2018$19.20$24.62$21.031,040
2019$20.63$25.98$21.971,250
2020$21.56$26.82$22.821,270
2021$22.88$27.18$23.09870
2022$21.00$23.10$24.251,050
2023$23.40$24.72$26.78—
2024$25.56$26.23$27.95740
2025$28.10$28.10$28.331,050

In today's dollars, the median drywall installer wage in Michigan changed by -3.1% over the last ten years of data and by +8.2% since 2019.

Are there more drywall installer jobs in Michigan?

0.2Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.5× the US share, 36th of 49 states

BLS counted 1,050 drywall installers in Michigan in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 13%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.

Outlook for drywall installers in Michigan

+3.4%Projected growth in Michigan2024–2034, state agency
100Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
1,430Jobs in 20241,480 projected for 2034
+2.5%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Michigan's labor market agency projects the number of drywall installers in the state to change by +3.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,430 to 1,480, with about 100 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.5% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 1,050 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Michigan labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for drywall installers in Michigan

On federally funded construction in Michigan, contractors must pay drywall installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 35 of the 53 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $47.43 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $19.66). 18 of the 53 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Alcona County at $19.66). The market median for the state is $28.10.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MIAlcona: $19.66 (survey)Alger: n/aAllegan: n/aAlpena: $19.66 (survey)Antrim: n/aArenac: $52.44 (union)Baraga: n/aBarry: $18.83 (survey)Bay: $52.44 (union)Benzie: n/aBerrien: n/aBranch: $44.04 (union)Calhoun: $44.04 (union)Cass: n/aCharlevoix: n/aCheboygan: $19.66 (survey)Chippewa: n/aClare: $52.44 (union)Clinton: $57.27 (union)Crawford: $19.66 (survey)Delta: $40.87 (union)Dickinson: n/aEaton: $47.43 (union)Emmet: n/aGenesee: $51.66 (union)Gladwin: $52.44 (union)Gogebic: n/aGrand Traverse: n/aGratiot: $52.44 (union)Hillsdale: $53.26 (union)Houghton: n/aHuron: $35.81 (union)Ingham: $45.20 (union)Ionia: $18.83 (survey)Iosco: $19.66 (survey)Iron: n/aIsabella: $52.44 (union)Jackson: n/aKalamazoo: $44.04 (union)Kalkaska: n/aKent: $18.97 (survey)Keweenaw: n/aLake: $52.44 (union)Lapeer: $42.15 (union)Leelanau: n/aLenawee: $53.26 (union)Livingston: $45.20 (union)Luce: n/aMackinac: n/aMacomb: $53.26 (union)Manistee: n/aMarquette: n/aMason: n/aMecosta: $44.04 (union)Menominee: n/aMidland: $18.98 (survey)Missaukee: n/aMonroe: n/aMontcalm: $44.04 (union)Montmorency: $19.66 (survey)Muskegon: $19.95 (survey)Newaygo: $18.83 (survey)Oakland: $53.26 (union)Oceana: $44.04 (union)Ogemaw: $19.66 (survey)Ontonagon: n/aOsceola: $43.88 (union)Oscoda: $19.66 (survey)Otsego: $19.66 (survey)Ottawa: $19.95 (survey)Presque Isle: $19.66 (survey)Roscommon: $19.66 (survey)Saginaw: $52.44 (union)St. Clair: $35.81 (union)St. Joseph: $44.04 (union)Sanilac: $35.81 (union)Schoolcraft: n/aShiawassee: $51.66 (union)Tuscola: $35.81 (union)Van Buren: $44.04 (union)Washtenaw: $53.26 (union)Wayne: $53.26 (union)Wexford: n/aUnion / prevailing package, $/hr$19.66$35.81$44.04$52.44n/asurvey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for drywall installers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)$20$30$40$50$60/hrClinton (Lansing): market median $28.98, prevailing (union) $57.27, gap +$28.29Clinton (Lansing)+$28.29Washtenaw (Michigan): market median $28.10, prevailing (union) $53.26, gap +$25.16Washtenaw (Michigan)+$25.16Macomb (Detroit): market median $28.89, prevailing (union) $53.26, gap +$24.37Macomb (Detroit)+$24.37Montcalm (Grand Rapids): market median $28.28, prevailing (union) $44.04, gap +$15.76Montcalm (Grand Rapids)+$15.76
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for drywall installers, metro counties in Michigan.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ClintonUnion CARP1004-007 2025-06-01$36.21$21.06$57.27MI20260081
HillsdaleUnion PAIN0022-007 2022-06-01$32.85$20.41$53.26MI20260123
LenaweeUnion PAIN0022-003 2022-06-01$32.85$20.41$53.26MI20260131
MacombUnion PAIN0022-003 2022-06-01$32.85$20.41$53.26MI20260091
OaklandUnion PAIN0022-003 2022-06-01$32.85$20.41$53.26MI20260095
WashtenawUnion PAIN0022-003 2022-06-01$32.85$20.41$53.26MI20260100
WayneUnion PAIN0022-003 2022-06-01$32.85$20.41$53.26MI20260101
ArenacUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$30.22$22.22$52.44MI20260107
BayUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$30.22$22.22$52.44MI20260077
ClareUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$30.22$22.22$52.44MI20260114
GladwinUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$30.22$22.22$52.44MI20260119
GratiotUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$30.22$22.22$52.44MI20260122
IsabellaUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$30.22$22.22$52.44MI20260127
LakeUnion PAIN1803-001 2025-06-01$30.22$22.22$52.44MI20260129
SaginawUnion PAIN1803-002 2025-06-01$30.22$22.22$52.44MI20260097

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Michigan prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Michigan?

209.1kConstruction jobsMichigan, 2026-09
-1.3%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k19901995200020052010201520202025209kSep 2026
Construction employment in Michigan (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Drywall installer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Michigan

More on Michigan

Questions this page answers

How much do drywall installers make in Michigan?

The median drywall installer in Michigan earned $28.10 an hour ($58,440 a year) in May 2025, 1% below the national median of $28.33. The middle half earn $22.82–$34.00; the top 10% earn more than $37.00.

Where does Michigan rank for drywall installer pay?

Michigan ranks 21st of 49 states for drywall installer pay, with a median of $28.10 an hour, and 16th after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (BEA price parity 96.2, US = 100).

What is the union drywall installer rate in Michigan?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for drywall installers in 35 counties, with a typical package of $47.43 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many drywall installers work in Michigan?

BLS counted 1,050 drywall installers in Michigan in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.45; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is drywall installer work growing in Michigan?

Michigan's labor market agency projects +3.4% growth for drywall installers between 2024 and 2034, from 1,430 to 1,480 jobs.

How many drywall installer openings a year are there in Michigan?

Michigan projects about 100 openings a year for drywall installers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 6,600 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Michigan and metro areas, SOC 47-2081. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Michigan labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.