Drywall installer salary in Nebraska
Median $23.38 an hour for 770 drywall and ceiling tile installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Drywall installer pay in Nebraska: the full range
Nebraska ranks 34th of 49 states for median drywall installer pay, and 28th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.95). 770 drywall and ceiling tile installers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $17.86 – $21.64 | $37,140 – $45,010 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.64 – $28.70 | $45,010 – $59,690 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $28.70 – $30.09 | $59,690 – $62,580 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Drywall installer pay by metro in Nebraska
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $18.37 | $27.13 | $32.33 | 440 | 16% above |
| Sioux City | $18.94 | $23.49 | $28.96 | 70 | about the same as |
| Lincoln | $17.48 | $22.66 | $29.59 | 160 | 3% below |
Drywall installer wages in Nebraska over time
Table
| Year | Nebraska $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.10 | $27.25 | $15.34 | — |
| 2000 | $14.91 | $27.88 | $15.80 | 1,030 |
| 2001 | $14.85 | $27.00 | $15.87 | 1,010 |
| 2002 | $15.05 | $26.93 | $16.21 | 750 |
| 2003 | $15.96 | $27.93 | $16.19 | 650 |
| 2004 | $15.32 | $26.11 | $16.36 | 860 |
| 2005 | $15.38 | $25.35 | $16.70 | 820 |
| 2006 | $14.83 | $23.68 | $17.38 | 900 |
| 2007 | $14.62 | $22.70 | $17.56 | 960 |
| 2008 | $15.21 | $22.74 | $18.12 | 750 |
| 2009 | $15.42 | $23.14 | $17.88 | 630 |
| 2010 | $16.11 | $23.79 | $17.94 | 710 |
| 2011 | $16.47 | $23.57 | $17.78 | 650 |
| 2012 | $16.45 | $23.07 | $17.89 | 880 |
| 2013 | $16.02 | $22.14 | $17.89 | 580 |
| 2014 | $14.74 | $20.05 | $18.32 | 780 |
| 2015 | $16.58 | $22.52 | $18.85 | 570 |
| 2016 | $17.87 | $23.97 | $19.75 | 750 |
| 2017 | $18.00 | $23.64 | $20.60 | 500 |
| 2018 | $19.10 | $24.49 | $21.03 | 490 |
| 2019 | $18.81 | $23.69 | $21.97 | 420 |
| 2020 | $20.46 | $25.45 | $22.82 | 550 |
| 2021 | $22.39 | $26.60 | $23.09 | 710 |
| 2022 | $22.23 | $24.45 | $24.25 | 620 |
| 2023 | $22.67 | $23.95 | $26.78 | 700 |
| 2024 | $23.31 | $23.92 | $27.95 | 710 |
| 2025 | $23.38 | $23.38 | $28.33 | 770 |
In today's dollars, the median drywall installer wage in Nebraska changed by +3.8% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for drywall installers in Nebraska
On federally funded construction in Nebraska, contractors must pay drywall installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 5 of the 25 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $52.08 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $17.11). 20 of the 25 counties still use a survey rate dated 2012 or earlier (for example Antelope County at $17.11). The market median for the state is $23.38.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass | Union CARP0427-004 2025-06-01 | $33.42 | $18.66 | $52.08 | NE20260056 |
| Douglas | Union CARP0427-004 2025-06-01 | $33.42 | $18.66 | $52.08 | NE20260057 |
| Sarpy | Union CARP0427-004 2025-06-01 | $33.42 | $18.66 | $52.08 | NE20260059 |
| Saunders | Union CARP0427-005 2025-06-01 | $33.42 | $18.66 | $52.08 | NE20260060 |
| Washington | Union CARP0427-004 2025-06-01 | $33.42 | $18.66 | $52.08 | NE20260062 |
| Buffalo | Survey SUNE2012-003 2012-04-19 | $14.53 | $4.14 | $18.67 | NE20260066 |
| Antelope | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
| Boone | Survey SUNE2012-002 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260065 |
| Boyd | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
| Brown | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
| Burt | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
| Cedar | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
| Colfax | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
| Cuming | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
| Dodge | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
| Holt | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
| Keya Paha | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
| Knox | Survey SUNE2012-008 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260071 |
| Madison | Survey SUNE2012-009 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260072 |
| Pierce | Survey SUNE2012-010 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260073 |
| Platte | Survey SUNE2012-011 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260074 |
| Rock | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
| Stanton | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
| Thurston | Survey SUNE2012-013 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260076 |
| Wayne | Survey SUNE2012-015 2012-04-19 | $13.79 | $3.32 | $17.11 | NE20260078 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Nebraska prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Nebraska?
Keep comparing
Drywall installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Nebraska
Questions this page answers
How much do drywall installers make in Nebraska?
The median drywall installer in Nebraska earned $23.38 an hour ($48,620 a year) in May 2025, 17% below the national median of $28.33. The middle half earn $21.64–$28.70; the top 10% earn more than $30.09.
Where does Nebraska rank for drywall installer pay?
Nebraska ranks 34th of 49 states for drywall installer pay, with a median of $23.38 an hour, and 28th after adjusting for Nebraska's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.1, US = 100).
What is the union drywall installer rate in Nebraska?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for drywall installers in 5 counties, with a typical package of $52.08 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many drywall installers work in Nebraska?
BLS counted 770 drywall and ceiling tile installers in Nebraska in May 2025, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.41; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Nebraska 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.