Drywall installer salary in South Carolina
Median $21.80 an hour for 340 drywall and ceiling tile installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Drywall installer pay in South Carolina: the full range
South Carolina ranks 42nd of 49 states for median drywall installer pay, and 42nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $23.27). 340 drywall and ceiling tile installers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $15.55 – $18.36 | $32,340 – $38,180 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $18.36 – $25.56 | $38,180 – $53,160 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $25.56 – $32.98 | $53,160 – $68,600 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Drywall installer pay by metro in South Carolina
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head | $17.49 | $23.04 | $38.77 | 50 | 6% above |
| Charlotte | $16.59 | $22.07 | $28.79 | 440 | 1% above |
| Columbia | $17.49 | $21.54 | $31.25 | 50 | 1% below |
| Charleston | $15.55 | $18.59 | $33.21 | 70 | 15% below |
Drywall installer wages in South Carolina over time
Table
| Year | South Carolina $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.49 | $22.20 | $15.34 | 2,070 |
| 2000 | $11.97 | $22.38 | $15.80 | 1,640 |
| 2001 | $12.98 | $23.60 | $15.87 | 1,680 |
| 2002 | $13.06 | $23.37 | $16.21 | 1,380 |
| 2003 | $13.05 | $22.83 | $16.19 | 1,190 |
| 2004 | $13.58 | $23.14 | $16.36 | 1,090 |
| 2005 | $12.86 | $21.20 | $16.70 | 1,000 |
| 2006 | $13.28 | $21.21 | $17.38 | 1,250 |
| 2007 | $14.00 | $21.74 | $17.56 | 1,310 |
| 2008 | $14.76 | $22.07 | $18.12 | 1,260 |
| 2009 | $15.03 | $22.55 | $17.88 | 950 |
| 2010 | $15.31 | $22.60 | $17.94 | 650 |
| 2011 | $15.40 | $22.04 | $17.78 | 740 |
| 2012 | $15.36 | $21.54 | $17.89 | 680 |
| 2013 | $15.51 | $21.43 | $17.89 | 750 |
| 2014 | $14.94 | $20.32 | $18.32 | 930 |
| 2015 | $14.89 | $20.23 | $18.85 | 850 |
| 2016 | $14.93 | $20.03 | $19.75 | 920 |
| 2017 | $16.43 | $21.58 | $20.60 | 1,060 |
| 2018 | $17.10 | $21.92 | $21.03 | 1,290 |
| 2019 | $17.74 | $22.34 | $21.97 | 1,290 |
| 2020 | $17.67 | $21.98 | $22.82 | 1,140 |
| 2021 | $18.23 | $21.66 | $23.09 | 880 |
| 2022 | $20.80 | $22.88 | $24.25 | 780 |
| 2023 | $21.48 | $22.70 | $26.78 | 560 |
| 2024 | $21.48 | $22.05 | $27.95 | 570 |
| 2025 | $21.80 | $21.80 | $28.33 | 340 |
In today's dollars, the median drywall installer wage in South Carolina changed by +7.8% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for drywall installers in South Carolina
On federally funded construction in South Carolina, contractors must pay drywall installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 21 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $17.82). 21 of the 21 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Aiken County at $17.82). The market median for the state is $21.80.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken | Survey SUSC2011-028 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260032 |
| Anderson | Survey SUSC2011-017 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260021 |
| Berkeley | Survey SUSC2011-018 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260022 |
| Calhoun | Survey SUSC2011-029 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260033 |
| Charleston | Survey SUSC2011-019 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260023 |
| Darlington | Survey SUSC2011-030 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260005 |
| Dorchester | Survey SUSC2011-020 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260024 |
| Edgefield | Survey SUSC2011-028 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260032 |
| Fairfield | Survey SUSC2011-029 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260033 |
| Florence | Survey SUSC2011-030 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260005 |
| Greenville | Survey SUSC2011-021 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260025 |
| Horry | Survey SUSC2011-022 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260026 |
| Kershaw | Survey SUSC2011-023 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260027 |
| Laurens | Survey SUSC2011-031 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260006 |
| Lexington | Survey SUSC2011-029 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260033 |
| Pickens | Survey SUSC2011-031 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260006 |
| Richland | Survey SUSC2011-024 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260028 |
| Saluda | Survey SUSC2011-029 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260033 |
| Spartanburg | Survey SUSC2011-025 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260029 |
| Sumter | Survey SUSC2011-026 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260030 |
| York | Survey SUSC2011-027 2011-08-31 | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | SC20260031 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the South Carolina prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in South Carolina?
Keep comparing
Drywall installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in South Carolina
Questions this page answers
How much do drywall installers make in South Carolina?
The median drywall installer in South Carolina earned $21.80 an hour ($45,340 a year) in May 2025, 23% below the national median of $28.33. The middle half earn $18.36–$25.56; the top 10% earn more than $32.98.
Where does South Carolina rank for drywall installer pay?
South Carolina ranks 42nd of 49 states for drywall installer pay, with a median of $21.80 an hour, and 42nd after adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 93.7, US = 100).
What is the union drywall installer rate in South Carolina?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a drywall installer classification for most South Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many drywall installers work in South Carolina?
BLS counted 340 drywall and ceiling tile installers in South Carolina in May 2025, 0.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.28; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina 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.