Drywall installer salary in Tennessee
Median $22.84 an hour for 1,150 drywall and ceiling tile installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Drywall installer pay in Tennessee: the full range
Tennessee ranks 38th of 49 states for median drywall installer pay, and 35th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.85). 1,150 drywall and ceiling tile installers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $17.90 – $18.98 | $37,220 – $39,470 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $18.98 – $27.18 | $39,470 – $56,540 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $27.18 – $31.56 | $56,540 – $65,650 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Drywall installer pay by metro in Tennessee
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $18.46 | $24.34 | $31.37 | 500 | 7% above |
| Memphis | $18.05 | $22.65 | $30.57 | 140 | 1% below |
| Kingsport | $16.06 | $21.96 | $31.16 | 40 | 4% below |
| Chattanooga | $16.83 | $21.72 | $31.62 | 60 | 5% below |
| Clarksville | $17.63 | $18.98 | $23.65 | 40 | 17% below |
Drywall installer wages in Tennessee over time
Table
| Year | Tennessee $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.70 | $28.41 | $15.34 | 3,100 |
| 2000 | $14.70 | $27.48 | $15.80 | 2,250 |
| 2001 | $14.92 | $27.12 | $15.87 | 2,020 |
| 2002 | $14.98 | $26.81 | $16.21 | 1,890 |
| 2003 | $14.35 | $25.11 | $16.19 | 1,760 |
| 2004 | $15.22 | $25.94 | $16.36 | 1,330 |
| 2005 | $15.51 | $25.57 | $16.70 | 1,420 |
| 2006 | $15.07 | $24.07 | $17.38 | 1,060 |
| 2007 | $14.86 | $23.07 | $17.56 | 1,220 |
| 2008 | $15.21 | $22.74 | $18.12 | 890 |
| 2009 | $15.05 | $22.58 | $17.88 | 580 |
| 2010 | $16.16 | $23.86 | $17.94 | 670 |
| 2011 | $16.17 | $23.14 | $17.78 | 780 |
| 2012 | $16.01 | $22.45 | $17.89 | 1,130 |
| 2013 | $15.57 | $21.52 | $17.89 | 1,010 |
| 2014 | $16.34 | $22.22 | $18.32 | 1,370 |
| 2015 | $16.79 | $22.81 | $18.85 | 1,610 |
| 2016 | $17.50 | $23.47 | $19.75 | 1,580 |
| 2017 | $18.50 | $24.30 | $20.60 | 1,120 |
| 2018 | $19.14 | $24.54 | $21.03 | 1,140 |
| 2019 | $19.86 | $25.01 | $21.97 | 1,040 |
| 2020 | $20.47 | $25.46 | $22.82 | 1,090 |
| 2021 | $17.90 | $21.27 | $23.09 | 870 |
| 2022 | $19.80 | $21.78 | $24.25 | 1,110 |
| 2023 | $21.35 | $22.56 | $26.78 | 1,070 |
| 2024 | $22.11 | $22.69 | $27.95 | 930 |
| 2025 | $22.84 | $22.84 | $28.33 | 1,150 |
In today's dollars, the median drywall installer wage in Tennessee changed by +0.1% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for drywall installers in Tennessee
On federally funded construction in Tennessee, contractors must pay drywall installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 14 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $18.32). The market median for the state is $22.84.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannon | Survey SUTN2017-049 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260196 |
| Cheatham | Survey SUTN2017-049 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260196 |
| Davidson | Survey SUTN2017-031 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260178 |
| Dickson | Survey SUTN2017-052 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260199 |
| Hickman | Survey SUTN2017-052 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260199 |
| Macon | Survey SUTN2017-056 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260203 |
| Maury | Survey SUTN2017-056 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260203 |
| Robertson | Survey SUTN2017-057 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260204 |
| Rutherford | Survey SUTN2017-040 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260187 |
| Smith | Survey SUTN2017-057 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260204 |
| Sumner | Survey SUTN2017-058 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260205 |
| Trousdale | Survey SUTN2017-058 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260205 |
| Williamson | Survey SUTN2017-045 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260192 |
| Wilson | Survey SUTN2017-046 2021-04-16 | $18.32 | $0.00 | $18.32 | TN20260193 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Tennessee prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Tennessee?
Keep comparing
Drywall installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Tennessee
Questions this page answers
How much do drywall installers make in Tennessee?
The median drywall installer in Tennessee earned $22.84 an hour ($47,510 a year) in May 2025, 19% below the national median of $28.33. The middle half earn $18.98–$27.18; the top 10% earn more than $31.56.
Where does Tennessee rank for drywall installer pay?
Tennessee ranks 38th of 49 states for drywall installer pay, with a median of $22.84 an hour, and 35th after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (BEA price parity 91.9, US = 100).
What is the union drywall installer rate in Tennessee?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a drywall installer classification for most Tennessee counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many drywall installers work in Tennessee?
BLS counted 1,150 drywall and ceiling tile installers in Tennessee in May 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.65; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Tennessee 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.