Drywall installer salary in Virginia
Median $26.84 an hour for 2,480 drywall and ceiling tile installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Drywall installer pay in Virginia: the full range
Virginia ranks 23rd of 49 states for median drywall installer pay, and 25th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.55). 2,480 drywall and ceiling tile installers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.77 – $22.84 | $39,040 – $47,510 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.84 – $29.22 | $47,510 – $60,770 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $29.22 – $34.29 | $60,770 – $71,330 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Drywall installer pay by metro in Virginia
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | $22.96 | $28.40 | $37.41 | 2,210 | 6% above |
| Richmond | $19.42 | $23.68 | $29.04 | 360 | 12% below |
| Virginia Beach | $18.77 | $23.52 | $27.55 | 270 | 12% below |
| Lynchburg | $15.39 | $23.37 | $26.84 | 50 | 13% below |
| Roanoke | $15.38 | $22.84 | $28.30 | 50 | 15% below |
| Harrisonburg | $18.67 | $22.77 | $29.69 | 40 | 15% below |
| Kingsport | $16.06 | $21.96 | $31.16 | 40 | 18% below |
Drywall installer wages in Virginia over time
Table
| Year | Virginia $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.26 | $25.62 | $15.34 | 4,540 |
| 2000 | $13.45 | $25.15 | $15.80 | 3,920 |
| 2001 | $14.42 | $26.21 | $15.87 | 4,090 |
| 2002 | $14.97 | $26.79 | $16.21 | 4,370 |
| 2003 | $15.04 | $26.32 | $16.19 | 4,310 |
| 2004 | $15.53 | $26.47 | $16.36 | 4,060 |
| 2005 | $15.24 | $25.12 | $16.70 | 3,500 |
| 2006 | $16.38 | $26.16 | $17.38 | 3,700 |
| 2007 | $16.72 | $25.96 | $17.56 | 3,330 |
| 2008 | $17.28 | $25.84 | $18.12 | 3,350 |
| 2009 | $16.08 | $24.13 | $17.88 | 3,090 |
| 2010 | $16.24 | $23.98 | $17.94 | 3,100 |
| 2011 | $16.81 | $24.06 | $17.78 | 2,880 |
| 2012 | $17.57 | $24.64 | $17.89 | 3,030 |
| 2013 | $17.54 | $24.24 | $17.89 | 2,710 |
| 2014 | $17.83 | $24.25 | $18.32 | 2,810 |
| 2015 | $18.36 | $24.94 | $18.85 | 2,280 |
| 2016 | $19.60 | $26.29 | $19.75 | 2,020 |
| 2017 | $18.13 | $23.81 | $20.60 | 1,940 |
| 2018 | $17.70 | $22.69 | $21.03 | 1,770 |
| 2019 | $17.67 | $22.25 | $21.97 | 1,560 |
| 2020 | $19.41 | $24.14 | $22.82 | 1,170 |
| 2021 | $19.08 | $22.67 | $23.09 | 2,520 |
| 2022 | $22.63 | $24.89 | $24.25 | 3,040 |
| 2023 | $24.10 | $25.46 | $26.78 | 2,330 |
| 2024 | $24.89 | $25.54 | $27.95 | 1,800 |
| 2025 | $26.84 | $26.84 | $28.33 | 2,480 |
In today's dollars, the median drywall installer wage in Virginia changed by +7.6% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for drywall installers in Virginia
On federally funded construction in Virginia, contractors must pay drywall installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 11 of the 12 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $41.02 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $33.39). 1 of the 12 counties still use a survey rate dated 2016 or earlier (for example Fairfax County at $33.39). The market median for the state is $26.84.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington | Union PAIN0051-036 2025-06-01 | $29.16 | $11.86 | $41.02 | VA20260013 |
| Clarke | Union PAIN0051-036 2025-06-01 | $29.16 | $11.86 | $41.02 | VA20260018 |
| Culpeper | Union PAIN0051-036 2025-06-01 | $29.16 | $11.86 | $41.02 | VA20260174 |
| Fauquier | Union PAIN0051-036 2025-06-01 | $29.16 | $11.86 | $41.02 | VA20260020 |
| Frederick | Union PAIN0051-036 2025-06-01 | $29.16 | $11.86 | $41.02 | VA20260021 |
| Loudoun | Union PAIN0051-036 2025-06-01 | $29.16 | $11.86 | $41.02 | VA20260158 |
| Prince William | Union PAIN0051-036 2025-06-01 | $29.16 | $11.86 | $41.02 | VA20260162 |
| Rappahannock | Union PAIN0051-036 2025-06-01 | $29.16 | $11.86 | $41.02 | VA20260174 |
| Spotsylvania | Union PAIN0051-036 2025-06-01 | $29.16 | $11.86 | $41.02 | VA20260165 |
| Stafford | Union PAIN0051-036 2025-06-01 | $29.16 | $11.86 | $41.02 | VA20260174 |
| Warren | Union PAIN0051-036 2025-06-01 | $29.16 | $11.86 | $41.02 | VA20260168 |
| Fairfax | Survey SUVA2013-034 2016-01-11 | $25.53 | $7.86 | $33.39 | VA20260178 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Virginia prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Virginia?
Keep comparing
Drywall installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Virginia
Questions this page answers
How much do drywall installers make in Virginia?
The median drywall installer in Virginia earned $26.84 an hour ($55,840 a year) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $28.33. The middle half earn $22.84–$29.22; the top 10% earn more than $34.29.
Where does Virginia rank for drywall installer pay?
Virginia ranks 23rd of 49 states for drywall installer pay, with a median of $26.84 an hour, and 25th after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 101.1, US = 100).
What is the union drywall installer rate in Virginia?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for drywall installers in 11 counties, with a typical package of $41.02 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many drywall installers work in Virginia?
BLS counted 2,480 drywall and ceiling tile installers in Virginia in May 2025, 0.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.13; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Virginia 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.