Skilled Wages

Drywall installer salary in Washington

Median $35.16 an hour for 2,670 drywall and ceiling tile installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$35.16/hrMedian hourly wageWashington, May data
$73,130/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$24.21 – $61.5210th to 90th percentilehourly range
2,670Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Drywall installer pay in Washington: the full range

Wage percentiles, WashingtonMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60$80/hrWashington: 10th $24.21 · 25th $30.15 · median $35.16 · 75th $48.45 · 90th $61.52Washington$35.16$24.21$61.52United States: 10th $18.49 · 25th $22.81 · median $28.33 · 75th $35.69 · 90th $49.04United States$28.33
Hourly wage percentiles for drywall and ceiling tile installers: Washington vs United States, May 2025.

Washington ranks 5th of 49 states for median drywall installer pay, and 6th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.86). 2,670 drywall and ceiling tile installers work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$24.21 – $30.15$50,360 – $62,720roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$30.15 – $48.45$62,720 – $100,780the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$48.45 – $61.52$100,780 – $127,970the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Drywall installer pay by metro in Washington

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrPortland: $38.99Portland$38.99Seattle: $36.33Seattle$36.33Mount Vernon: $32.56Mount Vernon$32.56Kennewick: $30.71Kennewick$30.71Bremerton: $30.56Bremerton$30.56Wenatchee: $30.00Wenatchee$30.00Bellingham: $29.80Bellingham$29.80Yakima: $28.34Yakima$28.34
Median hourly wage for drywall and ceiling tile installers by metro area in Washington, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Portland$18.75$38.99$57.331,10011% above
Seattle$26.91$36.33$61.531,8403% above
Mount Vernon$23.52$32.56$46.16707% below
Kennewick$23.76$30.71$49.2019013% below
Bremerton$24.00$30.56$50.335013% below
Wenatchee$22.99$30.00$42.303015% below
Bellingham$23.46$29.80$50.448015% below
Yakima$18.50$28.34$40.005019% below

Drywall installer wages in Washington over time

Washington, 1999-2025WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$35.16Washington$28.33United States
Median hourly wage for drywall and ceiling tile installers, Washington vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWashington $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$21.69$41.91$15.343,770
2000$23.85$44.59$15.804,670
2001$24.67$44.85$15.873,990
2002$25.40$45.45$16.213,720
2003$25.32$44.30$16.193,100
2004$24.76$42.20$16.363,150
2005$24.69$40.70$16.703,630
2006$24.36$38.90$17.384,290
2007$24.41$37.90$17.564,200
2008$24.27$36.29$18.124,870
2009$23.65$35.49$17.883,670
2010$24.29$35.86$17.942,810
2011$23.95$34.28$17.782,120
2012$23.46$32.90$17.892,480
2013$21.35$29.51$17.892,330
2014$22.78$30.98$18.322,580
2015$23.62$32.08$18.853,160
2016$26.80$35.95$19.753,970
2017$26.00$34.15$20.604,250
2018$28.08$36.00$21.034,790
2019$29.28$36.87$21.974,390
2020$33.66$41.87$22.824,220
2021$33.22$39.47$23.094,040
2022$36.33$39.97$24.254,030
2023$34.18$36.11$26.784,430
2024$33.80$34.69$27.953,710
2025$35.16$35.16$28.332,670

In today's dollars, the median drywall installer wage in Washington changed by +9.6% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for drywall installers in Washington

On federally funded construction in Washington, contractors must pay drywall installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 18 of the 28 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $71.30 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $29.90). 10 of the 28 counties still use a survey rate dated 2009 or earlier (for example Adams County at $29.58). The market median for the state is $35.16.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WAAdams: $29.58 (survey)Asotin: $55.88 (union)Benton: $53.58 (survey)Chelan: —Clallam: $33.32 (survey)Clark: $71.50 (union)Columbia: —Cowlitz: —Douglas: —Ferry: $55.88 (union)Franklin: $53.58 (survey)Garfield: —Grant: $29.58 (survey)Grays Harbor: $29.90 (survey)Island: $77.24 (union)Jefferson: $29.90 (survey)King: $77.24 (union)Kitsap: $77.24 (union)Kittitas: $29.58 (survey)Klickitat: $71.30 (union)Lewis: —Lincoln: $55.88 (union)Mason: $29.90 (survey)Okanogan: $61.49 (union)Pacific: —Pend Oreille: $55.88 (union)Pierce: $77.24 (union)San Juan: $29.90 (survey)Skagit: —Skamania: $71.50 (union)Snohomish: $77.24 (union)Spokane: $55.88 (union)Stevens: $55.88 (union)Thurston: $77.24 (union)Wahkiakum: $71.30 (union)Walla Walla: —Whatcom: —Whitman: $55.88 (union)Yakima: —Union / prevailing package, $/hr$29.90$55.88$57.00$74.94n/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)Prevailing (survey)$20$40$60$80$100/hrKitsap (Bremerton): market median $30.56, prevailing (union) $77.24, gap +$46.68Kitsap (Bremerton)+$46.68Thurston (Washington): market median $35.16, prevailing (union) $77.24, gap +$42.08Thurston (Washington)+$42.08King (Seattle): market median $36.33, prevailing (union) $77.24, gap +$40.91King (Seattle)+$40.91Clark (Portland): market median $38.99, prevailing (union) $71.50, gap +$32.51Clark (Portland)+$32.51Benton (Kennewick): market median $30.71, prevailing (survey) $53.58, gap +$22.87Benton (Kennewick)+$22.87
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for drywall installers, metro counties in Washington.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
IslandUnion PAIN0364-001 2025-07-01$53.59$23.65$77.24WA20260028
KingUnion PAIN0364-001 2025-07-01$53.59$23.65$77.24WA20260108
KitsapUnion PAIN0364-001 2025-07-01$53.59$23.65$77.24WA20260109
PierceUnion PAIN0364-001 2025-07-01$53.59$23.65$77.24WA20260111
SnohomishUnion PAIN0364-001 2025-07-01$53.59$23.65$77.24WA20260113
ThurstonUnion PAIN0364-001 2025-07-01$53.59$23.65$77.24WA20260116
ClarkUnion CARP0503-004 2025-06-01$54.49$17.01$71.50WA20260120
SkamaniaUnion CARP0503-004 2025-06-01$54.49$17.01$71.50WA20260120
KlickitatUnion CARP0503-023 2025-06-01$54.49$16.81$71.30WA20260031
WahkiakumUnion CARP0503-023 2025-06-01$54.49$16.81$71.30WA20260040
OkanoganUnion CARP0059-023 2025-06-01$44.21$17.28$61.49WA20260035
AsotinUnion PAIN0427-001 2025-07-01$37.46$18.42$55.88WA20260003
FerryUnion PAIN0427-001 2025-07-01$37.46$18.42$55.88WA20260024
LincolnUnion PAIN0427-001 2025-07-01$37.46$18.42$55.88WA20260033
Pend OreilleUnion PAIN0427-001 2025-07-01$37.46$18.42$55.88WA20260110

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Washington prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Washington?

223.8kConstruction jobsWashington, 2026-08
-0.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025224kAug 2026
Construction employment in Washington (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Drywall installer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Washington

Questions this page answers

How much do drywall installers make in Washington?

The median drywall installer in Washington earned $35.16 an hour ($73,130 a year) in May 2025, 24% above the national median of $28.33. The middle half earn $30.15–$48.45; the top 10% earn more than $61.52.

Where does Washington rank for drywall installer pay?

Washington ranks 5th of 49 states for drywall installer pay, with a median of $35.16 an hour, and 6th after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).

What is the union drywall installer rate in Washington?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for drywall installers in 18 counties, with a typical package of $71.30 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many drywall installers work in Washington?

BLS counted 2,670 drywall and ceiling tile installers in Washington 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, Washington 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.