Drywall installer salary in Washington
Median $35.16 an hour for 2,670 drywall installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Drywall installer pay in Washington: the full range
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 installers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.5× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $24.21 – $30.15 | $50,360 – $62,720 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $30.15 – $48.45 | $62,720 – $100,780 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $48.45 – $61.52 | $100,780 – $127,970 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Drywall installer pay by metro in Washington
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $18.75 | $38.99 | $36.99 | $57.33 | 1,100 | 11% above |
| Seattle | $26.91 | $36.33 | $32.70 | $61.53 | 1,840 | 3% above |
| Mount Vernon | $23.52 | $32.56 | $31.80 | $46.16 | 70 | 7% below |
| Kennewick | $23.76 | $30.71 | $30.68 | $49.20 | 190 | 13% below |
| Bremerton | $24.00 | $30.56 | $28.94 | $50.33 | 50 | 13% below |
| Wenatchee | $22.99 | $30.00 | $28.87 | $42.30 | 30 | 15% below |
| Bellingham | $23.46 | $29.80 | $28.85 | $50.44 | 80 | 15% below |
| Yakima | $18.50 | $28.34 | $29.68 | $40.00 | 50 | 19% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Drywall installer wages in Washington over time
Table
| Year | Washington $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $21.69 | $41.91 | $15.34 | 3,770 |
| 2000 | $23.85 | $44.59 | $15.80 | 4,670 |
| 2001 | $24.67 | $44.85 | $15.87 | 3,990 |
| 2002 | $25.40 | $45.45 | $16.21 | 3,720 |
| 2003 | $25.32 | $44.30 | $16.19 | 3,100 |
| 2004 | $24.76 | $42.20 | $16.36 | 3,150 |
| 2005 | $24.69 | $40.70 | $16.70 | 3,630 |
| 2006 | $24.36 | $38.90 | $17.38 | 4,290 |
| 2007 | $24.41 | $37.90 | $17.56 | 4,200 |
| 2008 | $24.27 | $36.29 | $18.12 | 4,870 |
| 2009 | $23.65 | $35.49 | $17.88 | 3,670 |
| 2010 | $24.29 | $35.86 | $17.94 | 2,810 |
| 2011 | $23.95 | $34.28 | $17.78 | 2,120 |
| 2012 | $23.46 | $32.90 | $17.89 | 2,480 |
| 2013 | $21.35 | $29.51 | $17.89 | 2,330 |
| 2014 | $22.78 | $30.98 | $18.32 | 2,580 |
| 2015 | $23.62 | $32.08 | $18.85 | 3,160 |
| 2016 | $26.80 | $35.95 | $19.75 | 3,970 |
| 2017 | $26.00 | $34.15 | $20.60 | 4,250 |
| 2018 | $28.08 | $36.00 | $21.03 | 4,790 |
| 2019 | $29.28 | $36.87 | $21.97 | 4,390 |
| 2020 | $33.66 | $41.87 | $22.82 | 4,220 |
| 2021 | $33.22 | $39.47 | $23.09 | 4,040 |
| 2022 | $36.33 | $39.97 | $24.25 | 4,030 |
| 2023 | $34.18 | $36.11 | $26.78 | 4,430 |
| 2024 | $33.80 | $34.69 | $27.95 | 3,710 |
| 2025 | $35.16 | $35.16 | $28.33 | 2,670 |
In today's dollars, the median drywall installer wage in Washington changed by +9.6% over the last ten years of data and by -4.6% since 2019.
Are there more drywall installer jobs in Washington?
BLS counted 2,670 drywall installers in Washington in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 14%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for drywall installers in Washington
Washington's labor market agency projects the number of drywall installers in the state to change by -3.9% between 2024 and 2034, from 5,980 to 5,750, with about 350 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +2.5% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 2,670 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
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.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island | Union PAIN0364-001 2025-07-01 | $53.59 | $23.65 | $77.24 | WA20260028 |
| King | Union PAIN0364-001 2025-07-01 | $53.59 | $23.65 | $77.24 | WA20260108 |
| Kitsap | Union PAIN0364-001 2025-07-01 | $53.59 | $23.65 | $77.24 | WA20260109 |
| Pierce | Union PAIN0364-001 2025-07-01 | $53.59 | $23.65 | $77.24 | WA20260111 |
| Snohomish | Union PAIN0364-001 2025-07-01 | $53.59 | $23.65 | $77.24 | WA20260113 |
| Thurston | Union PAIN0364-001 2025-07-01 | $53.59 | $23.65 | $77.24 | WA20260116 |
| Clark | Union CARP0503-004 2025-06-01 | $54.49 | $17.01 | $71.50 | WA20260120 |
| Skamania | Union CARP0503-004 2025-06-01 | $54.49 | $17.01 | $71.50 | WA20260120 |
| Klickitat | Union CARP0503-023 2025-06-01 | $54.49 | $16.81 | $71.30 | WA20260031 |
| Wahkiakum | Union CARP0503-023 2025-06-01 | $54.49 | $16.81 | $71.30 | WA20260040 |
| Okanogan | Union CARP0059-023 2025-06-01 | $44.21 | $17.28 | $61.49 | WA20260035 |
| Asotin | Union PAIN0427-001 2025-07-01 | $37.46 | $18.42 | $55.88 | WA20260003 |
| Ferry | Union PAIN0427-001 2025-07-01 | $37.46 | $18.42 | $55.88 | WA20260024 |
| Lincoln | Union PAIN0427-001 2025-07-01 | $37.46 | $18.42 | $55.88 | WA20260033 |
| Pend Oreille | Union PAIN0427-001 2025-07-01 | $37.46 | $18.42 | $55.88 | WA20260110 |
| Spokane | Union PAIN0427-001 2025-07-01 | $37.46 | $18.42 | $55.88 | WA20260114 |
| Stevens | Union PAIN0427-001 2025-07-01 | $37.46 | $18.42 | $55.88 | WA20260115 |
| Whitman | Union PAIN0427-001 2025-07-01 | $37.46 | $18.42 | $55.88 | WA20260042 |
| Benton | Survey SUWA2001-001 2001-09-03 | $35.45 | $18.13 | $53.58 | WA20260002 |
| Franklin | Survey SUWA2001-001 2001-09-03 | $35.45 | $18.13 | $53.58 | WA20260002 |
| Clallam | Survey SUWA2002-002 2009-06-18 | $33.32 | $0.00 | $33.32 | WA20260022 |
| Grays Harbor | Survey SUWA2002-007 2009-06-18 | $29.90 | $0.00 | $29.90 | WA20260027 |
| Jefferson | Survey SUWA2002-009 2009-06-18 | $29.90 | $0.00 | $29.90 | WA20260029 |
| Mason | Survey SUWA2002-014 2009-06-18 | $29.90 | $0.00 | $29.90 | WA20260034 |
| San Juan | Survey SUWA2002-018 2009-06-18 | $29.90 | $0.00 | $29.90 | WA20260038 |
| Adams | Survey SUWA2002-001 2009-06-18 | $25.17 | $4.41 | $29.58 | WA20260021 |
| Grant | Survey SUWA2002-006 2009-06-18 | $25.17 | $4.41 | $29.58 | WA20260026 |
| Kittitas | Survey SUWA2002-010 2009-06-18 | $25.17 | $4.41 | $29.58 | WA20260030 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. 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?
Keep comparing
Drywall installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Washington
More on 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 installers in Washington in May 2025, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.41; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is drywall installer work growing in Washington?
Washington's labor market agency projects -3.9% growth for drywall installers between 2024 and 2034, from 5,980 to 5,750 jobs.
How many drywall installer openings a year are there in Washington?
Washington projects about 350 openings a year for drywall installers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 6,600 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Washington and metro areas, SOC 47-2081. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.