Drywall installer salary in Wisconsin
Median $28.83 an hour for 1,140 drywall and ceiling tile installers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Drywall installer pay in Wisconsin: the full range
Wisconsin ranks 19th of 49 states for median drywall installer pay, and 9th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.64). 1,140 drywall and ceiling tile installers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.50 – $23.05 | $38,490 – $47,940 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.05 – $33.42 | $47,940 – $69,520 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $33.42 – $41.03 | $69,520 – $85,340 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Drywall installer pay by metro in Wisconsin
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $18.98 | $30.81 | $44.00 | 680 | 7% above |
| Madison | $22.39 | $30.53 | $44.34 | 170 | 6% above |
| Milwaukee | $18.99 | $29.23 | $38.40 | 340 | 1% above |
| Duluth | $16.88 | $28.95 | $36.54 | 40 | about the same as |
| Eau Claire | $23.20 | $28.47 | $31.77 | 40 | 1% below |
| La Crosse | $18.46 | $26.36 | $37.96 | 30 | 9% below |
Drywall installer wages in Wisconsin over time
Table
| Year | Wisconsin $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $18.83 | $36.39 | $15.34 | 2,270 |
| 2000 | $20.01 | $37.41 | $15.80 | 1,970 |
| 2001 | $20.97 | $38.12 | $15.87 | 1,970 |
| 2002 | $19.73 | $35.31 | $16.21 | 1,770 |
| 2003 | $21.82 | $38.18 | $16.19 | 1,740 |
| 2004 | $20.57 | $35.06 | $16.36 | 1,450 |
| 2005 | $19.65 | $32.39 | $16.70 | 1,590 |
| 2006 | $19.49 | $31.12 | $17.38 | 1,400 |
| 2007 | $19.25 | $29.89 | $17.56 | 1,310 |
| 2008 | $21.92 | $32.78 | $18.12 | 1,560 |
| 2009 | $20.85 | $31.29 | $17.88 | 1,420 |
| 2010 | $21.73 | $32.08 | $17.94 | 1,180 |
| 2011 | $20.00 | $28.62 | $17.78 | 930 |
| 2012 | $20.53 | $28.79 | $17.89 | 880 |
| 2013 | $20.38 | $28.16 | $17.89 | 990 |
| 2014 | $18.74 | $25.48 | $18.32 | 900 |
| 2015 | $20.60 | $27.98 | $18.85 | 940 |
| 2016 | $23.11 | $31.00 | $19.75 | 1,120 |
| 2017 | $22.33 | $29.33 | $20.60 | 1,450 |
| 2018 | $20.33 | $26.06 | $21.03 | 1,390 |
| 2019 | $18.42 | $23.20 | $21.97 | 1,080 |
| 2020 | $20.52 | $25.53 | $22.82 | 1,040 |
| 2021 | $23.11 | $27.46 | $23.09 | 820 |
| 2022 | $27.59 | $30.35 | $24.25 | 1,150 |
| 2023 | $28.39 | $30.00 | $26.78 | 1,060 |
| 2024 | $27.88 | $28.61 | $27.95 | 1,440 |
| 2025 | $28.83 | $28.83 | $28.33 | 1,140 |
In today's dollars, the median drywall installer wage in Wisconsin changed by +3.0% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for drywall installers in Wisconsin
On federally funded construction in Wisconsin, contractors must pay drywall installers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 4 of the 4 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $36.76 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $28.83.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippewa | Union PAIN0259-001 2008-05-01 | $24.61 | $12.15 | $36.76 | WI20260006 |
| Eau Claire | Union PAIN0259-001 2008-05-01 | $24.61 | $12.15 | $36.76 | WI20260006 |
| Pierce | Union PAIN0259-001 2008-05-01 | $24.61 | $12.15 | $36.76 | WI20260013 |
| St. Croix | Union PAIN0259-001 2008-05-01 | $24.61 | $12.15 | $36.76 | WI20260013 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Wisconsin prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Wisconsin?
Keep comparing
Drywall installer pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Wisconsin
Questions this page answers
How much do drywall installers make in Wisconsin?
The median drywall installer in Wisconsin earned $28.83 an hour ($59,970 a year) in May 2025, 2% above the national median of $28.33. The middle half earn $23.05–$33.42; the top 10% earn more than $41.03.
Where does Wisconsin rank for drywall installer pay?
Wisconsin ranks 19th of 49 states for drywall installer pay, with a median of $28.83 an hour, and 9th after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).
What is the union drywall installer rate in Wisconsin?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for drywall installers in 4 counties, with a typical package of $36.76 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many drywall installers work in Wisconsin?
BLS counted 1,140 drywall and ceiling tile installers in Wisconsin in May 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.72; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Wisconsin 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.