How much do drywall installers make in Pennsylvania in 2026?

The median drywall installer in Pennsylvania earns $61,160 a year, which works out to $29.40 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the midpoint — half of drywall installers in the state earn more, half earn less. If you're trying to figure out where you stand or what to aim for, those are the numbers to anchor on.

The bottom quarter of earners — the 25th percentile — comes in at $48,430 a year, or roughly $23.28 an hour. Workers at this level are often newer to the trade, working for smaller residential contractors, or putting in fewer hours on a seasonal basis. It's a livable wage, but there's meaningful room to grow from here.

The top quarter of earners — the 75th percentile — reaches $70,740 annually, about $34.01 an hour. Installers at this level typically have years of experience, can handle commercial and large multi-family jobs, work fast and clean, and are trusted to run a crew or manage a phase of a job without supervision. Some also have finishing skills, which makes them more valuable on jobs where the tape-and-mud work needs to be seamless.

The spread between the 25th and 75th percentile is $22,310 a year. That's not a small gap — it represents what skill, speed, reliability, and experience actually pay on the job. A drywall installer who can hang, tape, and finish, and who shows up every day ready to work, is worth substantially more than one who does only one part of the job or needs constant direction.

Pennsylvania's drywall work is concentrated in and around its major metro areas. Philadelphia and its suburbs — including the dense residential and commercial corridors in Montgomery, Bucks, and Delaware counties — generate consistent demand. Pittsburgh and Allegheny County drive work in the western part of the state, particularly in commercial construction and hospital or institutional projects. Smaller markets like Allentown, Harrisburg, and Lancaster also have steady residential and light commercial activity, though pay in those areas can run closer to the 25th percentile end of the range.

Hours matter in this trade. Drywall work is often tied directly to construction schedules, and when a project is moving fast, overtime is common. An installer earning the median $29.40 an hour who regularly logs 45 hours a week ends up earning closer to $72,000 a year once overtime is factored in — well above what the straight annual figure suggests.

No union scale data from BLS OEWS is available for drywall installers in Pennsylvania for this reporting period. In states and metros where union scale does apply, it typically sets a wage floor and adds benefits on top. In Pennsylvania, most drywall work is done by non-union contractors, so your pay is largely set by your employer, your track record, and what you can negotiate going in.

If you're starting out, the path from $23 to $34 an hour isn't complicated — it's about getting faster, learning to finish as well as hang, working on larger commercial jobs, and building a reputation for reliability. Foremen and lead installers at established drywall subs can push past the 75th percentile, especially on prevailing-wage public work where rates are set by contract.

All figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.