Job Outlook for:
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers
SOC: 47-2082 OOH: U265
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers Quick Stats |
|
| Total Jobs in 2016 | 143,200 |
| Expected Growth | 1% (Little or no change) |
| New Jobs To Be Added from 2016 to 2026 |
1,500 |
| Median Pay | $35,000 to $54,999 |
- Job Outlook for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers
- Pay for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers
- What do Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers do all day
- The work environment
- How to become one
Employment Outlook for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers
Employment of drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers is projected to show little to no change from 2016 to 2026.
Drywall is the most common interior wall covering in buildings, and so the demand for these workers will come from the construction of residential and commercial buildings. Home-remodeling projects are also expected to create jobs, because owners of existing homes and other buildings may plan to make improvements. However, overall employment in the drywall and insulation contractors industry, an industry employing nearly two-thirds of these workers, is projected to decline 2016-26, offsetting employment growth in other industries.
Job Prospects
Job prospects for drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers should be good because of the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.
Typical Pay for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers
The median annual wage for drywall and ceiling tile installers was $41,090 in May 2016. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,830, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $79,660.
The median annual wage for tapers was $48,990 in May 2016. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,320, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $90,260.
In May 2016, the median annual wages for drywall and ceiling tile installers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Nonresidential building construction | $41,240 |
| Drywall and insulation contractors | 41,220 |
In May 2016, the median annual wages for tapers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Nonresidential building construction | $53,910 |
| Drywall and insulation contractors | 48,530 |
| Painting and wall covering contractors | 45,690 |
What Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers Do All Day
Drywall and ceiling tile installers hang wallboard and install ceiling tile inside buildings. Tapers prepare the wallboard for painting, using tape and other materials. Many workers both install and tape wallboard.
Duties
Drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers typically do the following:
- Measure, mark, and cut panels according to design plans by using tape measures, straightedges, utility knives, and power saws
- Fasten panels and tiles by using glue, nails, or screws
- Patch, trim, and smooth rough spots and edges
- Apply tape and sealing compound to cover joints between wallboards
- Add coats of sealing compound to create an even surface
- Sand all joints and holes for a smooth, seamless finish
Drywall is a commonly used interior wall covering. In addition to covering insulation, electrical wires, and plumbing pipes, it also dampens sound and provides fire resistance.
Workers may use mechanical lifts or stand on stilts, ladders, or scaffolds to hang and prepare ceilings. Once wallboards are hung, workers use trowels to spread coats of sealing compound over cracks, indentations, and other imperfections. Some workers may use a mechanical applicator, a tool that spreads sealing compound on the wall joint while dispensing and setting tape at the same time.
Drywall installers are also called drywallers or hangers. They cut and hang the panels of wallboard.
Ceiling tile installers hang ceiling tiles and create suspended ceilings. Tiles may be applied directly to the ceiling, attached to furring strips, or suspended on runners that are connected by wire to the ceiling. Workers are sometimes called acoustical carpenters, because they also install tiles that block sound.
Tapers are also called finishers, because they prepare the drywall for covering by plaster, paint, and wallpaper. Tapers apply paper or fiberglass mesh tape to cover drywall seams.
In addition to performing new installations, many installers and tapers make repairs such as fixing damaged drywall and replacing ceiling tiles. The wall coverings applied to the finished drywall are installed by painters, plasterers, and paperhangers.
Work Environment for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers
Drywall and ceiling tile installers held about 119,500 jobs in 2016. The largest employers of drywall and ceiling tile installers were as follows:
| Drywall and insulation contractors | 62% |
| Self-employed workers | 22 |
| Nonresidential building construction | 5 |
Tapers held about 23,700 jobs in 2016. The largest employers of tapers were as follows:
| Drywall and insulation contractors | 65% |
| Self-employed workers | 22 |
| Nonresidential building construction | 5 |
| Painting and wall covering contractors | 3 |
Drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers work indoors. As in many other construction trades, the work is physically demanding. Workers spend most of the day standing, bending, or reaching, and they must often lift and maneuver heavy wallboard.
Work Schedules
Most drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers work full time.
How To Become a Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer, or Taper
Most drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers learn their trade on the job. A formal educational credential is typically not required to enter the occupation.
Education
There are no educational credential requirements for becoming a drywall and ceiling tile installer, or taper.
Training
Most drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers learn their trade on the job by helping more experienced workers and gradually being given more duties. They start by carrying materials and cleaning up and then learn to use the tools of the trade. They also learn to measure, cut, and install or apply materials. They may start out working on less visible areas like closets. The on-the-job training received typically lasts up to 12 months.
A few groups, including the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and contractor associations, sponsor apprenticeship programs for drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers. Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction.
During their apprenticeship training, drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers learn a number of safety rules, many of which are standardized through the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
Important Qualities
Balance. Drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers often wear stilts. They must be able to move around and use tools overhead without falling.
Dexterity. Drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers work with hand tools on every job. For example, they must be able to lift panels and use hammers and nails to secure the panels.
Math skills. Drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers must be able to estimate the quantity of materials needed and measure accurately when cutting panels.
Physical stamina. Drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers constantly lift and move heavy materials into place, so workers should be in good physical shape.
Physical strength. Drywall and ceiling tile installers must often lift heavy panels over their heads to secure onto the ceiling.
"Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers" SOC: 47-2082 OOH Code: U265