Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers

Apply plasterboard or other wallboard to ceilings or interior walls of buildings. Apply or mount acoustical tiles or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings and walls of buildings to reduce or reflect sound. Materials may be of decorative quality. Includes lathers who fasten wooden, metal, or rockboard lath to walls, ceilings or partitions of buildings to provide support base for plaster, fire-proofing, or acoustical material.

Median Annual Wage: $38,100

Education: High school diploma or equivalent (73%); Post-secondary certificate (20%); Less than high school diploma (7%)

Projected Growth: Faster than average (15% to 21%)

Related Job Titles: Drywall Finisher; Drywall Hanger; Drywall Mechanic; Ceiling Installer; Dry Wall Installer; Exterior Interior Specialist; Metal Framer; Metal Stud Framer; Sheetrock Hanger; Sheetrock Installer

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers.

More Construction and Extraction Careers

  • Measure and mark surfaces to lay out work, according to blueprints or drawings, using tape measures, straightedges or squares, and marking devices.
  • Read blueprints or other specifications to determine methods of installation, work procedures, or material or tool requirements.
  • Fit and fasten wallboard or drywall into position on wood or metal frameworks, using glue, nails, or screws.
  • Measure and cut openings in panels or tiles for electrical outlets, windows, vents, plumbing, or other fixtures, using keyhole saws or other cutting tools.
  • Hang dry lines to wall moldings to guide positioning of main runners.
  • Hang drywall panels on metal frameworks of walls and ceilings in offices, schools, or other large buildings, using lifts or hoists to adjust panel heights when necessary.
  • Assemble or install metal framing or decorative trim for windows, doorways, or vents.
  • Trim rough edges from wallboard to maintain even joints, using knives.
  • Coordinate work with drywall finishers who cover the seams between drywall panels.
  • Cut and screw together metal channels to make floor or ceiling frames, according to plans for the location of rooms or hallways.
  • Install horizontal and vertical metal or wooden studs to frames so that wallboard can be attached to interior walls.
  • Cut metal or wood framing and trim to size, using cutting tools.
  • Cut fixture or border tiles to size, using keyhole saws, and insert them into surrounding frameworks.
  • Inspect furrings, mechanical mountings, or masonry surfaces for plumbness and level, using spirit or water levels.
  • Fasten metal or rockboard lath to the structural framework of walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings, using nails, screws, staples, or wire-ties.
  • Scribe and cut edges of tile to fit walls where wall molding is not specified.
  • Suspend angle iron grids or channel irons from ceilings, using wire.
  • Seal joints between ceiling tiles and walls.
  • Mount tile, using adhesives, or by nailing, screwing, stapling, or wire-tying lath directly to structural frameworks.
  • Install blanket insulation between studs and tack plastic moisture barriers over insulation.
  • Install metal lath where plaster applications will be exposed to weather or water, or for curved or irregular surfaces.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers.

  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers.

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