Prevailing Wage for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Prevailing wage for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers (SOC 47-2081) is set by the DOL using regional wage surveys, so the floor a Drywall Installer or Ceiling Installer must meet depends on where the work takes place. DOL establishes four experience levels, and the gap between entry and fully competent can be substantial depending on the metro.
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Entry-level drywall workers with limited formal training and minimal independent jobsite experience. They work under close supervision on straightforward hanging or ceiling tile tasks and have not yet developed a broad range of finishing or framing techniques.
Qualified installers with hands-on experience across standard drywall hanging, taping, and ceiling grid work. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, reflecting journeyman-level competency on typical commercial or residential projects.
Experienced installers who handle complex scopes, including specialty acoustical systems, fire-rated assemblies, or lead work on multi-phase projects. They exercise significant independent judgment and may guide less experienced crew members on technique and sequencing.
Fully competent lead installers or working foremen with mastery across all phases of drywall and ceiling systems. They set quality standards, troubleshoot difficult installations, and take full responsibility for code compliance and project outcomes.
Prevailing Wage for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your title matches SOC 47-2081
Job postings for Drywall Hangers, Drywall Mechanics, and Ceiling Installers sometimes get filed under a construction laborer SOC with a lower wage floor. Verify your LCA lists SOC 47-2081 before signing an offer, since the prevailing wage tied to the correct code is typically higher.
Watch for union-market metro wage gaps
High-union metros like Honolulu and San Jose show Level 1 floors far above the national median for this trade. If your offer is based on a national average rather than the worksite city, you may be leaving significant wage compliance headroom unverified.
Find sponsors who have hired drywall workers before
Migrate Mate shows which contractors and construction firms have a documented history of sponsoring drywall and ceiling tile roles, so you can focus applications on employers who have already navigated the LCA and H-1B process for this trade rather than starting cold.
Account for per-diem and travel in total comp
Drywall work frequently involves travel between jobsites or project-based assignments. Per-diem allowances and travel reimbursements do not count toward the prevailing wage obligation, so verify your base hourly or annual rate alone clears the DOL floor for each worksite location.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-2081.00 alongside Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Ceiling Installer Prevailing Wage
Ceiling Installer Prevailing Wage
Ceiling Installer positions fall under SOC 47-2081.00 (Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Dry Wall Installer Prevailing Wage
Dry Wall Installer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Dry Wall Installer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2081.00 (Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Drywall Finisher Prevailing Wage
Drywall Finisher Prevailing Wage
Drywall Finisher is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2081.00 (Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Drywall Hanger Prevailing Wage
Drywall Hanger Prevailing Wage
Drywall Hanger positions fall under SOC 47-2081.00 (Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Drywall Installer Prevailing Wage
Drywall Installer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Drywall Installer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2081.00 (Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Drywall Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Drywall Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Drywall Mechanic is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2081.00 (Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Drywaller Prevailing Wage
Drywaller Prevailing Wage
Drywaller positions fall under SOC 47-2081.00 (Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Exterior Interior Specialist Prevailing Wage
Exterior Interior Specialist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Exterior Interior Specialist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2081.00 (Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Metal Framer Prevailing Wage
Metal Framer Prevailing Wage
Metal Framer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2081.00 (Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Metal Stud Framer Prevailing Wage
Metal Stud Framer Prevailing Wage
Metal Stud Framer positions fall under SOC 47-2081.00 (Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 47-2081, DOL calculates four wage levels by applying statistical percentile cuts to regional wage distributions. Employers sponsoring a visa must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite area.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL's four levels reflect increasing experience and responsibility. Level 1 covers entry workers under close supervision; Level 2 covers qualified journeymen performing standard installation work; Level 3 covers experienced installers handling complex or specialty systems; Level 4 covers fully competent lead installers or working foremen. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision requirements described in your job offer, not simply your years of experience. Review your LCA and petition to confirm the employer selected the level consistent with the posted position description.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same drywall role vary so much between cities?
DOL's wage floors are derived from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so they reflect local labor market conditions. Union density, cost of living, and contractor demand drive large spreads: metro areas in Hawaii and coastal California show floors well above the national median, while markets in Louisiana or Puerto Rico fall significantly below it. The worksite address on the LCA controls which regional wage applies, not the employer's headquarters. If you work across multiple locations, each site triggers its own prevailing wage determination.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer filing an H-1B or PERM-based green card petition must certify to DOL and USCIS that the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage for the role and worksite. If the offer is below the floor, the Labor Condition Application will not be properly supported and the petition is at risk of denial or audit. OFLC can also investigate wage violations after approval. You should raise any discrepancy with the employer before the LCA is filed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific city for this occupation?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website to look up SOC 47-2081 by metropolitan area or state. Select the relevant survey year and the worksite metro to see all four wage levels. You can also check O*NET for the occupation's profile and typical scope. For a faster search across employers that have already sponsored drywall and ceiling tile roles in specific locations, Migrate Mate lets you filter sponsored job listings by role, visa type, and location.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers right now.
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