Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
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, fireproofing, or acoustical material.
- This role centers on 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, fireproofing, or acoustical material..
- The work relies on critical thinking and speaking among the skills shown below.
- Common backgrounds include less than high school and a range of related job titles.
Quick facts
What this career is really about
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, fireproofing, or acoustical material. The role turns occupational data into practical guidance for people exploring this path.
Day-to-day success depends on skills such as critical thinking and speaking. These abilities support the communication, problem-solving, and coordination that the work requires.
Education paths vary, but less than high school is the most commonly reported background. Related work experience also plays a role, with many workers bringing relevant practice before stepping into this position.
Common job titles
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers may appear under many titles. The names below come directly from the source dataset and reflect different employer naming conventions for similar responsibilities.
- Acoustical Carpenter
- Acoustical Ceiling Installer
- Acoustical Consultant
- Acoustical Installer
- Acoustical Specialist
- Ceiling Installer
- Dry Wall Installer
- Drywall Application Specialist
- Drywall Applicator
- Drywall Boardhanger
- Drywall Carrier
- Drywall Contractor
- Drywall Finisher
- Drywall Hanger
- Drywall Installer
- Drywall Mechanic
- Drywall Metal Stud Worker
- Drywall Professional
- Drywall Sander
- Drywall Stripper
- Drywall Taper
- Drywall Technician
- Drywall Worker
- Drywaller
- Exterior Interior Specialist
- Furrer
- Interior Specialist
- Lath Hand
- Lather
- Metal Framer
- Metal Furrer
- Metal Lather
- Metal Stud Framer
- Plaster Lather
- Remodeler
- Remodeling Contractor
- Rock Lather
- Rockboard Lather
- Sheet Rock Applicator
- Sheet Rock Applier
- Sheet Rock Finisher
- Sheet Rock Hanger
- Sheet Rock Installer
- Sheet Rock Layer
- Sheet Rock Nailer
- Sheet Rock Sander
- Sheet Rock Worker
- Sheet Rocker
- Sheetrock Applicator
- Wire Lather
- Wood Lather
Skills that carry the work
The skill pattern shows critical thinking as the leading requirement, followed by speaking and monitoring. These strengths shape how workers perform the core duties described above.
Scores shown on a 0–5 scale using the importance value from the provided skills table.
Education
The education distribution is varied. Less Than High School is the single largest group at 41.87%. Other credentials are also represented, indicating multiple possible paths into this career.
About 41.87% of workers in this role report less than high school as their highest level of education.
Other reported backgrounds include high school or ged and post-secondary certificate, showing flexibility in preparation.
These figures describe the education workers have reported, not a mandatory checklist for entering the role.
Experience
Experience levels vary. The largest group reports 1–2 years, followed by 4–6 years. This suggests that many people enter the role after building relevant experience.
A realistic way into this career
There is no single path into this role. Many people build related skills and experience first, then move into positions with greater responsibility. The steps below are a common pattern.
Start in roles that develop critical thinking and speaking. These abilities form the base for the day-to-day work described in the source data.
Work in adjacent positions where you can apply those skills in real situations. This builds judgment, confidence, and the practical knowledge employers look for.
With relevant experience and the right credentials, step into a drywall and ceiling tile installers position and take on the full scope of responsibilities.
Good fit signals
You work best when there are clear processes, goals, and measurable outcomes to track.
You can apply skills like critical thinking and speaking to coordinate with others and keep work moving.
You are open to building experience and education over time rather than expecting an instant entry path.