Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $114,110 or more. The middle half of drywall and ceiling tile installers in San Diego earn between $59,000 and $93,360.
- $48K10th
- $59K25th
- $76KMedian
- $93K75th
- $114K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,030 | $6,419 | $37.03 |
| Median | $76,290 | $6,358 | $36.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $93,360 | $7,780 | $44.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers in San Diego earn 3% more than the California average ($74,680) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($63,600). At the median the gap is +29% against the U.S. median of $58,930.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $77,030 | $76,290 | $48,410 | $114,110 | 3,220 |
| California | $74,680 | $65,880 | $46,050 | $120,240 | 27,280 |
| United States | $63,600 | $58,930 | $38,460 | $102,010 | 83,080 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $77,030, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $59,931 a year, or $4,994 a month and $2,305 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for drywall and ceiling tile installers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $77,030 buys what about $68,846 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 12.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 5th of 22 California metro areas for this job; Santa Rosa pays the most ($92,730).
- Santa Rosa$92,730
- San Jose$91,620
- San Francisco$91,080
- Napa$85,960
- San Diego$77,030
- San Luis Obispo$74,100
- Fresno$73,070
- Santa Cruz$72,930
- Los Angeles$72,050
- Stockton$71,990
All Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for drywall and ceiling tile installers
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($97,000).
- Honolulu, HI$97,000
- Kahului, HI$96,360
- Santa Rosa, CA$92,730
- San Jose, CA$91,620
- San Francisco, CA$91,080
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Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary in San Diego: questions
How much do drywall and ceiling tile installers make an hour in San Diego?
$37.03 an hour on average, and $36.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level drywall and ceiling tile installers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the drywall and ceiling tile installers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $59,931 a year ($4,994 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,030. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do drywall and ceiling tile installers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% more than the U.S. average for this job ($63,600).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2081; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.91, this job is 3.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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