Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $69,120 a year ($33.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,730 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $58,930. Pay here is 9% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $63,180. There are 0.12 drywall and ceiling tile installers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.22). The average (mean) salary is $74,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for drywall and ceiling tile installers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,350 | $22.76 |
| 25th percentile | $55,360 | $26.61 |
| Median | $69,120 | $33.23 |
| 75th percentile | $110,390 | $53.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,730 | $53.24 |
| Average (mean) | $74,750 | $35.94 |
Half of drywall and ceiling tile installers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,760 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,880 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,658.46 |
| Weekly | $1,329.23 |
| Hourly | $33.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $69,120 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $61,260 | 160 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $60,250 | 250 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $57,350 | 40 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,470 | 290 |
| Evansville, IN | $53,860 | 50 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $49,680 | 40 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $45,990 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for drywall and ceiling tile installers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $104,830 |
| New Jersey | $75,080 |
| Alaska | $73,690 |
| Oregon | $73,530 |
| Washington | $73,130 |
| Massachusetts | $69,500 |
| California | $65,880 |
| Illinois | $63,180 |
| Missouri | $62,580 |
| New Hampshire | $61,960 |
See Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $60,890 | $29.27 |
| Electrician | $102,350 | $49.21 |
| Carpenter | $80,440 | $38.68 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $103,380 | $49.70 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $103,100 | $49.57 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,740 | $29.68 |
| Roofer | $82,090 | $39.47 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $81,020 | $38.95 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $95,310 | $45.82 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $89,980 | $43.26 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $102,350 | $49.21 |
| Glazier | $61,530 | $29.58 |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $70,370 | $33.83 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $103,690 | $49.85 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2081. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a drywall and ceiling tile installers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for drywall and ceiling tile installers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $69,120 a year, or $33.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $110,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid drywall and ceiling tile installers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of drywall and ceiling tile installers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $110,730 a year. The top 25% earn $110,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for drywall and ceiling tile installers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,350 a year, and a quarter of drywall and ceiling tile installers earn $55,360 or less.
How many drywall and ceiling tile installers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 540 drywall and ceiling tile installers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.