Best institutions to study Drywall Installation/Drywaller
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to install, tape, and plaster drywall installations in interior and exterior construction jobs.
3 U.S. institutions graduated 254 Drywall Installation/Drywaller students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 46.0404, a specialization of Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04), and leads most directly to the Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers occupation (BLS SOC 47-2081).
About Drywall Installation/Drywaller programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to install, tape, and plaster drywall installations in interior and exterior construction jobs. Includes instruction in drywall handling and transport, cutting and mounting, taping and spackling, finishing, job analysis and estimation, site safety, tool operation and maintenance, blueprint and specification interpretation, and applicable codes and standards.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Drywall Installation/Drywaller program prepares individuals for a career in the construction trades, focusing on the installation, taping, and finishing of drywall in various construction settings. This program is ideal for those interested in hands-on work and who enjoy building and construction projects. Students will gain technical knowledge and skills essential for successful drywall installation and finishing.
Core coursework includes instruction in drywall handling, cutting, mounting, taping, spackling, and finishing. Students will also learn about job analysis, site safety, tool operation, and blueprint interpretation, equipping them with the necessary skills to excel in the field.
Credentials awarded
What Drywall Installation/Drywaller graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years206 graduates / yr · 1 institution81%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year46 graduates / yr · 3 institutions18%
- Award of less than 12 weeks2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.8%
Graduates over time
Drywall Installation/Drywaller completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 222 |
| 2013 | 214 |
| 2014 | 382 |
| 2015 | 169 |
| 2016 | 157 |
| 2017 | 118 |
| 2018 | 85 |
| 2019 | 62 |
| 2020 | 68 |
| 2021 | 52 |
| 2022 | 92 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 254 |
| 2025 | 254 |
Top 3 institutions for Drywall Installation/Drywaller, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American River College Sacramento, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 220 | 37% | — |
| 2 | Santiago Canyon College Orange, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 48% | — |
| 3 | Centralia College Centralia, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 15 | 42% | — |
Offered in 2 states
Where Drywall Installation/Drywaller graduates come from. Each state links to all Building/Construction Finishing programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2 | 239 | American River College220 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 15 | Centralia College15 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-2081, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Drywall Installation/Drywaller program can pursue careers as drywall and ceiling tile installers, with an outlook for job growth at 4.2% and approximately 7,700 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $58,140, and typically, no formal educational credential is required.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 46.0404
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installersprimary SOC 47-2081 | $58,930 | +4.2% About as fast as average | ~7,700 | No formal educational credential |
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers SOC 47-1011 | $79,920 | +5.3% Faster than average | ~74,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Drywall Installation/Drywaller programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Read blueprints or other specifications to determine methods of installation, work procedures, or material or tool requirements.
- Measure and mark surfaces to lay out work, according to blueprints or drawings, using tape measures, straightedges or squares, and marking devices.
- 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.
- Assemble or install metal framing or decorative trim for windows, doorways, or vents.
- Cut metal or wood framing and trim to size, using cutting tools.
Tools and technology used
Other Building/Construction Finishing specializations
The 12 other 6-digit CIP codes under Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04).
- Building/CIP 46.0401
Property Maintenance 2,461 graduates / yr97 institutions - Building Construction Technology/CIP 46.0415
Technician 2,137 graduates / yr127 institutions - Building/CIP 46.0412
Construction Site Management/ Manager 1,748 graduates / yr73 institutions - Building/CIP 46.0499
Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection 638 graduates / yr36 institutions - Building/CIP 46.0403
Home/ Construction Inspection/ Inspector 334 graduates / yr31 institutions - Concrete Finishing/CIP 46.0402
Concrete Finisher partial data79 graduates / yr6 institutions - RooferCIP 46.0410partial data42 graduates / yr3 institutions
- InsulatorCIP 46.0414limited data35 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Carpet, Floor, and Tile WorkerCIP 46.0413limited data30 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Painting/CIP 46.0408
Painter and Wall Coverer partial data29 graduates / yr4 institutions - GlazierCIP 46.0406limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Metal Building Assembly/CIP 46.0411
Assembler limited data5 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What is the duration of the program?+
The program typically awards credentials ranging from at least 1 but less than 2 academic years to less than 12 weeks.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn critical thinking, mathematics, reading comprehension, and various technical skills related to drywall installation.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a drywall and ceiling tile installer or a first-line supervisor in construction trades.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.2% and approximately 7,700 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Drywall Installation/Drywaller?+
Drywall Installation/Drywaller is CIP 46.0404 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to install, tape, and plaster drywall installations in interior and exterior construction jobs. Includes instruction in drywall handling and transport, cutting and mounting, taping and spackling, finishing, job analysis and estimation, site safety, tool operation and maintenance, blueprint and specification interpretation, and applicable codes and standards.
How many institutions offer Drywall Installation/Drywaller programs?+
3 U.S. institutions reported Drywall Installation/Drywaller graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 254 credentials in the year. That is 3.3% of all Building/Construction Finishing graduates.
How much do Drywall Installation/Drywaller graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers occupation, which Drywall Installation/Drywaller most directly leads to, pays a median of $58,930 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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