Drywall and ceiling tile installers hang wallboard and install ceiling tile inside buildings. Tapers prepare the wallboard for painting, using tape and other materials. Many workers both install and tape wallboard.

Drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers, work indoors. As in many other construction trades, the work is physically demanding. Workers spend most of the day standing, bending, or reaching, and they often must lift and maneuver heavy, oversized wallboard.

Most drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers, learn their trade on the job.  A formal educational credential is typically not required to enter the occupation.

Employment of drywall and ceiling tile installers, and tapers, is projected to grow 5 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Workers with a good employment history and experience in construction should have the best job opportunities.

This occupation supported 114,000 jobs in 2012 and 127,000 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 11.4%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 15.8% in 2022 to 132,000 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 117,600, compared with an observed value of 127,000, 8.0% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 5.8% in 2024 to 133,600 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 135,600 jobs for 2024, 1.5% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are about on track with the 2012 trend within this occupation.