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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, fire-proofing, or acoustical material. Excludes "Carpet Installers" (47-2041), "Carpenters" (47-2031), and "Tile and Marble Setters" (47-2044).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93,180 | 2.3 % | $22.79 | $47,400 | 1.4 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $12.90 | $16.02 | $19.75 | $26.47 | $38.30 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $26,830 | $33,320 | $41,090 | $55,060 | $79,660 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Finishing Contractors | 77,050 | 10.05 | $22.90 | $47,630 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 5,670 | 0.75 | $22.44 | $46,670 |
| Residential Building Construction | 4,700 | 0.66 | $20.99 | $43,650 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 2,520 | 0.30 | $22.91 | $47,650 |
| Employment Services | 1,050 | 0.03 | $19.22 | $39,980 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Finishing Contractors | 77,050 | 10.05 | $22.90 | $47,630 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 5,670 | 0.75 | $22.44 | $46,670 |
| Residential Building Construction | 4,700 | 0.66 | $20.99 | $43,650 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 2,520 | 0.30 | $22.91 | $47,650 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 370 | 0.16 | $18.33 | $38,130 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 760 | 0.12 | $33.24 | $69,150 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 340 | 0.02 | $23.96 | $49,830 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 40 | (7) | $22.91 | $47,660 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 2,520 | 0.30 | $22.91 | $47,650 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | 77,050 | 10.05 | $22.90 | $47,630 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 23,100 | 1.45 | 2.18 | $29.08 | $60,480 |
| Texas | 9,450 | 0.80 | 1.21 | $16.42 | $34,160 |
| Florida | 5,160 | 0.63 | 0.95 | $15.36 | $31,960 |
| Arizona | 4,140 | 1.56 | 2.35 | $18.82 | $39,150 |
| Washington | 3,970 | 1.29 | 1.95 | $27.99 | $58,230 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 2,490 | 1.81 | 2.73 | $17.42 | $36,230 |
| Idaho | 1,110 | 1.67 | 2.51 | $17.53 | $36,470 |
| Hawaii | 1,010 | 1.61 | 2.42 | $36.29 | $75,480 |
| Nevada | 2,000 | 1.58 | 2.38 | $19.00 | $39,530 |
| Arizona | 4,140 | 1.56 | 2.35 | $18.82 | $39,150 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1,010 | 1.61 | 2.42 | $36.29 | $75,480 |
| New York | 3,110 | 0.34 | 0.51 | $32.80 | $68,220 |
| Alaska | (8) | (8) | (8) | $32.67 | $67,950 |
| California | 23,100 | 1.45 | 2.18 | $29.08 | $60,480 |
| New Jersey | 1,230 | 0.31 | 0.47 | $28.94 | $60,200 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 4,090 | 2.62 | 3.95 | $27.39 | $56,980 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 3,610 | 0.85 | 1.29 | $25.04 | $52,070 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 3,430 | 1.77 | 2.67 | $19.08 | $39,700 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 3,110 | 2.24 | 3.38 | $28.91 | $60,140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,000 | 2.20 | 3.32 | $25.62 | $53,280 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 2,800 | 0.95 | 1.44 | $16.52 | $34,350 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 2,570 | 1.06 | 1.59 | $16.53 | $34,390 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 2,380 | 1.50 | 2.26 | $29.83 | $62,050 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 1,940 | 2.12 | 3.20 | $27.69 | $57,600 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 1,800 | 0.27 | 0.41 | $37.09 | $77,160 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. George, UT | 270 | 4.56 | 6.86 | $16.64 | $34,610 |
| Nashua, NH-MA NECTA Division | 390 | 3.03 | 4.57 | $22.22 | $46,210 |
| Boise City, ID | 790 | 2.67 | 4.02 | $17.25 | $35,880 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 4,090 | 2.62 | 3.95 | $27.39 | $56,980 |
| Provo-Orem, UT | 550 | 2.49 | 3.75 | $16.99 | $35,330 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | 110 | 2.34 | 3.52 | $16.32 | $33,940 |
| Abilene, TX | 150 | 2.34 | 3.52 | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 3,110 | 2.24 | 3.38 | $28.91 | $60,140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3,000 | 2.20 | 3.32 | $25.62 | $53,280 |
| San Rafael, CA Metropolitan Division | 240 | 2.16 | 3.26 | $32.13 | $66,830 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,610 | 1.49 | 2.24 | $47.27 | $98,320 |
| San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,060 | 1.00 | 1.50 | $37.35 | $77,690 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 1,800 | 0.27 | 0.41 | $37.09 | $77,160 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 840 | 1.82 | 2.74 | $36.47 | $75,860 |
| Nassau County-Suffolk County, NY Metropolitan Division | 650 | 0.51 | 0.76 | $35.94 | $74,740 |
| Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI | (8) | (8) | (8) | $33.94 | $70,600 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 200 | 1.05 | 1.58 | $33.48 | $69,640 |
| Dutchess County-Putnam County, NY Metropolitan Division | 120 | 0.89 | 1.33 | $33.33 | $69,330 |
| Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division | 390 | 0.75 | 1.13 | $32.22 | $67,010 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,440 | 1.37 | 2.07 | $32.21 | $66,990 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 190 | 1.61 | 2.43 | $21.52 | $44,760 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 170 | 0.89 | 1.33 | $23.01 | $47,870 |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.59 | 0.89 | $19.01 | $39,540 |
| Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.93 | 1.40 | $16.09 | $33,460 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.98 | 1.48 | $22.63 | $47,070 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | 190 | 1.61 | 2.43 | $21.52 | $44,760 |
| Eastern Utah nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 1.42 | 2.13 | $17.24 | $35,850 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 1.15 | 1.73 | $36.20 | $75,300 |
| Southwest Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.10 | 1.65 | $22.57 | $46,940 |
| South Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.02 | 1.53 | $20.79 | $43,240 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 1.15 | 1.73 | $36.20 | $75,300 |
| Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.76 | 1.15 | $26.82 | $55,790 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.34 | 0.51 | $25.33 | $52,680 |
| Southwest Washington nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $25.29 | $52,600 |
| East Washington nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.72 | 1.08 | $24.82 | $51,620 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2016 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2017