Drywall Cost Calculator for Florida - Free 2026 Cost Estimates
Get accurate drywall cost estimates using Florida regional pricing data. Our free calculator adjusts for local labor rates and material costs specific to FL.
Florida Drywall Labor Costs — Verified from BLS OEWS (2025)
Every figure on this page is a published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics value. Last verified 2026-06-20.
In Florida, drywall & ceiling tile installers — the core trade for drywall work — earn a mean wage of $23.51/hr ($48,900 per year) in the 2025 BLS OEWS release. That is 23% below the national average (national mean $63,600 per year). Florida employs about 6,000 drywall & ceiling tile installers statewide. Related trades that price into a typical drywall job include construction laborers ($44,550/yr), first-line supervisors of construction trades ($79,200/yr). Because labor is the largest variable cost on most drywall projects, these published state wage levels are the biggest single reason drywall costs differ between Florida and other states. Every figure here is a mean value published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and is refreshed automatically when BLS releases new OEWS data.
Across the trades that touch a typical drywall job in Florida, BLS reports mean wages of drywall & ceiling tile installers at $48,900 per year ($23.51/hr); construction laborers at $44,550 per year ($21.42/hr); first-line supervisors of construction trades at $79,200 per year ($38.08/hr). The spread between first-line supervisors of construction trades ($79,200) and construction laborers ($44,550) reflects differences in skill, certification, and supervisory responsibility on Florida job sites, and it is why a detailed, line-item estimate beats a single blended rate when you are budgeting drywall work.
Half of Florida drywall & ceiling tile installers earn less than the median of $48,970 per year — above the $48,900 mean, which a smaller number of higher earners pulls upward. For budgeting, the median is often the more realistic figure for routine drywall crews. BLS counts roughly 6,000 drywall & ceiling tile installers, 87,040 construction laborers, 69,830 first-line supervisors of construction trades employed across Florida, a measure of how deep the local drywall-trade labor pool is and how much competition for crews you can expect when scheduling work.
When you budget a drywall job in Florida, treat these BLS wage levels as the labor-rate floor: a crew's billed rate adds overhead, insurance, equipment, and margin on top of the $23.51/hr mean wage shown above. Because Florida's drywall & ceiling tile installers wages sit 23% below the national average, a drywall quote that comes in far below these published rates is worth a second look — labor that cheap usually signals a different scope, materials, or crew experience. Use the calculator on this page to combine these Florida labor rates with your project's material quantities for a complete estimate.
| Occupation (SOC) | Mean hourly | Mean annual | Median annual | Employed in FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drywall & Ceiling Tile Installers 47-2081 | $23.51/hr | $48,900 | $48,970 | 6,000 |
| Construction Laborers 47-2061 | $21.42/hr | $44,550 | $44,030 | 87,040 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades 47-1011 | $38.08/hr | $79,200 | $75,790 | 69,830 |
Wages are statewide means published by BLS and reflect labor cost only — not the total installed cost of a project. Use the calculator below for a full materials-and-labor estimate, and always obtain written bids from licensed Florida contractors.
Calculate Your Drywall Costs in Florida
Our free drywall calculator provides detailed estimates tailored to Florida pricing. Enter your project dimensions and specifications to get an instant breakdown of materials, labor, and total costs.
Sources & Methodology
These figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — the official federal wage survey — for the 2025 reference release, the latest available. Wages shown are statewide mean values for Florida; actual pay varies by metro area, employer, union status, and experience. CostFlowAI re-checks the BLS public API on a quarterly recheck cadence and stamps each figure with the date it was last verified (2026-06-20). We publish the exact BLS series ID behind every number so any figure on this page can be independently confirmed at the source.
- BLS OEWS Florida — all occupations, statewide — 2025 annual (A01) reference release. Last verified 2026-06-20.
- BLS OEWS national benchmark — Drywall & Ceiling Tile Installers, all U.S. — 2025 annual (A01) reference release. Last verified 2026-06-20.
- The “23% below the national average” figure is derived arithmetic on the two cited BLS annual-mean wages ($48,900 FL ÷ $63,600 national − 1) — not a separate estimate.
BLS series IDs behind every figure on this page12
- Drywall & Ceiling Tile Installers 47-2081
- Hourly mean wage
OEUS120000000000047208103 - Annual mean wage
OEUS120000000000047208104 - Annual median wage
OEUS120000000000047208113 - Employment
OEUS120000000000047208101
- Hourly mean wage
- Construction Laborers 47-2061
- Hourly mean wage
OEUS120000000000047206103 - Annual mean wage
OEUS120000000000047206104 - Annual median wage
OEUS120000000000047206113 - Employment
OEUS120000000000047206101
- Hourly mean wage
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades 47-1011
- Hourly mean wage
OEUS120000000000047101103 - Annual mean wage
OEUS120000000000047101104 - Annual median wage
OEUS120000000000047101113 - Employment
OEUS120000000000047101101
- Hourly mean wage
Each ID resolves to the live U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics public-API record for that exact figure.
Frequently Asked Questions: Drywall in Florida
What do drywall crews cost in Florida in 2026?
Drywall & ceiling tile installers — the core drywall trade — earn a mean wage of $23.51/hr ($48,900 per year) in Florida, per 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data, 23% below the national average. Labor is the largest variable cost on most drywall jobs, so this is the single biggest driver of how Florida drywall pricing compares with other states. Use the free drywall calculator on this page for a full materials-and-labor estimate for your specific project.
Do I need a permit for drywall work in Florida?
Permit requirements for drywall work in Florida vary by municipality and project scope. Most cities and counties in Florida require building permits for structural work and projects exceeding certain cost thresholds. Contact your local Florida building department for specific requirements — always verify before starting work.
What factors affect drywall costs in Florida?
Key factors include local labor rates (drywall & ceiling tile installers average $23.51/hr in Florida per BLS OEWS), material availability and regional pricing, permit and inspection fees, site conditions specific to Florida, and project complexity. Wages are the largest variable cost on most drywall jobs, which is why Florida pricing tracks its published trade-wage levels. Getting multiple written quotes from licensed Florida contractors is recommended for the most accurate pricing.
What This Estimate Includes
- Materials: drywall sheets, joint compound, tape, screws, corner bead at regional pricing
- Labor: Drywall & Ceiling Tile Installers in Florida earn a mean wage of $23.51/hr (BLS OEWS 2025)
- Waste factor: 10% standard waste allowance included
Not included: permits, demolition, site preparation beyond standard grading, inspections, or unforeseen site conditions.
Related Resources
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