Drywall installers hang wallboard, ceiling tile installers build suspended ceilings, and tapers tape, fill and sand the joints so walls are ready for paint. It is physical, repetitive and exacting work on busy job sites. Generative AI does not hang or finish a wall, though it can help with takeoffs, bids and scheduling.
The short answer: AI exposure is very low and openings stay steady. The ILO's 2025 index rates plasterers, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.11. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2 percent growth for drywall installers, ceiling tile installers and tapers from 2025 to 2035, slower than average, with about 7,600 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed drywall installers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Plasterers | Not exposed | 0.11 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for drywall installers, not a score for the job title itself.
The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers | Grow 2% | In total |
| Tapers | Decline 2% | In total |
| Total for drywall installers, ceiling tile installers and tapers | Grow 2% | About 7,600 |
The BLS expects demand to continue, especially on new buildings, with home remodeling also a source of growth. Most openings will come from replacing workers who change occupations or retire. The BLS outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Drafting material takeoffs and bids from plans.
- Scheduling crews and tracking deliveries.
- Writing change orders, daily reports and invoices.
- Summarizing specs and fire rating requirements for a quick first read.
What stays with drywall installers
- The physical work: hanging, fastening, taping and sanding to a finish that passes inspection.
- Problem solving: dealing with out-of-plumb framing, openings and other trades' work.
- Safety: lifts, scaffolds and dust on a live site.
- Checking AI help: generated takeoffs and code summaries can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Growth is slow but steady, and replacing retiring workers creates most of the openings. Software is spreading into estimating and job management, so crews and small contractors who use it well can bid faster. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace painters?, will AI replace carpenters? and will AI replace construction managers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for drywall and ceiling tile installers and tapers at $59,780 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: no formal educational credential. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace drywall installers?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 2 percent growth for drywall installers, ceiling tile installers and tapers from 2025 to 2035.
How exposed is drywall work to AI?
The ILO rates plasterers, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.11. The index measures generative AI, not robots.
How many openings are expected?
About 7,600 a year on average over the decade, mostly from replacing workers, according to the BLS.
Are taper jobs growing?
The BLS projects tapers to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, while drywall and ceiling tile installers grow 2 percent.