Drywall Labor Cost in Hawaii
Hawaii pays drywall installers more than any other state: a median of $50.40 an hour, 78% above the US median of $28.33. Second-placed New Jersey trails by $14.31 an hour.
- BLS May 2025 data
- 1st of 49 by median wage
Your estimate
4' x 8' sheets · 10% waste allowance4' x 8' drywall
Area
Materials
Cost breakdown
Quantities include a 10% waste allowance and standard deductions of 21 sq ft per door, 15 sq ft per window and 112 sq ft per garage door. The sheet count comes from laying the board out wall by wall, plus 10% as spare sheets. Round up when in doubt, an extra sheet costs less than a second trip.
How Hawaii compares
- Closest median wages
- New Jersey $36.09, Alaska $35.43 and Oregon $35.35
| State | Rank | Median | Against Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $50.40 | this state |
| New Jersey | 2 | $36.09 | $14.31 less |
| Alaska | 3 | $35.43 | $14.97 less |
| Oregon | 4 | $35.35 | $15.05 less |
| Washington | 5 | $35.16 | $15.24 less |
A 12 x 12 room in Hawaii
| Low end, $1.80/sq ft | $950 |
|---|---|
| High end, $3.80/sq ft | $2,006 |
| New Jersey | $818 to $1,690 | $132.00 less than Hawaii at the low end |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $686 to $1,426 | $264.00 less than Hawaii at the low end |
| Oregon | $766 to $1,584 | $184.80 less than Hawaii at the low end |
Against the US range of $634 to $1,320, Hawaii labor for this room is $316.80 more at the low end, scaled from wages rather than bids (method). Also see the room's sheet count and its paint estimate.
What drywall workers earn in Hawaii
| Occupation | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installers | $24.15 | $35.36 | $50.40 | $55.47 | $57.53 | $46.38 |
| Tapers | $23.50 | $45.81 | $45.91 | $48.43 | $48.85 | $42.68 |
| Installers, yearly | $50,232 | $73,549 | $104,832 | $115,378 | $119,662 | $96,460 |
| US installers | $18.49 | $22.81 | $28.33 | $35.69 | $49.04 | $30.58 |
| US tapers | $21.00 | $25.35 | $32.82 | $42.57 | $51.50 | $34.96 |
Half of the installers in Hawaii earn between $35.36 and $55.47 an hour, for a mean of $96,460 a year. Drywall is a big trade in Hawaii: a location quotient of 2.40 means installers hold 2.4 times their national share of jobs. The mean of $46.38 sits below the $50.40 median, so lower-paid workers pull the average down rather than a few high earners lifting it. From the 10th percentile, $24.15, to the 90th, $57.53, installer pay spans $33.38 an hour, 109% of the $30.55 national spread. Tapers, who tape and finish the joints, earn a median of $45.91 in Hawaii, 9% less than installers.