Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Overall Exposure
2025 vs 2023
Theoretical Exposure
19What AI could do
Observed Exposure
4What AI actually does
Automation Risk Score
7Displacement risk
3-Year Outlook (2025 → 2028)
Projected changes in AI automation metrics over the next 3 years based on estimated data.
Overall Exposure
2025 → 2028 (estimated)
Theoretical Exposure
2025 → 2028 (estimated)
Observed Exposure
2025 → 2028 (estimated)
Automation Risk
2025 → 2028 (estimated)
Exposure Metrics (2023 - 2028)
Task Breakdown
About This Occupation
If you work as a Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer, AI has very little impact on your profession. With an automation risk of just 7/100 and overall exposure at 9%, this trade remains firmly hands-on. The most AI-influenced task is reading blueprints and planning material layout at 24% automation, while physical installation work stays below 7%. This is classified as an 'augment' role, meaning technology can help with measurement and planning but cannot replace the manual dexterity required. BLS projects +1% growth through 2034, with median annual wage of $52,400. While commercial construction drives steady demand, prefabricated wall systems and modular construction may gradually change the trade. Workers who can read digital blueprints and use laser measurement tools will have a competitive edge.
ISCO-08 classification
Plasterers
Definition
ILO original text (English)
Plasterers install, maintain and repair plasterboard in buildings, and apply decorative and protective coverings of plaster, cement and similar material to the interiors and exteriors of structures.
Definition & vocabulary source
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) — ISCO-08 Structure
License: ILO CC BY 4.0
Official occupational information
- ONET47-2081.00
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
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, fireproofing, or acoustical material.
View original - ONET47-2082.00
Tapers
Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.
View original - ONET47-2161.00
Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.
View original
Frequently Asked Questions
With an automation risk score of 7%, Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers has a low risk of AI replacement. Most tasks in this role require skills that are difficult for AI to replicate, such as complex decision-making, physical dexterity, or deep interpersonal interaction. AI is more likely to serve as a supportive tool.
Our estimated AI automation risk score for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers is 7% for 2025. Estimated overall AI exposure is 9%, with 19% theoretical exposure and 4% observed exposure. The estimated risk trend from 2023 to 2025 is +3 points. All of these are model-generated estimates, not measurements.
The tasks with the highest automation potential for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers are: Read blueprints and plan material layout (24%), Install acoustical ceiling tiles and suspension systems (7%), Measure, cut, and fasten drywall panels to framing (6%). These rates are our own estimates of how much of each task current AI systems can handle. They are not measurements and are not taken from any external dataset.
We estimate a +1% employment change for Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers between 2024 and 2034. This is our own estimate, not a figure published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Combined with an estimated overall AI exposure of 9%, this occupation faces both traditional labor market shifts and AI-driven transformation. Workers should monitor both employment trends and AI capability growth.
Since AI primarily augments capabilities in this role, professionals in Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers should embrace AI as a productivity multiplier. Focus on learning to use AI tools effectively, developing higher-order analytical and creative skills, and positioning yourself as someone who can leverage AI to deliver greater value.
Recent AI Impact Changes
Mar 2026: Evergreen blog post published analyzing AI impact on drywall installers (7% exposure, 5/100 risk).
[Source: AI Changing Work Blog]