Drywall Labor Cost in Alaska
At $35.43 an hour, the median installer wage in Alaska is 25% above the national median of $28.33, the 3rd highest of 49 states. One rung up, New Jersey pays $0.66 more an hour; one rung down, Oregon pays $0.08 less.
- BLS May 2025 data
- 3rd 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 Alaska compares
- Closest median wages
- Oregon $35.35, Washington $35.16 and New Jersey $36.09
| State | Rank | Median | Against Alaska |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $50.40 | $14.97 more |
| New Jersey | 2 | $36.09 | $0.66 more |
| Alaska | 3 | $35.43 | this state |
| Oregon | 4 | $35.35 | $0.08 less |
| Washington | 5 | $35.16 | $0.27 less |
A 12 x 12 room in Alaska
| Low end, $1.30/sq ft | $686 |
|---|---|
| High end, $2.70/sq ft | $1,426 |
| Oregon | $766 to $1,584 | $79.20 more than Alaska at the low end |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $792 to $1,663 | $105.60 more than Alaska at the low end |
| New Jersey | $818 to $1,690 | $132.00 more than Alaska at the low end |
Against the US range of $634 to $1,320, Alaska labor for this room is $52.80 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 Alaska
| Occupation | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installers | $22.50 | $29.23 | $35.43 | $36.47 | $42.45 | $32.75 |
| Installers, yearly | $46,800 | $60,798 | $73,694 | $75,858 | $88,296 | $68,130 |
| US installers | $18.49 | $22.81 | $28.33 | $35.69 | $49.04 | $30.58 |
Half of the installers in Alaska earn between $29.23 and $36.47 an hour, for a mean of $68,130 a year. Only 100 installers are on payrolls in Alaska, the 2nd smallest count among 49 states. The location quotient of 0.56 means installers hold a smaller share of jobs in Alaska than nationally, 56% of it. The mean of $32.75 sits below the $35.43 median, so lower-paid workers pull the average down rather than a few high earners lifting it. From the 10th percentile, $22.50, to the 90th, $42.45, installer pay spans $19.95 an hour, 65% of the $30.55 national spread. BLS publishes no taper estimate for Alaska.