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Drywall Labor Cost in South Carolina

South Carolina is one of the lower-paying states for drywall work: its median installer wage of $21.80 an hour is 23% under the national median, 8th lowest of 49. One rung up, Oklahoma pays $0.35 more an hour; one rung down, North Dakota pays $0.11 less.

  • BLS May 2025 data
  • 42nd of 49 by median wage

By · Updated

Median installer wage$21.8023% below US $28.33
Rank by median42ndof 49 states
Labor per sq ft$0.90+estimate, up to $1.90
Installers on payrolls34037th most of 49

Room dimensions

Room shape
Length
ft
in
Width
ft
in
Wall height
ft
in

Wall height changes the board layout. Compare 8 ft, 9 ft and 10 ft walls.

Surfaces & board

Sheet size

Openings & waste

21 sq ft each
15 sq ft each
16 x 7 ft, 112 sq ft
%
10% is standard
Cost estimateoptional
$
per 4' x 8' sheet
$
typical $1.20 to $2.50

Your estimate

4' x 8' sheets · 10% waste allowance
21sheets of
4' x 8' drywall

Area

Gross wall area416.0 sq ft
Less openings- 51.0 sq ft
Net wall area365.0 sq ft
Ceiling area168.0 sq ft
Total drywall area533.0 sq ft
With 10% waste586.3 sq ft

Materials

Joint compound85.1 lb2 × 4.5 gal box
Joint tape225 linear ft1 × 250 ft roll
Drywall screws575about 3 lb

Cost breakdown

Drywall board (21 sheets)$336
Finishing materials$65.00compound, tape, screws
Labor (hang & finish)$746
Estimated total$1,147

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 South Carolina compares

Closest median wages
North Dakota $21.69, North Carolina $21.67 and Oklahoma $22.15
40th to 44th of 49 by median installer wage
StateRankMedianAgainst South Carolina
Rhode Island40$22.65$0.85 more
Oklahoma41$22.15$0.35 more
South Carolina42$21.80this state
North Dakota43$21.69$0.11 less
North Carolina44$21.67$0.13 less

A 12 x 12 room in South Carolina

384 sq ft of 8 ft walls plus 144 of ceiling
Low end, $0.90/sq ft$475
High end, $1.90/sq ft$1,003
The same room in the states with the closest median wages
North Dakota$475 to $977same low end as South Carolina
North Carolina$449 to $924$26.40 less than South Carolina at the low end
Oklahoma$449 to $950$26.40 less than South Carolina at the low end

Against the US range of $634 to $1,320, South Carolina labor for this room is $158.40 less 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 South Carolina

Hourly wage percentiles, South Carolina, BLS May 2025
Occupation10th25thMedian75th90thMean
Installers$15.55$18.36$21.80$25.56$32.98$23.28
Installers, yearly$32,344$38,189$45,344$53,165$68,598$48,410
US installers$18.49$22.81$28.33$35.69$49.04$30.58

Half of the installers in South Carolina earn between $18.36 and $25.56 an hour, for a mean of $48,410 a year. Installers are a thin slice of the workforce in South Carolina, with a location quotient of 0.28: their share of jobs is 28% of the national share. The mean, $23.28, and the median, $21.80, sit within 7% of each other. From the 10th percentile, $15.55, to the 90th, $32.98, installer pay spans $17.43 an hour, 57% of the $30.55 national spread. BLS publishes no taper estimate for South Carolina.

Frequently asked questions

Drywall and ceiling tile installers in South Carolina earn a mean of $23.28 an hour ($48,410 a year) and a median of $21.80, 23% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half earn $18.36 to $25.56.