DRYWALL INSTALLER / TAPER
Hangs drywall, finishes joints, preps walls for paint. The trade behind every smooth wall you've ever seen. Arizona is a right-to-work state — union density is lower than the national average, but licensed tradespeople still command solid wages on prevailing wage projects.
The License.
Most states issue a journeyman license (allows you to work under a licensed contractor) and a separate master or contractor license (allows you to pull permits and run your own business). The journeyman license typically requires completing your apprenticeship and passing a written exam; the master/contractor license requires additional field hours — usually 2 years as a journeyman — and a separate exam.
Requirements in Arizona: confirm current hour and exam requirements directly with Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC). Rules update frequently and our data reflects published standards as of early 2025.
The Money.
Pay data for this trade in Arizona. BLS metro-level data was not available for this combination. National medians shown below.
| Stage | Hourly range | Approx. annual |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 apprentice | $16–$22/hr | $32,000 – $44,000 |
| Journeyman scale | $25–$42/hr | $50,000 – $84,000 |
| BLS national median | — | $49,260 |
| BLS top 10% | — | $79,180 |
Arizona is a right-to-work state. Union scale in major Arizona metros typically runs 10–20% above the national median on public projects with prevailing wage requirements; non-union pay can run 15–30% below union scale on private work.
The Path.
Arizona is a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) state — it administers its own apprenticeship programs separately from the federal RAPIDS system. Contact the state labor department directly or visit apprenticeship.gov and filter by state.
- · IUPAT (Drywall Finishers branch)
- · UBC (Drywall Hangers)
The Exam.
Most construction trade licenses at the contractor level require a business and law exam in addition to the trade exam. Arizona may have this structure. Pass rates are not published uniformly — ask the licensing board directly for current data. Note: prevailing wage rules in Arizona apply primarily to public projects — private-sector jobs in this right-to-work state are exempt.
Be honest about pass rates. Many licensing boards do not publish them. When they do, first-time pass rates for journeyman exams in the trades typically run 50–75%. Preparation time varies — most serious candidates spend 60–120 hours on exam prep. Use code books from the correct edition, not what's currently in print.
What recruiters won't tell you.
- 01Piece-rate pay punishes new workers — expect low effective hourly rate the first 1–2 years.
- 02Silica dust from drywall is a real lung-health risk. Mask up.
- 03Shoulder and back injuries are career-shortening. Lift right.