Drywall mechanic vs acoustical ceiling mechanic

The differences between drywall mechanics and acoustical ceiling mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a drywall mechanic and an acoustical ceiling mechanic. Additionally, an acoustical ceiling mechanic has an average salary of $49,532, which is higher than the $39,271 average annual salary of a drywall mechanic.

The top three skills for a drywall mechanic include ladders, stud and OSHA. The most important skills for an acoustical ceiling mechanic are scaffolding, snips, and grid systems.

Drywall mechanic vs acoustical ceiling mechanic overview

	Drywall Mechanic	Acoustical Ceiling Mechanic
Yearly salary	$39,271	$49,532
Hourly rate	$18.88	$23.81
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	33,473	33,392
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 53%	High School Diploma, 56%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	2	2

Drywall mechanic vs acoustical ceiling mechanic salary

Drywall mechanics and acoustical ceiling mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Drywall Mechanic	Acoustical Ceiling Mechanic
Average salary	$39,271	$49,532
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $51,000	Between $26,000 And $92,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between drywall mechanic and acoustical ceiling mechanic education

There are a few differences between a drywall mechanic and an acoustical ceiling mechanic in terms of educational background:

	Drywall Mechanic	Acoustical Ceiling Mechanic
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 53%	High School Diploma, 56%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Drywall mechanic vs acoustical ceiling mechanic demographics

Here are the differences between drywall mechanics' and acoustical ceiling mechanics' demographics:

	Drywall Mechanic	Acoustical Ceiling Mechanic
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3%	Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 33.6% Asian, 1.1% White, 50.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%	Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 29.6% Asian, 1.1% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.3%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between drywall mechanic and acoustical ceiling mechanic duties and responsibilities

Drywall mechanic example responsibilities.

Ensure high quality work in metal stud framing, drywall, and acoustical ceilings installations.
Rinse, drain, or wipe coat work pieces to remove excess coating material or to facilitate setting of finish coats.
Collaborate with electricians, carpenters and mechanics to complete construction projects.
Follow strict safety guidelines including wearing personal protective equipment.

Acoustical ceiling mechanic example responsibilities.

Install commercial acoustic ceilings at various heights with the use of stilts and scaffolding.
Install acoustical ceilings by walking on stilts.
Work standing on ladders, or scaffolds.
Install acoustical ceilings using lasers and scaffolding or scissor lifts.
Assist drywallers and finishers and learn all facets of job.
Perform duties as a foreman for metal stud and wallboard installation.

Drywall mechanic vs acoustical ceiling mechanic skills

Common drywall mechanic skills

Ladders, 25%
Stud, 20%
OSHA, 16%
Acoustical Ceilings, 7%
Caulking, 5%
Tape Measure, 5%

Common acoustical ceiling mechanic skills

Scaffolding, 45%
Snips, 21%
Grid Systems, 19%
Stilts, 10%
Stud, 7%

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Drywall Mechanic vs Acoustical Ceiling Mechanic

Updated January 8, 2025

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