Drywall Finisher Prevailing Wage Rates in California (2026)

Drywall Finishers on prevailing wage projects in California are paid $13.41 to $81.65 per hour, with a median total of $74.09 across the 100 determination records listed below. That total is base rate plus fringe benefits; the median base rate is $47.27, and among the 100 records listing a fringe separately the median fringe is $26.18. Rates differ by county, construction type and funding source, so use the row that matches your project.

Lowest listed$13.41per hour, total

Median listed$74.09 median base $47.27 · median fringe $26.18

Highest listed$81.65per hour, total

Records shown100 across 16 counties

Figures above are computed over the 100 hourly records in the table below, which is the first page of a larger set. They are not a statewide average of all drywall finishers in California. Most recent determination in this set: May 20, 2026.

How much do drywall finishers earn on prevailing wage jobs in California?

Every row below is one wage determination line: a drywall finisher classification, in one county, for one construction type, under one funding source. The rate that applies to your project is the row whose county, construction type and funding source all match it — a Highway rate does not apply to a Building project in the same county, and a state determination does not substitute for a federal one.

Classification	County	Construction type	Funding	Base	Fringe	Total
Drywall Installers/Lathers: Drywall Installer/Lather	Del-Norte	Building	#federal	$19.08	$7.40	$26.48
Drywall Installers/Lathers: Drywall Stocker, Scrapper & Clean-up	Del-Norte	Building	#federal	$9.54	$7.40	$16.94
Drywall Installers/Lathers: Drywall Installer/Lather	Humboldt	Building	#federal	$19.08	$7.40	$26.48
Drywall Installers/Lathers: Drywall Stocker, Scrapper & Clean-up	Humboldt	Building	#federal	$9.54	$7.40	$16.94
Drywall Installers/Lathers: Drywall Installer/Lather	Lake	Building	#federal	$19.08	$7.40	$26.48
Drywall Installers/Lathers: Drywall Stocker, Scrapper & Clean-up	Lake	Building	#federal	$9.54	$7.40	$16.94
Drywall Installers/Lathers: Drywall Installer/Lather	Mendocino	Building	#federal	$19.08	$7.40	$26.48
Drywall Installers/Lathers: Drywall Stocker, Scrapper & Clean-up	Mendocino	Building	#federal	$9.54	$7.40	$16.94
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	San-Bernardino	Heavy	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	San-Bernardino	Building	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	San-Bernardino	Highway	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall Finisher/Taper	San-Bernardino	Building	#federal	$49.33	$26.82	$76.15
Drywall Finisher/Taper	San-Bernardino	Heavy	#federal	$49.33	$26.82	$76.15
Drywall Finisher/Taper	San-Bernardino	Highway	#federal	$49.33	$26.82	$76.15
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	San-Bernardino	Highway	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	San-Bernardino	Heavy	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	San-Bernardino	Building	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	Riverside	Highway	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	Riverside	Building	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	Riverside	Heavy	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall Finisher/Taper	Riverside	Building	#federal	$49.33	$26.82	$76.15
Drywall Finisher/Taper	Riverside	Highway	#federal	$49.33	$26.82	$76.15
Drywall Finisher/Taper	Riverside	Heavy	#federal	$49.33	$26.82	$76.15
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	Riverside	Heavy	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	Riverside	Building	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	Riverside	Highway	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	Orange	Highway	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	Orange	Heavy	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	Orange	Building	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall Finisher/Taper	Orange	Building	#federal	$49.33	$26.82	$76.15
Drywall Finisher/Taper	Orange	Highway	#federal	$49.33	$26.82	$76.15
Drywall Finisher/Taper	Orange	Heavy	#federal	$49.33	$26.82	$76.15
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	Orange	Highway	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	Orange	Building	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	Orange	Heavy	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall Installers/Lathers: Drywall Installer/Lather	Amador	Building	#federal	$18.14	$6.48	$24.62
Drywall Installers/Lathers: Drywall Stocker, Scrapper & Clean-up	Amador	Building	#federal	$10.07	$3.34	$13.41
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	Los-Angeles	Building	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	Los-Angeles	Highway	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	Los-Angeles	Heavy	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	Los-Angeles	Building	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	Los-Angeles	Highway	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	Los-Angeles	Heavy	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	Inyo	Highway	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	Inyo	Heavy	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall (Drywall Installer/Lather)	Inyo	Building	#federal	$52.24	$26.18	$78.42
Drywall Finisher/Taper	Inyo	Heavy	#federal	$45.20	$26.82	$72.02
Drywall Finisher/Taper	Inyo	Highway	#federal	$45.20	$26.82	$72.02
Drywall Finisher/Taper	Inyo	Building	#federal	$45.20	$26.82	$72.02
Drywall (Stocker/Scrapper)	Inyo	Highway	#federal	$21.45	$11.27	$32.72
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Alameda	Marine	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Alameda	Highway	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Alameda	Building	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Alameda	Marine	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Alameda	Highway	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Alameda	Building	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Alameda	Heavy	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Alpine	Marine	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Alpine	Building	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Alpine	Heavy	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Alpine	Highway	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Alpine	Heavy	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Alpine	Building	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Alpine	Highway	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Alpine	Marine	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Amador	Building	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Amador	Highway	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Amador	Marine	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Amador	Heavy	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Amador	Marine	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Amador	Highway	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Amador	Building	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Amador	Heavy	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Butte	Highway	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Butte	Building	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Butte	Heavy	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Butte	Marine	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Butte	Marine	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Butte	Heavy	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Butte	Highway	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Butte	Building	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Calaveras	Heavy	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Calaveras	Highway	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Calaveras	Marine	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Calaveras	Building	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Calaveras	Marine	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Calaveras	Heavy	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Calaveras	Building	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Calaveras	Highway	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Colusa	Heavy	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Colusa	Building	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Colusa	Marine	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Colusa	Highway	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Colusa	Marine	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Colusa	Heavy	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Colusa	Building	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Stocker, Scrapper	Colusa	Highway	#state	$21.97	$14.73	$36.70
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Contra-Costa	Heavy	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65
Drywall Installer/Lather (Carpenter)- Drywall Installer/Lather	Contra-Costa	Marine	#state	$52.00	$29.65	$81.65

WageFinder holds more drywall finisher records for California than fit on this page. Open a county below, or search all California drywall finishers.

What does the drywall finisher classification cover?

Drywall work splits into two classifications on most determinations: hanging the board, which frequently falls under the carpenter rate, and taping and finishing it, which frequently falls under the painter rate. Pricing the whole scope at one rate is one of the most common Davis-Bacon classification errors.

Work typically covered

Board hanging
Taping and mudding
Texture application
Level 5 finishing
Patching and repair

Also listed as

Drywall Finisher/Taper
Taper
Drywall Hanger

In this California result set the work appears under 7 distinct classification names.

Drywall Finisher rates by county in California

Prevailing wage is set county by county. These are the California counties with drywall finisher records in the set above — open one to see every classification on that county's determination, not just this trade.

See all California counties →

Other trades in California

Drywall Finisher prevailing wage questions

What is the prevailing wage for a drywall finisher in California?

Across the 100 federal and state-funded determination records WageFinder lists for drywall finishers in California, total prevailing wage runs from $13.41 to $81.65 per hour, median $74.09. There is no single statewide figure: each county's determination sets its own rate, and the same county can carry different rates for Building, Highway, Heavy and Residential work.

Does the drywall finisher rate include benefits?

The total prevailing wage shown is the base hourly rate plus the fringe benefit rate. Of the 100 California records on this page, 100 list a fringe amount separately, with a median of $26.18 per hour — roughly 35% of the median total. The rest list no separate fringe, meaning the base rate is the whole obligation. Fringe can be paid as bona fide benefit plan contributions, as cash added to the paycheck, or as a mix of both.

Which California counties have drywall finisher rates?

This page lists drywall finisher records for 16 counties in California: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra-Costa, Del-Norte, Humboldt, Inyo, Lake, Los-Angeles, and others. Determinations that apply statewide appear under a statewide entry rather than a named county.

How current are these California drywall finisher rates?

The most recent determination in this set is dated May 20, 2026. WageFinder re-reads the official sources weekly, but the date that matters for compliance is the determination date on the document itself, which is shown on every wage detail page and links back to the government source.

Running certified payroll against these rates?

Talk to HCM TradeSeal