Drywall finishers tape, mud, sand, and bring a wall to a level-5 finish, and the same trade boards, installs, and builds interior walls and ceilings. Pay reflects finishing skill, the range of systems a tradesperson can run, and experience, more than a licence. This guide sets out what it pays.
The official wage band
Job Bank classifies this trade under NOC 73102, Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers. It is a coherent group of interior wall and ceiling trades, so the figures cover drywall finishers alongside plasterers and lathers. These are the official hourly wages in Canada, low to high, updated November 19, 2025.
| Level | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Low | $23.00 |
| Median | $33.00 |
| High | $43.75 |
On a full-time basis that works out to roughly $45,000 to $65,000 a year for much of the trade, with regional medians running from about $20 an hour in New Brunswick to around $34 in Toronto.
Reading the band
The band is wide because it spans an apprentice near the floor and an experienced journeyperson-level finisher running level-5 work and ceiling systems at the top. Read the upper end as the skilled-finish and interior-systems end, where taping quality, corner bead, and suspended and coffered ceilings are part of the job.
What lifts your pay
- Level-5 finish quality and clean, fast taping and sanding
- Suspended and coffered ceilings and metal stud framing
- Boarding and installation speed and accuracy
- The apprenticeship path and journeyperson-level experience
A note on certification
Certification here is voluntary, not a compulsory ticket. Drywall installer and finisher certification is available in British Columbia and pursued through apprenticeship. The Red Seal endorsement in this group sits on the lather, or interior systems mechanic, stream, and Quebec's compulsory certification applies to lathers. So the drywall finisher is paid for craft and experience, and certification is a way to formalize it rather than a licence to work.
Reading the ranges
These bands cover NOC 73102, the plasterer, drywall, and lather group. Apprentices sit near the floor. Experienced finishers with level-5 and ceiling-systems skill sit toward the ceiling.
Sources: Job Bank Canada wage data (NOC 73102, updated November 19, 2025), the Red Seal program, and provincial apprenticeship authorities.
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