what is a drywall installer?
As a drywall installer, you install wall and ceiling claddings, lightweight partition walls, and flooring systems using dry construction methods. This means you avoid plaster, mortar, and masonry, instead using prefabricated elements mainly made from plaster and plasterboard. Drywalling offers several advantages: the construction time is shorter than traditional wet trades, and there’s no need for lengthy drying processes. As a result, interior fit out using dry construction is often more cost effective. Additionally, dry walls and ceilings provide greater flexibility for any subsequent modifications.
As a drywall installer, you belong to the interior fit out trade. You only come into play once the shell of the building has been completed. Since you are responsible for the interior finishing, your workplace is inside the building. You are involved in both new builds and renovation or refurbishment projects. Your task is not just to fix wall and ceiling coverings. You also construct the necessary substructures for them. Additionally, for the installation of partition walls, you prepare timber or metal stud frameworks. Apart from that, you are responsible for the thermal and acoustic insulation of ceilings, walls, and floors.
To work as a drywall installer, you need good craftsmanship skills and a strong sense of spatial awareness. Additionally, you should be physically fit, as some of your tasks require a lot of strength. That said, the drywall installer job is incredibly versatile. You’ll work on different construction sites and carry out a variety of tasks. The next paragraph will tell you more about the specific activities involved.
drywall jobsworking as a drywall installer.
As a drywall installer, you install partition walls, wall claddings, and suspended ceilings, and lay floors. Specifically, your tasks include the following:
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your area of responsibility
- Prepare the order: You read construction plans to determine what needs to be installed where. Then, you take measurements and decide which materials to use.
- Setting up the construction site: You prepare the ready materials and the necessary tools such as saws, drills, profile cutters, and angle grinders, and transport them to the site. On site, you protect fixtures and components that should not be damaged with dust sheets. Where necessary, you set up ladders and scaffolding.
- Create a substructure: To mount lightweight panels on the wall or ceiling, you usually need to first build a substructure. This typically involves wooden battens or metal profiles that you screw into the wall or ceiling. Also, when constructing a partition wall, the initial step is to assemble a framework made of wood or metal, to which you later attach the wall cladding. Additionally, you install the cables and ventilation ducts that run beneath the drywall walls and ceilings.
- Insulating walls and ceilings: Before installing wall or ceiling coverings, you often need to fit insulation mats. These serve both to provide thermal insulation and soundproofing. In some cases, you may also need to install a vapour barrier to prevent moisture vapour from penetrating.
- Attaching the panels: Once you've finished with the substructure and insulation, you can fix the wall or ceiling coverings in place. For the cladding material, you can use plasterboard and fibreboard panels, but also wooden panels or plastic sheets. You secure the panels to the substructure by screwing, nailing, or gluing them. Before fitting the panels, you cut them to size. In particular, you cut out openings for windows, doors, light switches, and sockets.
- Fill and sand the joints and holes: Once the panels are installed, you fill the joints and screw holes with filler. Afterwards, you sand down the panels to create a smooth surface.
- Installing floors: Similar to walls and ceilings, as a drywall installer you also construct floors. You can either lay the floor panels directly onto the substrate or build a stud framework on which the panels rest. In the latter case, the cavity is used for cables and other installations. Such raised floors are mainly used in commercial buildings. If you lay the panels directly onto the surface, you first need to check whether it is level. Any unevenness should be compensated for with a dry screed.
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who are your colleagues?
As a drywall installer, you're rarely working alone. Most of the time, you carry out your tasks as part of a team with other drywall installers and plasterers. When renovating old buildings, you often collaborate with stucco workers who restore ornaments and other decorative plasterwork. Additionally, you work alongside other construction professionals such as painters, carpenters, bricklayers, or tilers. In the course of your work, you'll also come into contact with site managers, construction supervisors, and architects.
types of drywall installers.
Among drywall installers, there is no distinction made between different types. As a drywall installer, you are a generalist. You install wall and ceiling linings, partition walls, floors, and the necessary substructures. Occasionally, you may specialise in certain areas such as acoustic ceilings, fire resistant walls, or drywalling work for industrial and commercial buildings. However, in most cases, you will also carry out a variety of other tasks.
Typically, you work in a plastering company or a combined painting and plastering business. As a result, alongside drywall work, you are often also involved in plastering tasks such as rendering walls, ceilings, or facades.
salary as a drywall installer.
how much do I earn as a drywall installer in a permanent position?
For drywall installers in German speaking Switzerland, except for the city of Zurich, the collective employment agreement (CEA) for the painting and plastering trades in German speaking Switzerland and Ticino applies. This includes binding minimum wages for various categories of drywall installers.
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Career changers: As a career changer, your minimum salary is 54,704 Swiss francs per year. After one year of professional experience, you automatically move up to the 'Helper' category."
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Helper: As a helper, you earn a minimum of 59,020 Swiss francs. You can remain in this category for a maximum of four years. After that, you will move up to the skilled worker category.
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Skilled worker: As a skilled worker, you earn a salary of at least 61,958 Swiss francs.
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Leavers: In the first three years after completing your apprenticeship, your minimum salary ranges between 57,694 and 64,883 Swiss francs.
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Skilled worker with a vocational qualification and at least three years of professional experience: As a qualified skilled worker, you earn a minimum of 67,496 Swiss francs.
(Stand of minimum wages: 1 April 2023)
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how much do I earn as a drywall installer per hour?
Basically, the collective agreement (GAV) only provides for a monthly salary. However, there is an exception for temporary employment. If you are working as a lateral entrant temporarily in drywalling, you will earn a minimum hourly rate of 29.55 Swiss francs. This includes a proportional compensation for holidays, public holidays, and the 13th month salary. Immediately after completing your apprenticeship, your minimum hourly rate is 31.19 Swiss francs. As a qualified professional with experience, you can expect a minimum hourly rate of 36.47 Swiss francs.
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how can I improve my salary as a drywall installer?
The key levers to increasing your salary are education and experience. Completing an apprenticeship will earn you more than without. Regularly attending further training also improves your earning potential. Aside from that, the size of the company matters. Larger organisations tend to secure more lucrative large scale and specialised contracts more easily. As a result, they can offer higher wages. There are also regional differences. You’ll generally earn the most in big cities and metropolitan areas. However, the cost of living is also highest there.
vocational training and further education as a dry stone waller.
To work as a drywall installer, you don't necessarily need to have a formal qualification. However, completing an apprenticeship as a plasterer drywall installer will improve your career prospects. The apprenticeship lasts three years and leads to the Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ). During your training, you will work in a plastering company or a combined painting and plastering firm. Each year of your apprenticeship includes ten one week block courses at the vocational college.
In your apprenticeship, you will learn not only the basics of drywalling but also the plastering craft, making you versatile for various roles later on. If you're unable to undertake a traditional apprenticeship perhaps because you're from abroad and your language skills are not yet sufficient you have the option to complete a certificate apprenticeship. The certificate apprenticeship as a plastering assistant lasts two years. After completing it, you can then qualify for the EFZ through a shortened two year vocational training programme.
what further training opportunities are available to me as a drywall installer?
Trade schools and the industry association for painters and plasterers offer a comprehensive range of courses, from which even those without formal qualifications can benefit. If you are a trained plasterer or drywall installer, you also have opportunities for advanced professional development. The first step is obtaining the foreman diploma. If you want to progress further in your career, it’s advisable to undertake additional training to become a project manager specialising in plastering, drywalling, and insulation technology, and ultimately sit the master craftsman exam.
If you’re interested in historic buildings or creative projects, you can also achieve the federal professional qualification as a craftsman specialising in conservation or as a designer within the trade. Do you see your future more in an office than on site? In that case, you should consider studying at a higher technical college or university of applied sciences.
positions as a drywall installer.
According to a recent study, five out of six plastering companies are complaining about a shortage of skilled workers. They expect the lack of qualified professionals to worsen in the future. This trend is being reinforced by the increasing demand for high quality drywalling and plastering work.
That's good news for you. There are plenty of job openings for dry liners and this situation isn’t likely to change anytime soon. You can choose from a range of job offers: Would you prefer to work in a small family run business or in a larger, regional company? Are you looking for a versatile role as a painter and plasterer, or do you want to specialise solely in drywalling? Whatever you decide, you’ll find the right job for you.
positions for career changers as drywalling workers.
The plastering trade shows a great openness towards career changers. In three out of five plastering companies, more than half of the staff do not hold a recognised qualification as a plasterer or drywall installer, nor do they have a comparable foreign apprenticeship (for example, as a drywall installer). A good way for those outside the industry to get a foothold in drywall is through temporary work. One in three businesses in the painting and plastering sector works with temporary agency staff. If you put in effort as a temporary worker, your chances of being offered a permanent position by the company are quite good. Thinking of trying your hand as a dry liner through a temporary job? Then apply to Randstad. We have many interesting job opportunities in the painting and plastering sector.
career opportunities and development potential as a drywall installer.
If you have leadership qualities, you can quickly advance your career as a drywall installer. The first step on the career ladder is the position of foreman. As a foreman, you lead a small team of drywall installers and plasterers. You assign tasks to team members and oversee the quality of their work. The next step up is the role of project manager or site supervisor. As a project manager, you coordinate work across multiple sites and ensure deadlines and budgets are met. Are you tempted to take on even more responsibility? Then, as your career progresses, you can move into management. In this role, you’ll acquire clients, calculate costs, plan staffing, and sign contracts. Not least, you also have the option to set up your own business or take over a plastering company.
competencies as a drywall installer.
A drywall installer is a tradesperson. Therefore, you need to have good manual skills. In addition, you should possess the following abilities:
- spatial awareness: you need a good sense of visualisation and should be able to read plans
- technical understanding: as a drywall installer, you need to be proficient in handling machines and equipment
- precise working method: to achieve a satisfactory result, you need to work cleanly and accurately. additionally, it is important to follow safety regulations; otherwise, there is a risk of accidents
- teamwork: drywall installation is a team effort. Interpersonal skills are therefore essential
- robust condition: for work as a drywall installer, you need strength and good mobility
benefits of working as a drywall installer at randstad.
There are many good reasons to work at Randstad as a drywall installer:
✓ exciting jobs at well known companies
✓ a reliable point of contact whenever you need one – personal advice really matters
✓ attractive employment conditions and good social benefits
✓ further education courses and personal development opportunities
✓ clear information in the myRandstad app
✓ do you have a fixed term contract? Often, there’s the opportunity to secure a permanent position afterwards. Many well known companies also recruit their staff directly through Randstad
your training budget as a dry stone waller at randstad.
If you work as a drywall installer for Randstad, you have access to further training courses. As part of the TempTraining programme offered by swissstaffing, you can attend training sessions. This allows you to gain additional language skills or job specific knowledge. And all of this during your working hours as a drywall installer. The course fees will be reimbursed if you pass the course exam. Do you have any questions about the training? Your Randstad advisor is always there to support you.
application tips for drywall installer at randstad.
Have you found your dream job as a drywall installer? When it comes to the success of your applications, qualifications and certificates are not the only factors. Careful, error free, and personalised documents can really help you in your job search. Here are a few useful tips to improve your chances:
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1. find a drywall installer
Search through the Randstad job offers. If you can't find a position that exactly suits you, you can still get in touch with us informally via email or phone, or create a Randstad profile.
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2. apply as a drywall installer
The job advert continues straight away: apply online, give us a call, or send us an email.
Make sure your documents are complete:
✓ CV with photograph
✓ employment references and diplomas
You don't have a CV yet or only have an outdated version? In that case, it's best to put together a new layout using a free online template.
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3. how to prepare for a job interview as a drywall installer
Good preparation helps you stay calm during a drywalling interview.
Here you’ll find tips for your job interview.
frequently asked questions.
Do you have questions about the profession of a drywall installer? Here you'll find the answers.
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what does a dry liner do?
As a drywall installer, you install wall and ceiling claddings, partition walls, and floors. You mainly work with lightweight boards made from plaster and other materials. You are also responsible for constructing the substructures and insulating walls and ceilings.
Would you like to find out more about what your work as a drywall installer involves? Then read on.
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how much do I earn as a dry stone waller?
As an unskilled worker, you start with a minimum wage of around 55,000 Swiss francs. If you've just completed an apprenticeship as a plasterer drywall installer, your minimum wage according to the collective employment agreement for German speaking Switzerland is just under 58,000 francs. After three years of professional experience, you will earn at least 67,500 francs as a qualified tradesperson.
Are you looking for a drywalling job with good pay prospects? Then you’ve come to the right place with our job offers.
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is drywalling a good profession?
Yes, drywalling is a promising profession for the future. It is increasingly used in new builds as well as in renovations and conversions. Drywalling requires less time and is more cost effective than traditional wet plastering methods. Moreover, as a drywall installer, you are a generalist and also familiar with classic plastering work. That makes you versatile and adaptable to a variety of tasks.
Are you interested in a job as a drywall installer? Then take a look at our job listings.
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is the work as a drywall installer difficult?
Drywall installation is physically demanding. You have to carry heavy panels and often need a lot of strength during assembly. Additionally, you must work neatly and precisely. In return, you'll be rewarded with a very varied daily work routine.
Are you not afraid of physical work? Then browse our job listings for a position as a drywall installer.
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do I need experience to become a drywall installer?
No. A large part of drywall installers are career changers. As a career changer, you will be trained by experienced colleagues and develop your skills through hands on work. Additionally, you can expand your expertise by attending courses. Another good way for unqualified workers to get into the drylining trade is to start with a temporary position.
Just apply to Randstad. We have lots of interesting job opportunities for you.
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what requirements do I need to meet to become a drywall installer?
You need manual skills, a good spatial awareness, and technical understanding. Additionally, you should be able to work precisely and have good stamina. Teamwork skills are also important. A completed apprenticeship as a plasterer or drywall installer, or an equivalent foreign qualification as a dry wall installer, is not necessary. However, having a recognised qualification can lead to a higher salary.
To understand what employers expect from you, it's best to take a look at our job listings for plasterers and drywall installers.
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how do I apply for a job as a drywall installer?
Applying for a job as a drywall installer is straightforward: create a profile on Randstad and browse our job listings for available positions in your area. Then, send us your CV and cover letter. Need some help with your application? Here are our tips for job hunting.
