Drywall · CA

Drywall costs in Chico, CA

Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only

How this market compares

If you are pricing Drywall work in Chico, the wage file is the honest place to start. Mean hourly pay here sits about 4% above the national OEWS mean.

Mean Drywall pay here is $31.78/hr — national rank 40 of 209 areas that publish this occupation. Inside CA, that is rank 19 of 24 published areas. Hourly wages stretch from $21.51 (10th percentile) to $46.88 (90th). That $25.37 gap is why two bids on the same scope can still look honest.

OEWS counts about 60 Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers jobs in this area. Nationwide that occupation is about 83,080. Sample jobs: Drywall Patch (small hole) mid estimate $143 here vs $138 U.S. (3% above); Drywall Installation mid estimate $2,215 here vs $2,145 U.S. (3% above).

Same-state comparison: El Centro ($31.71, 0.07 lower); Yuba City ($31.94, 0.16 higher); Merced ($31.38, 0.40 lower).

Mean hourly wage
$31.78
Median hourly
$29.52
p10 – p90
$21.51 – $46.88

Local tip: Local code, permit fees, and how busy crews are this month move numbers as much as wage rates do.

Sample project ranges

ProjectLowMidHigh
Drywall Patch (small hole)$51$143$397
Drywall Installation (default size)$922$2,215$6,564

What usually moves the number

Rebates (verify; don’t trust a random Facebook ad)

Check IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE for any incentives that apply to this project. Start with IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE.

Getting quotes without the circus

  1. Screenshot our mid/low/high band.
  2. Ask three licensed, insured pros for written scopes.
  3. Compare exclusions — permits, haul-away, thermostats, flashing — before crowning a winner.
What this estimate can’t tell you. Roof pitch, an old house or code upgrades, tough access, permits, emergency or after-hours calls, and brand tier can push a real quote outside this range.

Check our math

BLS OEWS May 2025 · local hourly means the calculator uses

Drywall (47-2081)$31.78/hr mean

Source: official BLS OEWS data for this area · area index: oessrcma.htm.

Contractor markup (2.0× / 2.25× / 2.5×) and the regional materials factor are ours — see methodology.

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Gear people often ask about

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Thermostats

A decent thermostat won’t fix a bad install, but it can stop the short-cycling arguments.

Partner options
Water heaters

Tank, tankless, heat-pump — the sticker price is only half the story.

Partner options
Warranties & financing

Read the exclusions. “Full coverage” rarely means what the brochure implies.

Partner options

Monthly wage & cost note

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