Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Smooth strips or sections of paper with brushes or rollers to remove wrinkles and bubbles and to smooth joints.
Trim rough edges from strips, using straightedges and trimming knives.
Trim excess material at ceilings or baseboards, using knives.
Check finished wallcoverings for proper alignment, pattern matching, and neatness of seams.
Mark vertical guidelines on walls to align strips, using plumb bobs and chalk lines.
Top skills:SpeakingCoordinationActive ListeningTime ManagementCritical ThinkingMonitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Paperhanger pay by experience level
Entry level$37,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$46,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$54,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$62,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$71,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+5.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
200
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Paperhanger salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
1,030 workers
$54,000
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services
1,010 workers
$54,000
Specialty Trade Contractors
300 workers
$63,000
Building Finishing Contractors
300 workers
$63,000
Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers
60 workers
$52,000
Building Material and Supplies Dealers
60 workers
$52,000
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
30 workers
$55,500
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
30 workers
$55,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Paperhanger pays 15% below the average across 63 roles in the Construction and Extraction job family (family average $65,000).
Similar-paying roles in Construction and Extraction
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