Paperhangers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for paperhangerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- California$70,790
- New York$62,040
- Missouri$58,790
- Pennsylvania$57,550
- Washington$53,620
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Florida$43,640
- North Carolina$44,500
- Tennessee$45,970
- Wisconsin$48,750
- Colorado$49,970
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $70,790 | $62,790 | $34 | +31.8% | 130 |
| 2 | New York | $62,040 | $60,230 | $30 | +15.5% | 300 |
| 3 | Missouri | $58,790 | $59,560 | $28 | +9.4% | — |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $57,550 | $61,800 | $28 | +7.1% | 30 |
| 5 | Washington | $53,620 | $46,270 | $26 | -0.2% | — |
| 6 | Indiana | $51,530 | $54,810 | $25 | -4.1% | 70 |
| 7 | Ohio | $51,120 | $47,830 | $25 | -4.9% | 70 |
| 8 | South Carolina | $50,280 | $46,800 | $24 | -6.4% | 50 |
| 9 | Colorado | $49,970 | $48,180 | $24 | -7% | 130 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $48,750 | $51,500 | $23 | -9.3% | — |
| 11 | Tennessee | $45,970 | $46,010 | $22 | -14.4% | 40 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $44,500 | $48,590 | $21 | -17.2% | 100 |
| 13 | Florida | $43,640 | $48,780 | $21 | -18.8% | 30 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 4 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $71,270 | $78,210 | 30 |
| 2 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,450 | $65,090 | 220 |
| 3 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $59,990 | $59,640 | — |
| 4 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $58,550 | $56,980 | — |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing paperhangerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Specialty Trade Contractors | $59,320 | $60,690 | 300 |
| 2 | Building Finishing Contractors | $59,320 | $60,690 | 300 |
| 3 | Painting and Wall Covering Contractors | $59,320 | $60,690 | 300 |
| 4 | Sector 23 - Construction | $57,760 | $58,550 | 360 |
| 5 | Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing | $55,740 | $55,600 | 70 |
| 6 | Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $53,560 | $50,170 | 60 |
| 7 | Building Material and Supplies Dealers | $53,560 | $50,170 | 60 |
| 8 | Sectors 44 and 45 - Retail Trade | $53,560 | $50,170 | 60 |
| 9 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $53,290 | $53,720 | 30 |
| 10 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $53,290 | $53,720 | 30 |
| 11 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $52,140 | $53,730 | 1,570 |
| 12 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $52,140 | $53,630 | 1,550 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do paperhangers make in the U.S.?
The median paperhangers salary in the United States is $52,140 per year (mean $53,730), and about 80% earn between $36,020 and $69,050.
How much do paperhangers make per hour?
Roughly $26 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $53,730 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays paperhangers the most?
California has the highest average pay for paperhangers at $70,790 per year (median $62,790).
What is the job outlook for paperhangers?
Employment is projected to change +5.3% from 2024 to 2034 (Faster than average), with about 200 openings per year.