Construction and extraction
Paperhanger
Cover interior walls or ceilings of rooms with decorative wallpaper or fabric, or attach advertising posters on surfaces such as walls and billboards. May remove old materials or prepare surfaces to be papered.
Median pay
$52,140
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
200
Time to qualify*
12 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Paperhanger
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Paperhanger: 15% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Place strips or sections of paper on surfaces, aligning section edges and patterns.
- Smooth strips or sections of paper with brushes or rollers to remove wrinkles and bubbles and to smooth joints.
Also called: Bill Board Poster · Bill Poster · Billposter · Hanger · Installer · Paper Hanger · Vinyl Hanger · Wall Covering Installer
Outlook and AI
Paperhangers held 2,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 2,400 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Paperhanger vs. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
- Paperhanger vs. Carpet installer
- Paperhanger vs. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Paperhanger vs. Painters, construction and maintenance
- Paperhanger vs. Painting, coating, and decorating workers
- Paperhanger vs. Tile and stone setters
- Paperhanger vs. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall
- Paperhanger vs. Helpers--painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
- Paperhanger vs. Furniture finisher
- Paperhanger vs. Sheet metal worker