How to become a 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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What paperhangers do

• Smooth strips or sections of paper with brushes or rollers to remove wrinkles and bubbles and to smooth joints.
• Place strips or sections of paper on surfaces, aligning section edges and patterns.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Mathematics
• Active Learning

Is paperhanger a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 2% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• California $62,790
• Pennsylvania $61,800
• New York $60,230
• Indiana $54,810
• Florida $48,780

Paperhangers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.