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Salary comparison

Paperhangers vs. Construction Laborers: Who Earns More?

Paperhangerss out-earn Construction Laborerss by $5K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Paperhangerss land at $52,140 and Construction Laborerss at $47,120. The education gap is real: paperhanger programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while construction laborer programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Paperhangerss is California ($62,790); for Construction Laborerss it's Hawaii ($77,110).

Paperhangers
Construction Laborers
Median salary
$52,140
$47,120
Hourly rate
$25.07/hr
$22.66/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$36,020
$35,090
Senior level (90th %)
$69,050
$78,090
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
1,570
1,096,780
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
7.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
California
Hawaii

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Paperhangers median pay.

State
Paperhangers
Construction Laborers
California
$62,790
$60,270
Pennsylvania
$61,800
$49,400
New York
$60,230
$55,930
Missouri
$59,560
$56,730
Indiana
$54,810
$50,070
Wisconsin
$51,500
$56,100
Florida
$48,780
$44,030
North Carolina
$48,590
$44,720
Colorado
$48,180
$47,900
Ohio
$47,830
$56,080
South Carolina
$46,800
$42,940
Washington
$46,270
$57,720
Tennessee
$46,010
$45,000

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Paperhangerss or Construction Laborerss?

Paperhangerss earn more nationally. The median is $52,140 for Paperhangerss versus $47,120 for Construction Laborerss, a difference of $5K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Paperhangers or Construction Laborers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Paperhangers or Construction Laborers?

Paperhangers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Construction Laborers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Paperhangerss get paid the most?

California is the top-paying state for Paperhangerss at $62,790/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Paperhangers vs. Construction Laborers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Paperhangerss earn $62,790 vs. $60,270 for Construction Laborerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Paperhangers salary breakdownView →Full Construction Laborers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Paperhangerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Construction Laborerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a paperhangersGuide →How to become a construction laborersGuide →