Paperhangers Salary
The median pay for a paperhangers in Florida is $48,780/year ($23.45/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $49,483 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 47.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Florida. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $49K get you in Florida?
About paperhangers
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What this looks like in Florida
Paperhangers pay in Florida tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $52K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 48.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level paperhangers (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track paperhangers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paperhanger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 48.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for paperhangers in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paperhangers typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,664/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 100% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is paperhanger a high-paying job in Florida?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $52K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Florida compare to the national average for paperhangers?
Florida pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do paperhangers make in Florida?
The median is $48,780 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,730, and experienced paperhangers can clear $51,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,436/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 48.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a paperhangers salary go in Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median paperhangers salary is worth about $49,483 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do paperhangers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.