Paperhangers Salary
The median pay for a paperhangers in Pennsylvania is $61,800/year ($29.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $65,073 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 32.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Pennsylvania. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $62K get you in Pennsylvania?
About paperhangers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sits well above the national pay line for paperhangers, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $52K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level paperhangers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track paperhangers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paperhanger afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 32.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for paperhangers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paperhangers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,762/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $62K here vs. $52K nationally.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for paperhangers?
Pennsylvania pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paperhangers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $61,800 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,030, and experienced paperhangers can clear $63,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,150/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 32.6% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $65,073 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.