Paperhangers Salary
The median pay for a paperhangers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $71,270/year ($34.27/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $110K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $61,647 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,604/month, about 77.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $71K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont’s Regional Price Parity (115.61). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About paperhangers
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What this looks like in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont sits well above the national pay line for paperhangers, local pay runs about 37% higher than the U.S. median of $52K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $3,604/month, which is 77.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 16% above the national average (BEA RPP 115.61), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level paperhangers (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $110K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Paperhangers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Paperhangers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $63K | +20% | 130 |
| Pennsylvania | $62K | +19% | 30 |
| New York | $60K | +16% | 300 |
| Missouri | $60K | +14% | N/A |
| Indiana | $55K | +5% | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $52K | -1% | N/A |
| Florida | $49K | -6% | 30 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -7% | 100 |
| Colorado | $48K | -8% | 130 |
| Ohio | $48K | -8% | 70 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -10% | 50 |
| Washington | $46K | -11% | N/A |
| Tennessee | $46K | -12% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track paperhangers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paperhanger afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 77.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,604/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for paperhangers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paperhangers typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,012/month. At HUD’s $3,604/month FMR, rent would take 90% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Local pay is 37% above the national median — $71K here vs. $52K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 16% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont compare to the national average for paperhangers?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +37%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 115.61), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paperhangers make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median is $71,270 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,860, and experienced paperhangers can clear $110,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,644/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month, which eats 77.6% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median paperhangers salary is worth about $61,647 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.