Paperhangers build coordination, time management and complex problem solving skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators (78%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | 78% | $46,880 | −10% | None |
| 2 | Furniture Finishers | 77% | $44,540 | −15% | None |
| 3 | Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters | 74% | $47,550 | −9% | None |
| 4 | Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 74% | $63,870 | +22% | None |
| 5 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 73% | $41,600 | −20% | None |
| 6 | Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing | 73% | $46,170Pay for the broader BLS group “Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Hazardous Materials Removal Workers | 72% | $49,450 | −5% | None |
| 8 | Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 71% | $48,110 | −8% | None |
| 9 | Upholsterers | 71% | $46,340 | −11% | None |
| 10 | Fence Erectors | 71% | $47,980 | −8% | None |
Compared with Paperhangers, median $52,140. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as paperhangers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
78% skill match · $46,880 · −10% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Instructing · Operations Monitoring
77% skill match · $44,540 · −15% pay
Repairing · Equipment Maintenance · Equipment Selection
74% skill match · $47,550 · −9% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Repairing · Equipment Selection
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators (78% skill match, median $46,880), Furniture Finishers (77% skill match, median $44,540) and Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters (74% skill match, median $47,550), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 6 pay more than paperhangers at the median. The biggest increases: Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (+32%, $68,840), Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic (+22%, $63,870) and Riggers (+20%, $62,640).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.