Career comparison
Interior Designer vs. Paperhanger
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Interior designers earn more at the median ($67,190 vs. $52,140), while paperhangers usually get to work faster (Long-term on-the-job training of training). Interior designers design interior spaces that are functional, safe and beautiful. Paperhangers hang wallpaper and wallcoverings in homes, hotels and offices.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Interior Designer | Paperhanger | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $67,190 ($32.31/hr) | $52,140 ($25.07/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $41,420 – $114,140 | $36,020 – $69,050 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.7% (about as fast as average) | +4.3% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 7,700 | 200 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | 4 years | Long-term on-the-job training |
| Key credential | NCIDQ Certification | WIA certification |
| Work setting | Designers work in studios and offices and visit client sites, showrooms and construction projects.. | Paperhangers work in homes, hotels, restaurants and offices.. |
What each job does
Interior Designer
- Meet clients to define needs and budgets
- Plan space layouts
- Create drawings and 3D renderings
- Select finishes, furniture and lighting
- Follow codes and accessibility rules
Paperhanger
- Prep walls
- Measure rooms
- Plan pattern layout
- Cut and paste paper
- Hang wallcoverings
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work and indoor work. They sit in different fields, arts, media & design and skilled trades & construction, but share transferable skills such as creativity and patience.
Which should you choose?
Choose interior designer if…
- I love designing spaces
- I have a good eye for color and materials
- I like solving layout problems
Choose paperhanger if…
- I love design
- I’m very precise
- I’m patient
Still torn? Take the Interior Designer fit quiz and the Paperhanger fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, interior designer or paperhanger?
Interior Designers earn more at the median: $67,190 versus $52,140 for paperhangers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Paperhangers typically train faster (Long-term on-the-job training) than interior designers (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects paperhangers to grow +4.3% from 2025–35, compared with +2.7% for interior designers.