Paint and Wallpaper Stores — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the paint and wallpaper stores industry earns $56,233 per year ($27.04/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$56,233
Avg Annual Pay
42,530
Total Employees
6,904
Total Establishments
6
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Paint and Wallpaper Stores Workers Earn?

At $56,233/year (equivalent to $27.04/hour for a full-time worker), paint and wallpaper stores wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical paint and wallpaper stores business employs 6 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

4.5%

For the average paint and wallpaper stores business generating $7.4M/year with 6 employees at $56,233 each, total payroll represents roughly 4.5% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a paint and wallpaper storesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $73,103/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 6 employees = ~$337,398/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $27.04/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $7.4M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Paint and Wallpaper Stores revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do paint and wallpaper stores employees make?
The average paint and wallpaper stores employee earns $56,233 per year, which is equivalent to $27.04/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the paint and wallpaper stores industry?
The paint and wallpaper stores industry employs 42,530 workers across 6,904 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 6 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).