What is a Taper?
Job Description: Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.
Daily Life Of a Taper
- Check adhesives to ensure that they will work and will remain durable.
- Countersink nails or screws below surfaces of walls before applying sealing compounds, using hammers or screwdrivers.
- Spread and smooth cementing material over tape, using trowels or floating machines to blend joints with wall surfaces.
- Work on high ceilings using scaffolding or other tools, such as stilts.
- Apply texturizing compounds or primers to walls or ceilings before final finishing, using trowels, brushes, rollers, or spray guns.
- Sand or patch nicks or cracks in plasterboard or wallboard.
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Qualities of a Taper
Tapers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Other Taper Job Titles
- Taping Foreman
- Drywall Mechanic
- Drywall Taper
- Drywall Finisher
- Finisher
Job Outlook for Tapers
In the United States, there were 23,700 jobs for Taper in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Taper. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,100 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Taper are Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Maine, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Taper Make?
Tapers make between $31,020 and $91,070 a year.

Tapers who work in Hawaii, Illinois, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.
How much do Tapers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Arizona | $46,980 |
California | $62,060 |
Colorado | $49,240 |
Connecticut | $56,380 |
Florida | $42,020 |
Georgia | $45,550 |
Hawaii | $81,840 |
Idaho | $32,030 |
Illinois | $75,810 |
Indiana | $47,760 |
Iowa | $57,840 |
Maine | $47,540 |
Massachusetts | $58,480 |
Michigan | $53,590 |
Minnesota | $55,430 |
Missouri | $60,220 |
Montana | $30,370 |
Nevada | $41,880 |
New Hampshire | $35,880 |
New Mexico | $49,160 |
New York | $63,490 |
North Dakota | $47,170 |
Ohio | $63,130 |
Oregon | $67,170 |
Pennsylvania | $55,570 |
Texas | $45,130 |
Utah | $42,750 |
Washington | $57,060 |
Wisconsin | $48,690 |
What Tools & Technology do Tapers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Tapers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
- On Center Quick Bid
- Construction Software Center EasyEst
- DevWave Estimate Works
How to Become a Taper
What education or degrees do I need to become a Taper?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Tapers Sector

Below are examples of industries where Tapers work:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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