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Tapers in California
Considering working as a Tapers in California? Below are the key facts. Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.
What do Tapers Make in California?
The tapers working in California, the median annual wage is $69,670 per year (or roughly $33.49/hour).Earnings range from $44,690 at the 10th percentile to $111,040 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| 25th percentile | $58,700 | $28.22 |
| Median (50th) | $69,670 | $33.49 |
| 75th percentile | $81,630 | $39.24 |
| 90th percentile | $111,040 | $53.39 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California relative to the national average — is 2.59, meaning that tapers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, tapers earn a median of $30,388 per year ($14.61/hour), higher than the California median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 696,796 tapers in the U.S.. In California alone, about 3,790 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 210 tapers.
Top California Metros for Tapers
The largest metro-area employers of tapers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 950 | $70,410 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 640 | $50,850 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 490 | $74,240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 350 | $80,140 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 310 | $66,560 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 260 | $76,080 |
| Fresno, CA | 110 | $61,640 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 60 | $75,870 |
Top States for Tapers Employment
View the states that employ the most tapers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 3,790 |
| Washington | 1,510 |
| Arizona | 1,020 |
| Nevada | 990 |
| Texas | 450 |
| Utah | 400 |
| Oregon | 390 |
| Illinois | 380 |
| Missouri | 310 |
| Massachusetts | 290 |
| Michigan | 270 |
| Minnesota | 210 |
| Hawaii | 180 |
| Connecticut | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | 90 |
| Colorado | 80 |
| Indiana | 70 |
| Ohio | 70 |
| Wisconsin | 70 |
| New Mexico | 70 |
Highest-Paying States for Tapers
Where tapers earn the most: tapers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $109,510 |
| Massachusetts | $107,670 |
| Hawaii | $97,790 |
| New Jersey | $96,350 |
| Oregon | $90,180 |
| Minnesota | $86,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,880 |
| Connecticut | $71,910 |
| Washington | $70,580 |
| New York | $70,150 |
Skills
Top tapers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for tapers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Spread sealing compound between boards or panels or over cracks, holes, nail heads, or screw heads, using trowels, broadknives, or spatulas.
- Press paper tape over joints to embed tape into sealing compound and to seal joints.
- Apply additional coats to fill in holes and make surfaces smooth.
- Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surfaces for painting or papering.
- Spread and smooth cementing material over tape, using trowels or floating machines to blend joints with wall surfaces.
- Sand or patch nicks or cracks in plasterboard or wallboard.
- Mix sealing compounds by hand or with portable electric mixers.
- Work on high ceilings, using scaffolding or other tools, such as stilts.
- Select the correct sealing compound or tape.
- Countersink nails or screws below surfaces of walls before applying sealing compounds, using hammers or screwdrivers.
- Remove extra compound after surfaces have been covered sufficiently.
- Install metal molding at wall corners to secure wallboard.
Work Activities
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Getting Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Training and Teaching Others
- Controlling Machines and Processes
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Intuit QuickBooks
Related Careers
Other careers like tapers include:
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons
- Carpenters
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
- Floor Sanders and Finishers
- Tile and Stone Setters
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Also Known As
Drywall Finisher, Drywall Mechanic, Drywall Taper, Finisher, Sheet Rock Taper, Spackler, Taper, Wall Taper.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 47-2082.00