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Career

Tapers

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $68,270 Median per year · $32.82/hr Most earn $43,670–$107,110

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Use mechanical applicators that spread compounds and embed tape in one operation.
  • Spread and smooth cementing material over tape, using trowels or floating machines to blend joints with wall surfaces.
  • Mix sealing compounds by hand or with portable electric mixers.
  • Countersink nails or screws below surfaces of walls before applying sealing compounds, using hammers or screwdrivers.
  • Sand or patch nicks or cracks in plasterboard or wallboard.
  • Spread sealing compound between boards or panels or over cracks, holes, nail heads, or screw heads, using trowels, broadknives, or spatulas.

Job outlook

United States
2% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Drywall and insulation contractors62.6%
  • Self-employed (their own business)19.4%
  • Nonresidential building construction7.5%
  • Painting and wall covering contractors4.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Tapers usually need only a high school diploma, but most people spend about 1 to 2 years learning the trade on job sites before they work as a taper on their own. You can start in construction right after high school, so this is a good path for hands-on students.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school, taking shop, math, and drafting classes if you can, since measuring and reading plans come up daily on job sites.

  2. Construction Laborer

    3-6 months

    Start on a crew doing general site work like carrying materials, cleaning up, and setting up tools, which teaches you how a building comes together and how to work safely.

  3. Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer

    6-18 months

    Hang drywall sheets and learn to measure, cut, and fasten them, so you understand the surfaces you will later need to smooth and seal.

  4. Taper

    Ongoing

    Apply joint compound and tape to seal seams and corners, then sand and smooth the surface so it is ready for paint or wallpaper.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Taper

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take charge of a small crew, check the quality of their finishing work, and handle schedules and materials on the job, which takes strong skill and good communication.

  2. Drywall Foreman

    5-10 years of experience first

    You manage several crews and projects, working with contractors and inspectors, which usually means you have proven your finishing skills and can lead people well.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop or construction classesWoodworking, building trades, or drafting classes teach measuring, tool use, and reading plans, which are all used in taping work.
  • Take math classesPractical geometry and measurement help you estimate materials and check that corners and seams are straight.
  • Get a summer or weekend job with a builder or painterEven sweeping up or hauling supplies shows you how job sites run and helps you decide if this trade fits you.
  • Join a skills club such as SkillsUSA, if your school has oneClubs like this build teamwork, public speaking, and hands-on skills that employers value in the trades.
  • Practice patching walls at homeAsk a family member if you can help patch a small hole or crack, which gives you a feel for smoothing compound and sanding.

In college

  • Take a construction management or building trades courseClasses on building materials, blueprints, and job site safety give you a broader understanding of how finishing work fits into a project.
  • Work a summer job on a construction crewPaid experience on a real crew counts toward the 1 to 2 years of work most tapers have before they start on their own.
  • Apply for a registered apprenticeshipMany trade apprenticeships in drywall and finishing combine paid on-the-job training with classroom lessons, which is a strong way to learn the trade.
  • Get basic safety trainingCompleting an OSHA-style workplace safety course, which many schools or local training centers offer, makes you a more attractive hire.
  • Join a trades or construction club on campusCampus groups for construction or building trades help you meet contractors, find internships, and learn about job openings.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local drywall or painting contractor if you can work part-time or during summers. Hands-on time on a real job site is the fastest way to learn.
  • Get comfortable with basic tools and safety rules early, like ladders, dust masks, and power tools, because employers look for workers who show up ready and careful.
  • Take photos or keep a simple log of the jobs you help with. A short portfolio helps when you apply for an apprenticeship or a taping job.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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