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What is a Taper?

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

Life As a Taper

  • Mix sealing compounds by hand or with portable electric mixers.
  • Apply additional coats to fill in holes and make surfaces smooth.
  • Sand or patch nicks or cracks in plasterboard or wallboard.
  • Select the correct sealing compound or tape.
  • Use mechanical applicators that spread compounds and embed tape in one operation.
  • Install metal molding at wall corners to secure wallboard.

Things a Taper Should Know How to Do

When polled, Tapers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

Types of Taper

  • Drywall Finishing Foreman
  • Drywall Taper
  • Taper/Finisher
  • Drywall Finisher Foreman
  • Wall Taper

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. The BLS estimates 2,100 yearly job openings in this field.

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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.

Do Tapers Make A Lot Of Money?

The salary for Tapers ranges between about $31,020 and $91,070 a year.

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Tapers who work in Hawaii, Illinois, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Tapers 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 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 do I Become a Taper?

Learn what Taper education requirements there are.

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where do Tapers Work?

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The table below shows the approximate number of Tapers employed by various industries.

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References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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