# Tapers

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tapers
- SOC code: 47-2082.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $68,270 (10th percentile $43,670, 90th percentile $107,110)
- Projected growth: Decline, -1.6%
- Openings a year: 900
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCA)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 92 |
| Investigative (I) | 11 |
| Artistic (A) | 12 |
| Social (S) | 8 |
| Enterprising (E) | 1 |
| Conventional (C) | 41 |

## What you'd do

- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 75/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 73/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 70/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 66/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 65/100)
- Getting Information (importance 65/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 63/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 62/100)
- Scheduling Work and Activities (importance 62/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 60/100)

## Skills

Monitoring, Active Listening, Time Management, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension

## Knowledge

English Language, Administration and Management, Public Safety and Security, Education and Training, Building and Construction, Customer and Personal Service, Mathematics, Transportation, Mechanical, Production and Processing

## Also called

Drywall Finisher, Drywall Mechanic, Drywall Taper, Finisher, Patch Guy, Patcher, Sheet Rock Taper, Sheetrock Finisher, Taper Finisher, Wall Taper

## Related careers

- [Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/drywall-and-ceiling-tile-installers): $58,930 median pay
- [Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/insulation-workers-floor-ceiling-and-wall): $49,120 median pay
- [Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cement-masons-and-concrete-finishers): $57,020 median pay
- [Plasterers and Stucco Masons](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/plasterers-and-stucco-masons): $57,660 median pay
- [Insulation Workers, Mechanical](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/insulation-workers-mechanical): $58,340 median pay
- [Roofers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/roofers): $55,440 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.