Construction and extraction
Taper
Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.
Median pay
$68,270
Growth to 2035
−2%
little or no change
Openings a year
900
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Taper
$68,27010% earn under $43,670 · middle half $52,730–$88,540 · top 10% over $107,110
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Taper
Dealing with the public
Rarely
Constantly
Unpleasant or angry people
Rarely
Constantly
Time pressure
Rarely
Constantly
Cost of a mistake
Minor
Severe
Freedom to make decisions
Little
A lot
Repeating the same tasks
Rarely
Constantly
Time standing
Rarely
Constantly
Outdoors in all weather
Rarely
Constantly
Taper: 6% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Press paper tape over joints to embed tape into sealing compound and to seal joints.
- Spread and smooth cementing material over tape, using trowels or floating machines to blend joints with wall surfaces.
- Spread sealing compound between boards or panels or over cracks, holes, nail heads, or screw heads, using trowels, broadknives, or spatulas.
- Work on high ceilings, using scaffolding or other tools, such as stilts.
- Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surfaces for painting or papering.
- Apply additional coats to fill in holes and make surfaces smooth.
- Countersink nails or screws below surfaces of walls before applying sealing compounds, using hammers or screwdrivers.
- Mix sealing compounds by hand or with portable electric mixers.
Also called: Drywall Finisher · Drywall Mechanic · Drywall Taper · Finisher · Patch Guy · Patcher · Sheetrock Finisher · Taper Finisher
Outlook and AI
Tapers held 15,800 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 15,500 by 2035 (−2%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Taper vs. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Taper vs. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall
- Taper vs. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Taper vs. Plasterers and stucco masons
- Taper vs. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Taper vs. Roofer
- Taper vs. Construction laborer
- Taper vs. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Taper vs. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
- Taper vs. Tile and stone setters