How to become a taper

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

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What tapers do

• 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.
• Countersink nails or screws below surfaces of walls before applying sealing compounds, using hammers or screwdrivers.
• Check adhesives to ensure that they will work and will remain durable.
• Remove extra compound after surfaces have been covered sufficiently.

Skills that matter most

• Monitoring
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Learning Strategies
• Writing
• Active Learning

Is taper a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 34% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Illinois $113,180
• Hawaii $95,490
• Pennsylvania $82,240
• Washington $79,040
• Minnesota $78,090

Tapers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.