Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Spread sealing compound between boards or panels or over cracks, holes, nail heads, or screw heads, using trowels, broadknives, or spatulas.
Press paper tape over joints to embed tape into sealing compound and to seal joints.
Apply additional coats to fill in holes and make surfaces smooth.
Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surfaces for painting or papering.
Spread and smooth cementing material over tape, using trowels or floating machines to blend joints with wall surfaces.
Top skills:SpeakingMonitoringActive ListeningTime ManagementSocial PerceptivenessCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Taper pay by experience level
Entry level$45,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$54,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$70,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$91,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$111,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+0.1%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,100
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Taper salary by industry
Specialty Trade Contractors
11,050 workers
$75,000
Building Finishing Contractors
10,820 workers
$74,500
Construction of Buildings
1,580 workers
$76,500
Nonresidential Building Construction
1,180 workers
$79,000
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
190 workers
$84,500
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
50 workers
$108,500
Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
50 workers
$108,500
Residential Building Construction$69,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Taper pays 15% above the average across 63 roles in the Construction and Extraction job family (family average $65,000).
Similar-paying roles in Construction and Extraction
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