Tapers
47-2082.00

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

Sample of reported job titles: Drywall Finisher, Drywall Mechanic, Drywall Taper, Finisher, Taper

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

  • 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.
  • Sand or patch nicks or cracks in plasterboard or wallboard.
  • Mix sealing compounds by hand or with portable electric mixers.
  • Work on high ceilings, using scaffolding or other tools, such as stilts.
  • Select the correct sealing compound or tape.
  • Countersink nails or screws below surfaces of walls before applying sealing compounds, using hammers or screwdrivers.
  • Remove extra compound after surfaces have been covered sufficiently.
  • Install metal molding at wall corners to secure wallboard.
  • Apply texturizing compounds or primers to walls or ceilings before final finishing, using trowels, brushes, rollers, or spray guns.
  • Check adhesives to ensure that they will work and will remain durable.
  • Sand rough spots of dried cement between applications of compounds.
  • Use mechanical applicators that spread compounds and embed tape in one operation.

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Technology Skills

  • Accounting software — Applied Computer Systems JOBPOWER; Intuit QuickBooks Hot technology ; Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software — Microsoft Dynamics Hot technology
  • Office suite software — Microsoft Office software Hot technology
  • Project management software — Construction Software Center EasyEst; DevWave Estimate Works; On Center Quick Bid
Hot technology
Hot Technologies are requirements most frequently included across all employer job postings.

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Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

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Detailed Work Activities

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Work Context

  • Spend Time Standing — 86% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 76% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 63% responded “Every day.”
  • Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 52% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Exposed to Contaminants — 51% responded “Every day.”
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 60% responded “Every day.”
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 39% responded “A lot of freedom.”
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 41% responded “Some freedom.”
  • Time Pressure — 39% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 43% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Spend Time Walking and Running — 44% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Exposed to High Places — 47% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 31% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 34% responded “Very high responsibility.”
  • Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — 70% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
  • Telephone — 41% responded “Every day.”
  • Frequency of Decision Making — 37% responded “Every day.”
  • Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled — 28% responded “Every day.”
  • Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body — 36% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 52% responded “Important results.”
  • Contact With Others — 50% responded “Contact with others most of the time.”
  • Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions — 49% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
  • Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 27% responded “Limited responsibility.”
  • Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting — 55% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
  • Level of Competition — 48% responded “Highly competitive.”
  • Very Hot or Cold Temperatures — 52% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
  • Physical Proximity — 46% responded “Slightly close (e.g., shared office).”
  • Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles — 34% responded “About half the time.”
  • Coordinate or Lead Others — 41% responded “Important.”

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Experience Requirements

Job Zone

Title
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Job Zone Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
SVP Range
(4.0 to < 6.0)

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Training & Credentials

State training
Local training
Certifications
State licenses

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Apprenticeship Opportunities

Example apprenticeship titles for this occupation:

  • Taper (Alternate Title: Drywall Finisher)

Specific title(s) listed above are vetted by industry and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor for use in a Registered Apprenticeship Program.

Start your career and build your skillset. Visit Apprenticeship.gov external site to learn about opportunities related to this occupation.

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Worker Requirements

Skills

No skills met the minimum score.

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Knowledge

  • Building and Construction — Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

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Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:

  • 46%
     
    responded: High school diploma or equivalent requiredmore info
  • 29%
     
    responded: Less than high school diploma required
  • 25%
     
    responded: Post-secondary certificate required

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Worker Characteristics

Abilities

  • Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Extent Flexibility — The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Multilimb Coordination — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Trunk Strength — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
  • Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

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Interests

Interest code: RC
Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.
  • Realistic — Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
  • Conventional — Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

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Work Values

  • Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
  • Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

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Work Styles

  • Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
  • Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
  • Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
  • Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  • Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
  • Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
  • Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
  • Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
  • Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

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Workforce Characteristics

Wages & Employment Trends

Median wages (2023)
$30.46 hourly, $63,350 annual
State wages
Local wages
Employment (2022)
18,100 employees
Projected growth (2022-2032)
Decline (-2% or lower)
Projected job openings (2022-2032)
1,100
State trends
Top industries (2022)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 wage data external site and 2022-2032 employment projections external site. “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2022-2032). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

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Job Openings on the Web

State job openings
Local job openings

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More Information

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Professional Associations

Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

National Associations
Accreditation, Certification, & Unions

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