Tapers
Explore safer careers (5)
Lower estimated automation risk
Why it fits
Interior construction, layout, measuring, cutting, wall systems, and jobsite coordination provide a usable base.
Why it fits
Experienced tradespeople can move into crew coordination, punch lists, safety, schedules, and quality oversight.
Why it fits
Material takeoffs, labor sequencing, finish scope, and jobsite constraints support construction estimating retraining.
Why it fits
Reuses surface preparation, finish quality, sanding, patching, masking, and jobsite sequencing before final coatings.
Why it fits
Very direct move using wallboard systems, layout, joint preparation, interior finish standards, and site workflow.
Occupation snapshot
What does this snowflake show?
What's this?
We rate jobs using four factors. These are:
- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions
These are some key things to think about when job hunting.
Risk & user votes
Calculated automation risk
High Risk (61-80%): This occupation shows a significant risk of end-to-end replacement by automation. Many core parts of the role may be structured, repeatable, software-driven, or physically predictable enough for AI, machines, or robotic systems to take over. If you work in this area, it may be worth exploring safer related careers or moving towards more human-centred responsibilities.
More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.
Human strengths important in this job
These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.
What users think
Based on 16 votes
Our visitors have voted there's a low chance this occupation will be automated. However, the automation risk level we have generated suggests a much higher chance of automation: 74% chance of automation.
What do you think the risk of automation is?
What is the likelihood that Tapers will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?
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Pay & outlook
Wages
In 2024, the median annual wage for Tapers was $64,700 ($31 per hour).
The median annual wage for Tapers was 30.7% higher than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.
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Wages over time
Growth
The number of 'Tapers' job openings is expected to rise 0.1% by 2034
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Total employment, and estimated job openings
Updated projections are due 09-2025.
Volume
As of 2024 there were 12,500 people employed as 'Tapers' within the United States.
This represents around < 0.001% of the employed workforce across the country
Put another way, around 1 in 12 thousand people are employed as 'Tapers'.
People also viewed
Job description
Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.
O*NET-SOC code: 47-2082.00
What people are saying (1)
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