Taper salary in the U.S.
Tapers in the U.S. earn a median of $68,270 a year ($32.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,110 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $72,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tapers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,670 | $21.00 |
| 25th percentile | $52,730 | $25.35 |
| Median | $68,270 | $32.82 |
| 75th percentile | $88,540 | $42.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,110 | $51.50 |
| Average (mean) | $72,710 | $34.96 |
Half of tapers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,689.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,844.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,625.77 |
| Weekly | $1,312.88 |
| Hourly | $32.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Taper salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $113,180 | 320 |
| Hawaii | $95,490 | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,240 | 60 |
| Washington | $79,040 | 1,550 |
| Minnesota | $78,090 | 220 |
| New York | $77,790 | n/a |
| Kansas | $74,120 | 30 |
| Ohio | $73,840 | 110 |
| California | $73,460 | 4,540 |
| Oregon | $71,450 | 500 |
| Iowa | $66,980 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $65,060 | 510 |
| Michigan | $63,630 | 190 |
| Connecticut | $63,600 | 80 |
| Missouri | $63,020 | 220 |
| Nevada | $60,690 | 1,190 |
| Wisconsin | $57,840 | 70 |
| Idaho | $57,690 | 310 |
| Arizona | $56,300 | 780 |
| Colorado | $54,500 | n/a |
| Utah | $52,930 | 210 |
| Florida | $49,400 | n/a |
| New Mexico | $48,320 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $45,770 | n/a |
| Texas | $43,670 | 220 |
| Indiana | $42,810 | 120 |
| West Virginia | $41,600 | 30 |
| Puerto Rico | $27,570 | 90 |
Best-paying metro areas for tapers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $113,180 | 290 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $95,490 | 160 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $95,010 | 50 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $92,810 | 480 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $92,490 | 360 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,840 | 470 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $81,400 | 130 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $81,040 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $81,000 | n/a |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,340 | 1,120 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $78,090 | 210 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $76,720 | 420 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $75,850 | 90 |
| Cleveland, OH | $73,840 | 40 |
| Syracuse, NY | $71,970 | 30 |
Metro areas with the most tapers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,220 | $68,020 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,120 | $80,340 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 900 | $60,670 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 730 | $59,740 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 610 | $60,430 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 480 | $92,810 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 470 | $84,840 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 420 | $76,720 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 400 | $70,810 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 370 | $68,270 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 360 | $92,490 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 290 | $113,180 |
| Reno, NV | 250 | $61,050 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 210 | $78,090 |
| Boise City, ID | 170 | $57,690 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $59,850 | $28.78 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $30.67 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $57,020 | $27.41 |
| Roofer | $55,440 | $26.65 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers | $58,930 | $28.33 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Glazier | $57,080 | $27.44 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,120 | $23.62 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2082. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a taper make in the U.S.?
The median salary for tapers in the U.S. is $68,270 a year, or $32.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tapers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of tapers in the U.S. earn at least $107,110 a year. The top 25% earn $88,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for tapers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,670 a year, and a quarter of tapers earn $52,730 or less.
How many tapers work in the U.S.?
About 12,840 tapers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.