BlissPoint Analytics

Occupation AtlasTapers

O*NET · 47-2082.00

Tapers

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

Also called Drywall Finisher · Drywall Mechanic · Drywall Taper · Finisher · Patch Guy · Patcher · Sheet Rock Taper · Sheetrock Finisher
2 more

Taper Finisher · Wall Taper

Job Zone 2 — Some Preparation NeededHolland code RCA35 skills on file

Compare with another occupationCompare with Dishwashers

Job Zone

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed

Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.

Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.

Occupational interest profile

RCARealistic · Conventional · Artistic — the three strongest interests, in order

  • R Realistic6.49
  • C Conventional3.44
  • A Artistic1.73
  • I Investigative1.64
  • S Social1.45
  • E Enterprising1.08

RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.

Education and experience

The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.

  • Less than a High School Diploma25%
  • High School Diploma or the equivalent59%
  • Post-Secondary Certificate16%
Related work experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (32%)
On-site or in-plant training
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (27%)
On-the-job training
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (32%)

Typically associated skills

All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.

  • Monitoringbasic2.92.4Level 2 looks like: Proofread and correct a letter
  • Time Management2.82.4Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
  • Active Listeningbasic2.82.3Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
  • Coordination2.62.3Level 2 looks like: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic
  • Speakingbasic2.62.0Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
  • Social Perceptiveness2.61.9Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
  • Critical Thinkingbasic2.52.0Level 2 looks like: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late
  • Judgment and Decision Making2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
  • Reading Comprehensionbasic2.12.0Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
  • Quality Control Analysis2.11.6Level 2 looks like: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
  • Learning Strategiesbasic2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
  • Instructing2.01.8Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
Show the other 23
  • Service Orientation2.01.8Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
  • Complex Problem Solving1.91.8Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
  • Writingbasic1.91.8Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
  • Active Learningbasic1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
  • Operation and Control1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Navigate the settings on an office printer to print on both sides of the paper
  • Operations Monitoring1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Monitor completion times while running a computer program
  • Persuasion1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
  • Management of Personnel Resources1.91.5Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
  • Negotiation1.91.5Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
  • Troubleshooting1.91.5Level 2 looks like: Identify the source of a leak by looking under a machine
  • Equipment Selection1.91.4Level 2 looks like: Select a tool to adjust a loose part on a bicycle
  • Systems Analysis1.91.1Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
  • Systems Evaluation1.91.1Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
  • Equipment Maintenance1.81.0Level 2 looks like: Add oil to an engine as indicated by a warning light
  • Repairing1.61.0Level 2 looks like: Tighten a screw to get a door to close properly
  • Mathematicsbasic1.60.6
  • Installation1.40.5
  • Management of Material Resources1.40.4
  • Operations Analysis1.40.4
  • Management of Financial Resources1.1—
  • Technology Design1.1—
  • Programming1.0—
  • Sciencebasic1.0—

Tasks

16 core

What people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).

  1. Press paper tape over joints to embed tape into sealing compound and to seal joints.4.4
  2. Spread sealing compound between boards or panels or over cracks, holes, nail heads, or screw heads, using trowels, broadknives, or spatulas.4.3
  3. Spread and smooth cementing material over tape, using trowels or floating machines to blend joints with wall surfaces.4.3
  4. Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surfaces for painting or papering.4.2
  5. Apply additional coats to fill in holes and make surfaces smooth.4.2
  6. Countersink nails or screws below surfaces of walls before applying sealing compounds, using hammers or screwdrivers.4.2
  7. Work on high ceilings, using scaffolding or other tools, such as stilts.4.2
  8. Mix sealing compounds by hand or with portable electric mixers.4.1
  9. Sand or patch nicks or cracks in plasterboard or wallboard.4.1
  10. Install metal molding at wall corners to secure wallboard.4.0
  11. Select the correct sealing compound or tape.4.0
  12. Use mechanical applicators that spread compounds and embed tape in one operation.3.9
Show the other 4
  1. Sand rough spots of dried cement between applications of compounds.3.9
  2. Check adhesives to ensure that they will work and will remain durable.3.9
  3. Remove extra compound after surfaces have been covered sufficiently.3.8
  4. Apply texturizing compounds or primers to walls or ceilings before final finishing, using trowels, brushes, rollers, or spray guns.3.7

Knowledge

Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.

  • English Language3.63.2Level 4 looks like: Edit an article for a news website
  • Administration and Management3.54.3Level 4 looks like: Monitor progress of a project to ensure timely completion
  • Public Safety and Security3.43.5Level 4 looks like: Inspect a building site for safety violations
  • Education and Training3.33.6Level 4 looks like: Lead a quality improvement seminar
  • Building and Construction3.13.4Level 4 looks like: Fix a plumbing leak in the ceiling
  • Customer and Personal Service3.03.4Level 4 looks like: Be responsible for 10 children at daycare
  • Mathematics2.72.2Level 1 looks like: Add two numbers
  • Transportation2.72.4Level 1 looks like: Ride a train to work
Show all 33
  • Mechanical2.62.7
  • Production and Processing2.52.8
  • Design2.32.2Level 1 looks like: Draw a straight line 4 3/16 inches long
  • Foreign Language2.32.2Level 1 looks like: Say "please" and "thank you" in a foreign language
  • Law and Government2.31.5Level 1 looks like: Describe the length of a U.S. presidential term
  • Engineering and Technology2.21.8Level 1 looks like: Install a door lock
  • Administrative2.12.2Level 1 looks like: Direct phone calls to the appropriate staff member
  • Economics and Accounting2.01.7Level 1 looks like: Answer billing questions from credit card customers
  • Personnel and Human Resources2.01.8Level 1 looks like: Fill out a medical claim form
  • Communications and Media1.91.5Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Physics1.91.6Level 1 looks like: Use a crowbar to pry open a box
  • Chemistry1.71.4Level 1 looks like: Use a common household bug spray
  • Geography1.71.2Level 1 looks like: Know the capital of the United States
  • History and Archeology1.71.1Level 1 looks like: Take a class in US history
  • Telecommunications1.70.9Level 1 looks like: Send an email
  • Psychology1.51.2Level 1 looks like: Monitor several children on a playground
  • Sociology and Anthropology1.51.1Level 1 looks like: Identify two cultures in a story as being different
  • Medicine and Dentistry1.4—
  • Sales and Marketing1.41.0Level 1 looks like: Sell cakes at a bake sale
  • Therapy and Counseling1.40.9Level 1 looks like: Put ice on a sprained ankle
  • Philosophy and Theology1.3—
  • Computers and Electronics1.2—
  • Fine Arts1.2—
  • Biology1.1—
  • Food Production1.0—

Abilities

Enduring capacities the work calls for.

  • Manual Dexterity3.43.3Level 4 looks like: Pack oranges in crates as quickly as possible
  • Near Vision3.43.3Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness3.33.0Level 2 looks like: Light a candle
  • Extent Flexibility3.13.4Level 4 looks like: Reach for a box on a high warehouse shelf
  • Multilimb Coordination3.12.8Level 2 looks like: Row a boat
  • Trunk Strength3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Shovel snow for half an hour
  • Oral Comprehension3.02.8Level 2 looks like: Understand a television commercial
  • Stamina3.02.6
Show all 52
  • Gross Body Equilibrium2.92.5Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
  • Dynamic Strength2.82.4Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
  • Finger Dexterity2.82.8Level 2 looks like: Put coins in a parking meter
  • Oral Expression2.82.6Level 2 looks like: Place an order at a restaurant drive-thru
  • Selective Attention2.82.1Level 2 looks like: Answer a business call with coworkers talking nearby
  • Speech Recognition2.82.1Level 2 looks like: Recognize the voice of a coworker
  • Category Flexibility2.62.1Level 2 looks like: Sort paintbrushes based on length
  • Control Precision2.62.4Level 2 looks like: Adjust a room light with a dimmer switch
  • Far Vision2.62.6Level 2 looks like: Read a roadside billboard
  • Gross Body Coordination2.62.6Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
  • Information Ordering2.62.4Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
  • Problem Sensitivity2.62.3Level 2 looks like: Recognize that an unplugged lamp won't work
  • Speech Clarity2.62.0Level 1 looks like: Call numbers in a bingo game
  • Deductive Reasoning2.52.3Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
  • Inductive Reasoning2.52.1Level 2 looks like: Decide what to wear based on the weather report
  • Visualization2.52.4Level 2 looks like: Imagine how to place paper in a printer so that the letterhead comes out on top
  • Static Strength2.42.5Level 1 looks like: Push an empty shopping cart
  • Time Sharing2.42.0Level 2 looks like: Listen to music while entering numbers into a spreadsheet
  • Written Comprehension2.32.1Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
  • Dynamic Flexibility2.01.3Level 2 looks like: Hand pick a bushel of apples from a tree
  • Perceptual Speed2.01.8Level 2 looks like: Sort mail according to ZIP codes with no time pressure
  • Written Expression2.01.9Level 1 looks like: Write a note to remind someone to take food out of the freezer
  • Auditory Attention1.91.3Level 2 looks like: Listen to a lecture while people nearby are talking
  • Depth Perception1.91.8Level 2 looks like: Merge a car into traffic on a city street
  • Explosive Strength1.91.4Level 2 looks like: Hit a nail with a hammer
  • Flexibility of Closure1.91.8Level 2 looks like: Detect that your phone is ringing while at a concert
  • Fluency of Ideas1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
  • Glare Sensitivity1.91.1Level 2 looks like: Drive on a familiar road on a cloudy day
  • Originality1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
  • Speed of Closure1.90.9
  • Visual Color Discrimination1.91.8Level 1 looks like: Separate laundry into colors and whites
  • Mathematical Reasoning1.80.8Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
  • Memorization1.81.4Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
  • Speed of Limb Movement1.81.1Level 2 looks like: Saw through a thin piece of wood
  • Hearing Sensitivity1.61.0Level 2 looks like: Notice a doorbell ringing
  • Number Facility1.60.6Level 1 looks like: Add 2 and 7
  • Reaction Time1.61.0Level 2 looks like: Start to slow down the car when a traffic light turns yellow
  • Spatial Orientation1.61.1Level 2 looks like: Use the floor plan to locate a store in a mall
  • Wrist-Finger Speed1.61.0Level 2 looks like: Use a screwdriver to twist in a screw
  • Peripheral Vision1.50.8
  • Rate Control1.50.8Level 1 looks like: Ride a bicycle alongside a jogger
  • Response Orientation1.50.9
  • Night Vision1.3—
  • Sound Localization1.3—

Work activities

Kinds of activity the work is made of.

  • Performing General Physical Activities4.04.6Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.94.1Level 4 looks like: Report the results of a sales meeting to a supervisor
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.83.4Level 4 looks like: Judge the suitability of food products for an event
  • Getting Information3.63.4Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
  • Handling and Moving Objects3.64.9Level 4 looks like: Arrange books in a library
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.63.9Level 4 looks like: Plan and adjust a personal to-do list according to changing demands
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials3.53.9Level 4 looks like: Inspect equipment in a chemical processing plant
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.53.8Level 4 looks like: Determine the value of property lost in a fire
Show all 41
  • Scheduling Work and Activities3.53.6Level 4 looks like: Prepare the work schedule for salesclerks in a large retail store
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies3.43.2Level 4 looks like: Develop the plan to complete the merger of two organizations over a 3-year period
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge3.44.1Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
  • Controlling Machines and Processes3.33.3Level 4 looks like: Operate a drilling rig
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems3.33.9Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.33.7Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships3.23.4Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Organize the cleanup crew after a major sporting event
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization2.92.8
  • Assisting and Caring for Others2.82.8
  • Developing and Building Teams2.82.8
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information2.82.6
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards2.82.7
  • Thinking Creatively2.83.3Level 4 looks like: Adapt popular music for a high school marching band
  • Documenting/Recording Information2.72.5Level 1 looks like: Record the weight of a patient during a routine health exam
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates2.72.5Level 1 looks like: Work occasionally as a backup supervisor
  • Training and Teaching Others2.72.9
  • Coaching and Developing Others2.62.6
  • Processing Information2.62.6
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others2.62.4Level 1 looks like: Apologize to a customer who complains about waiting too long
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others2.52.6
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment2.52.6
  • Analyzing Data or Information2.42.4Level 1 looks like: Skim a short article to gather the main point
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources2.42.6
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment2.41.9Level 1 looks like: Drive a car
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment2.32.3Level 1 looks like: Specify the lighting for a work area
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment2.22.5Level 1 looks like: Use display settings to adjust a television picture
  • Staffing Organizational Units2.21.9Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that has minimal staffing requirements
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others2.12.0Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that requires little advising of others
  • Performing Administrative Activities2.01.8Level 1 looks like: Complete routine paperwork
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public2.01.9Level 1 looks like: Check tickets at a concert
  • Selling or Influencing Others1.91.7Level 1 looks like: Convince a coworker to assist with an assignment
  • Working with Computers1.91.7Level 1 looks like: Enter employee information into a database

Work context

The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.

  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls4.8
  • Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions4.7
  • Spend Time Standing4.7
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets4.7
  • Exposed to Contaminants4.3
  • Telephone Conversations4.3
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.2
  • Time Pressure4.0
  • Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body3.9
  • Spend Time Walking or Running3.9

Technology

8 tools

Software used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.

Hot (2)

  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Microsoft Office software
Other tools (6)
  • Applied Computer Systems JOBPOWER
  • Construction Software Center EasyEst
  • DevWave Estimate Works
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • On Center Quick Bid
  • Turtle Creek Software Goldenseal

Related occupations

O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.

  1. Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
  2. Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
  3. Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
  4. Plasterers and Stucco Masons
  5. Insulation Workers, Mechanical
  6. Roofers
  7. Construction Laborers
  8. Brickmasons and Blockmasons
  9. Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
  10. Tile and Stone Setters

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.