Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Tapers work in a relatively small occupation, with national employment of 16,000 workers. The role offers a national median annual salary of $64,700, which can provide a solid income foundation for individuals interested in hands-on, practical work. Projected employment growth of 0.1% suggests that overall job numbers are expected to remain fairly steady. With about 1,000 annual openings, there is ongoing movement in the field from factors such as job changes and separations. The occupation does not require a formal educational credential, making it accessible to people who are ready to develop skills on the job. Successful tapers rely on a combination of physical strength and stamina, fine motor abilities, mechanical and science skills, and strong problem solving, detail orientation, and project management. This career may appeal to people who enjoy physical work, precision, and seeing tangible results, and who want a path that does not depend on traditional classroom-based education.
Nationally, tapers earn a median annual salary of $64,700. Pay levels vary notably by location. Among the top states, Washington and Minnesota show relatively high median salaries of $79,040 and $78,090, respectively, while California offers $73,460 and Massachusetts $65,060. Texas, at $43,670, sits at a lower median level than these other highlighted states. At the metro level, salary differences are even more pronounced. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area reports a median salary of $92,810, the highest among the featured metros. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA follows at $84,840, and Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA at $80,340. Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH has a median of $70,810, and Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA shows $68,020. These figures indicate that location choice can significantly influence earnings potential for this occupation.
Tapers represent a relatively small segment of the workforce, with national employment of 16,000. Projected employment growth of 0.1% suggests that total job numbers are expected to remain broadly stable over the projection period, without major expansion or contraction indicated by the data. Despite modest projected growth, the occupation is expected to have about 1,000 annual openings. These openings can create ongoing opportunities for new entrants and for experienced workers seeking a change of employer or location. Because the occupation does not require a formal educational credential, individuals may be able to move into these roles without lengthy educational timelines. People considering this career can interpret the combination of stable projected employment and regular annual openings as a labor market where new positions become available on a consistent, if not rapidly expanding, basis.
Location plays a major role in the opportunity profile for tapers. Among states, California has the highest CareerGPS opportunity score at 67.38, supported by a median salary of $73,460 and the largest employment level of 4,540. Massachusetts follows with an opportunity score of 65.87, a median salary of $65,060, and employment of 510. Washington stands out for a higher median salary of $79,040 and employment of 1,550, with an opportunity score of 56.29. Minnesota combines a median salary of $78,090 with employment of 220 and an opportunity score of 49.59. Texas has a lower median salary of $43,670, employment of 220, and an opportunity score of 51.57. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA leads with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $92,810. Other strong metros include San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA; Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH; Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA; and Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA, all combining notable salaries, employment, and mid- to high-range opportunity scores.
The typical education requirement for tapers is no formal educational credential, which can make this career accessible to individuals who prefer to move directly into the workforce. Even without a mandated degree or certificate, the role relies on a specific mix of abilities and knowledge areas. Physical strength and stamina are important, along with fine motor skills and mechanical aptitude. Science skills also appear in the top skill set, indicating that some understanding of basic scientific principles can be useful. Success in this occupation also draws on leadership and customer service capabilities, supporting coordination with others and interaction with clients or team members. Problem solving and decision making, creativity and innovation, and a strong detail orientation are listed as key skills, alongside project management. Collectively, this skill profile suggests that tapers benefit from both physical capabilities and organized, detail-focused thinking when building their careers.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
