How much do tapers make in the US in 2026?

Which state is best for tapers?

Different states win on different measures: here's the top on each. Pick the one that matters to you.

Across 16 states: $42,810–$113,180 (median $64,345).

Taper pay by state

Taper pay by metro

Published local scales for Tapers?

Named locals and the difference from the BLS all-worker median. Geography and experience levels differ; this is not a union versus non-union wage gap.

We don't have union scale data for Taper across our states yet. Missing scale data does not establish union coverage. Submitting your pay helps build complete data for Taper.

Union landscape

TradesPays has no union scale data for tapers in any of the 16 states we currently cover. That's a gap worth being straight about: we won't fill it with guesses or national averages passed off as local rates. What we can say is that some tapers are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and if you're in a union shop, your actual scale is set by that agreement. The only reliable source for those rates is your local. Call them, ask for the current wage schedule, and get the breakdown for your classification. Collective bargaining agreements vary by region and contract cycle, so anything we'd publish could be out of date the moment negotiations close. Until we have verified, current scale data for specific states and locals, we'll leave this section honest rather than approximate. If you're a union taper and want to help us fill this gap, the submission link at the bottom of the page goes directly to our data team.

What we don't track yet

A state median is a starting point, not a complete picture. There are two meaningful gaps in our taper data right now, and you should know about them before you use these numbers to make a decision. First, we don't have metro-level pay breakdowns. The difference between what a taper earns in Chicago versus a downstate Illinois market is real, and the statewide figure, even at $113,180 for Illinois, doesn't capture it. We're working on adding metro and regional figures as the data supports it. Second, we don't currently track pay by tier, apprentice, journeyman, or master classifications, outside of union scale, which we also don't have for this trade yet. Progression through experience levels matters a lot in what you actually take home, and a single median doesn't show that curve. If you're a taper willing to share your pay details, classification, years in, state, union or non-union, use the submission form on this page. Real worker data is how we close these gaps, and every verified submission makes the numbers more useful for the next person who looks them up.

Taper pay: FAQ

What is the national median wage for tapers?

The national median for tapers is $68,270 per year, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. That's the midpoint: half of tapers covered by the survey earned more, half earned less.

What's the pay range for the middle half of the trade?

The 25th percentile sits at $52,730 and the 75th percentile at $88,540. If you're somewhere in that band, you're in the middle half of reported taper wages nationally.

Which state pays tapers the most in TradesPays' data?

Illinois leads at $113,180: well above the national median and significantly higher than the next states in our set, Pennsylvania at $82,240 and Washington at $79,040.

Which state has the lowest taper pay in your data set?

Indiana comes in at $42,810, the lowest in our current 16-state coverage. That's roughly $25,000 below the national median, which shows how much state market conditions can move the number.

How many states does TradesPays cover for tapers?

We currently cover tapers in 16 states. If your state isn't in the list, we don't have verified data for it yet. We're expanding coverage and will add states as reliable data becomes available.

Does TradesPays have metro-level taper pay data?

Not yet. Right now our taper data is at the state level only. Metro and regional breakdowns are on the roadmap, but we won't publish them until we can stand behind the numbers.

Where do these taper wage figures come from?

All figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. We don't blend in estimates or third-party projections.

How much do tapers make an hour in the US?

The median taper in the US earns about $32.82/hr, based on the $68,270/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025, at 2,080 hours a year). Overtime and union scale can run higher.

How much do tapers make a month in the US?

That is about $5,689/mo before taxes, from the $68,270/yr median (BLS OEWS May 2025).

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