Top 15 cities for tapers by average salary
| Chicago, IL | $105,620 |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $99,680 |
| San Francisco, CA | $90,220 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $89,200 |
| Honolulu, HI | $88,800 |
| New York, NY | $87,150 |
| Portland, OR | $82,520 |
| Seattle, WA | $81,400 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $80,130 |
| San Diego, CA | $78,060 |
| Boston, MA | $75,840 |
| Stockton, CA | $75,720 |
| Fresno, CA | $75,310 |
| Salem, OR | $75,150 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $73,810 |
Map: Tapers salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Tapers salary by state
Illinois pays tapers the most statewide, $107,380 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $107,380 | $113,180 | 320 | 1 | $105,620 | $105,620 |
| Hawaii | $88,780 | $95,490 | 170 | 1 | $88,800 | $88,800 |
| New York | $82,070 | $77,790 | n/a | 3 | $87,150 | $64,310 |
| Minnesota | $79,930 | $78,090 | 220 | 1 | $80,130 | $80,130 |
| Washington | $77,070 | $79,040 | 1,550 | 2 | $81,400 | $68,480 |
| Oregon | $76,980 | $71,450 | 500 | 2 | $82,520 | $75,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,290 | $82,240 | 60 | 1 | $89,200 | $89,200 |
| California | $76,260 | $73,460 | 4,540 | 9 | $99,680 | $62,030 |
| Ohio | $75,540 | $73,840 | 110 | 1 | $73,520 | $73,520 |
| Massachusetts | $73,580 | $65,060 | 510 | 1 | $75,840 | $75,840 |
| Connecticut | $68,350 | $63,600 | 80 | 1 | $67,190 | $67,190 |
| Kansas | $67,570 | $74,120 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Missouri | $66,040 | $63,020 | 220 | 2 | $72,800 | $71,350 |
| Nevada | $65,990 | $60,690 | 1,190 | 2 | $67,360 | $60,240 |
| Iowa | $64,010 | $66,980 | 100 | 1 | $67,030 | $67,030 |
| Michigan | $63,060 | $63,630 | 190 | 1 | $61,300 | $61,300 |
| Idaho | $60,000 | $57,690 | 310 | 2 | $62,900 | $58,030 |
| Arizona | $57,890 | $56,300 | 780 | 1 | $59,480 | $59,480 |
| Indiana | $56,460 | $42,810 | 120 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $56,010 | $57,840 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Utah | $55,400 | $52,930 | 210 | 3 | $58,290 | $55,300 |
| Colorado | $53,130 | $54,500 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New Mexico | $52,040 | $48,320 | 60 | 1 | $53,280 | $53,280 |
| Florida | $47,280 | $49,400 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Texas | $44,420 | $43,670 | 220 | 1 | $47,050 | $47,050 |
| West Virginia | $42,730 | $41,600 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| North Carolina | $41,660 | $45,770 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Puerto Rico | $27,710 | $27,570 | 90 | 1 | $27,760 | $27,760 |
Tapers salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $105,620 | $113,180 | $50.78 | 290 |
| San Jose, CA | $99,680 | $92,810 | $47.92 | 480 |
| San Francisco, CA | $90,220 | $84,840 | $43.37 | 470 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $89,200 | $95,010 | $42.89 | 50 |
| Honolulu, HI | $88,800 | $95,490 | $42.69 | 160 |
| New York, NY | $87,150 | $81,000 | $41.90 | n/a |
| Portland, OR | $82,520 | $92,490 | $39.67 | 360 |
| Seattle, WA | $81,400 | $80,340 | $39.14 | 1,120 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $80,130 | $78,090 | $38.52 | 210 |
| San Diego, CA | $78,060 | $76,720 | $37.53 | 420 |
| Boston, MA | $75,840 | $70,810 | $36.46 | 400 |
| Stockton, CA | $75,720 | $75,850 | $36.41 | 90 |
| Fresno, CA | $75,310 | $69,340 | $36.21 | 120 |
| Salem, OR | $75,150 | $71,430 | $36.13 | 50 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $73,810 | $68,020 | $35.49 | 1,220 |
| Cleveland, OH | $73,520 | $73,840 | $35.35 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO | $72,800 | $81,400 | $35.00 | 130 |
| Kansas City, MO | $71,350 | $81,040 | $34.30 | 50 |
| Syracuse, NY | $71,200 | $71,970 | $34.23 | 30 |
| Kennewick, WA | $68,480 | $66,830 | $32.92 | 100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $68,230 | $68,270 | $32.80 | 370 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $67,370 | $61,870 | $32.39 | 110 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $67,360 | $60,670 | $32.38 | 900 |
| Hartford, CT | $67,190 | $59,740 | $32.30 | 40 |
| Des Moines, IA | $67,030 | $67,050 | $32.23 | 70 |
| Rochester, NY | $64,310 | $61,480 | $30.92 | 50 |
| Boise, ID | $62,900 | $57,690 | $30.24 | 170 |
| Riverside, CA | $62,030 | $59,740 | $29.82 | 730 |
| Lansing, MI | $61,300 | $61,470 | $29.47 | 50 |
| Reno, NV | $60,240 | $61,050 | $28.96 | 250 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $59,480 | $60,430 | $28.59 | 610 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $58,290 | $54,530 | $28.03 | 90 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $58,030 | $58,530 | $27.90 | 70 |
| Provo, UT | $55,920 | $51,230 | $26.89 | 30 |
| Ogden, UT | $55,300 | $56,380 | $26.59 | 40 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $53,280 | $48,420 | $25.62 | 50 |
| Dallas, TX | $47,050 | $47,620 | $22.62 | 120 |
| San Juan, PR | $27,760 | $27,570 | $13.35 | 80 |
Related jobs
- CarpentersU.S. average $65,630
- Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersU.S. average $60,050
- Construction LaborersU.S. average $52,030
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsU.S. average $66,290
- ElectriciansU.S. average $71,490
- Painters, Construction and MaintenanceU.S. average $55,420
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersU.S. average $72,170
- Sheet Metal WorkersU.S. average $67,850
Tapers salary: questions
Where do tapers make the most money?
In Chicago, IL, with an average of $105,620 a year, among the 38 metro areas we cover.
What is the average tapers salary in the U.S.?
$72,710 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $68,270, so half of tapers earn more than that and half less.
What salary should tapers ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of tapers nationwide earn between $52,730 (25th percentile) and $88,540 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays tapers the most?
Illinois, with a statewide average of $107,380 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is tapers pay the lowest?
San Juan, PR, at $27,760 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2082.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.