Career comparison
Drywall Taper vs. Painter
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Drywall tapers earn more at the median ($68,270 vs. $49,400), while painters usually get to work faster (1–6 months on the job of training). Drywall tapers tape, mud and sand drywall joints to make walls smooth and ready for paint. Painters prepare and paint walls, trim, buildings and structures for protection and a clean finish.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Drywall Taper | Painter | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $68,270 ($32.82/hr) | $49,400 ($23.75/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $43,670 – $107,110 | $37,440 – $78,810 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -1.6% (a projected decline) | +3.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 900 | 24,900 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | Months on the job | 1–6 months on the job |
| Key credential | Finisher apprenticeship | EPA RRP Certified Renovator |
| Work setting | Tapers work in new and remodeled buildings.. | Painters work indoors and outdoors in homes, offices, schools, factories and on bridges and tanks. |
What each job does
Drywall Taper
- Tape joints
- Apply joint compound
- Finish corners
- Sand
- Fix defects
Painter
- Protect floors, furniture and fixtures before work starts
- Wash, scrape, sand and patch surfaces
- Caulk gaps and apply primer
- Apply paint and coatings with brushes, rollers and sprayers
- Mix and match colors and finishes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, working independently, and indoor work. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose drywall taper if…
- I like smooth finishes
- I’m patient
- I don’t mind dust
Choose painter if…
- I like making spaces look clean and finished
- I’m patient with careful prep work
- I’m comfortable on ladders
Still torn? Take the Drywall Taper fit quiz and the Painter fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, drywall taper or painter?
Drywall Tapers earn more at the median: $68,270 versus $49,400 for painters, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Painters typically train faster (1–6 months on the job) than drywall tapers (Months on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects painters to grow +3.0% from 2025–35, compared with -1.6% for drywall tapers.