Tapers

Tapers score 0 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #876 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 16 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 0 on its own and 0 more with extra software built on top of it. None of its tasks showed up in real AI use in April–May 2026.

0/ 100

Low

Rank: #876of 923 jobs
US workers: 12,840BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $68,270a year
In real AI use: 0 of 16tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 0 (0%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 0 (0%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 16 (100%)

Spread sealing compound between boards or panels or over cracks, holes, nail heads, or screw heads, using trowels, broadknives, or spatulas.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Press paper tape over joints to embed tape into sealing compound and to seal joints.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Apply additional coats to fill in holes and make surfaces smooth.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surfaces for painting or papering.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Spread and smooth cementing material over tape, using trowels or floating machines to blend joints with wall surfaces.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Sand or patch nicks or cracks in plasterboard or wallboard.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Mix sealing compounds by hand or with portable electric mixers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Work on high ceilings, using scaffolding or other tools, such as stilts.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Select the correct sealing compound or tape.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Countersink nails or screws below surfaces of walls before applying sealing compounds, using hammers or screwdrivers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Remove extra compound after surfaces have been covered sufficiently.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Install metal molding at wall corners to secure wallboard.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Apply texturizing compounds or primers to walls or ceilings before final finishing, using trowels, brushes, rollers, or spray guns.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Check adhesives to ensure that they will work and will remain durable.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Sand rough spots of dried cement between applications of compounds.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Use mechanical applicators that spread compounds and embed tape in one operation.Little or no AI speed-up · core task

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Questions about tapers and AI

Will AI replace tapers?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Tapers score 0 out of 100 (low exposure), #876 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 0 of the job's 16 tasks, 0 of them on its own, while 16 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which tapers tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Spread sealing compound between boards or panels or over cracks, holes, nail heads, or screw heads, using trowels, broadknives, or spatulas"; "Press paper tape over joints to embed tape into sealing compound and to seal joints"; "Apply additional coats to fill in holes and make surfaces smooth".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Not much yet. None of the job's tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude in April–May 2026, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as tapers, and what do they earn?

About 12,840 people in the US, with median pay of $68,270 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

Tapers

Task by task

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Questions about tapers and AI

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