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Salary comparison

Tapers vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers out-earn Tapers by $12K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Tapers land at $68,270 and First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers at $79,920. The education gap is real: taper programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Tapers is Illinois ($113,180); for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers it's Washington ($109,570).

Tapers
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Median salary
$68,270
$79,920
Hourly rate
$32.82/hr
$38.42/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$43,670
$53,280
Senior level (90th %)
$107,110
$128,260
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
12,840
812,210
Job growth (10-year)
0.1%
5.3%
Category
Construction & Trades
Construction & Trades
Top-paying state
Illinois
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Tapers median pay.

State
Tapers
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Illinois
$113,180
$105,750
Hawaii
$95,490
$102,630
Pennsylvania
$82,240
$81,540
Washington
$79,040
$109,570
Minnesota
$78,090
$97,610
New York
$77,790
$95,700
California
$73,460
$97,680
Oregon
$71,450
$103,070
Massachusetts
$65,060
$97,850
Connecticut
$63,600
$92,260
Missouri
$63,020
$87,520
Nevada
$60,690
$81,990
Wisconsin
$57,840
$85,350
Colorado
$54,500
$81,230
Indiana
$42,810
$82,530

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Tapers or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers earn more nationally. The median is $68,270 for Tapers versus $79,920 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers, a difference of $12K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Tapers or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers has the better 10-year outlook at 5.3% projected growth, compared to 0.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Tapers or First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers?

Tapers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Tapers get paid the most?

Illinois is the top-paying state for Tapers at $113,180/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Tapers vs. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Illinois, Tapers earn $113,180 vs. $105,750 for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Tapers salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Tapers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a tapersGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersGuide →