Tapers Salary
In Minnesota, tapers earn $78,090 at the median, or about $37.54 an hour. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $89K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $84,330 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 27.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Minnesota?
About tapers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Minnesota
Minnesota sits well above the national pay line for tapers, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,384/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level tapers (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $89K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Tapers salary by metro in Minnesota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $78K | +0% | 210 |
Compare to other states
Track tapers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
Related careers in Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
Can a taper afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 27.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for tapers in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tapers typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,334/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is taper a high-paying job in Minnesota?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $78K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for tapers?
Minnesota pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do tapers make in Minnesota?
The median is $78,090 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,230, and experienced tapers can clear $89,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,953/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 27.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a tapers salary go in Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median tapers salary is worth about $84,330 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tapers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.