About This Career

Seals joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster Construction pathway.

A person in this career:

• Spreads sealing compound between boards or panels or over cracks, holes, nail heads, or screw heads, using trowels, broadknives, or spatulas.
• Presses paper tape over joints to embed tape into sealing compound and to seal joints.
• Applies additional coats to fill in holes and make surfaces smooth.
• Seals joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surfaces for painting or papering.
• Spreads and smooths cementing material over tape, using trowels or floating machines to blend joints with wall surfaces.
• Sands or patches nicks or cracks in plasterboard or wallboard.
• Mixes sealing compounds by hand or with portable electric mixers.
• Works on high ceilings, using scaffolding or other tools, such as stilts.
• Selects the correct sealing compound or tape.
• Countersinks nails or screws below surfaces of walls before applying sealing compounds, using hammers or screwdrivers.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves bending or twisting your body more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time
• Work at heights above 8 feet more than once a month on structures such as ladders, poles, scaffolding, and catwalks

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly up close
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel