Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
Also called: Floor Layers
Apply blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors.
Also called: Asphalt Tile Floor Layer, Composition Floor Layer, Composition Floor Setter, Composition Tile Layer, Cork Floor Installer, Epoxy Installer
Median pay
$56,460
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$37,600 – $96,700
People employed
23,640
Holland code
RCA
Realistic · Conventional · Artistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 2.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 3.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 4.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles pay by state
Annual median pay by state (44 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles salary in every state →
What floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles do
- 01Cut covering and foundation materials, according to blueprints and sketches.
- 02Trim excess covering materials, tack edges, and join sections of covering material to form tight joint.
- 03Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions.
- 04Roll and press sheet wall and floor covering into cement base to smooth and finish surface, using hand roller.
- 05Lay out, position, and apply shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors, walls, and cabinets, following guidelines to keep courses straight and create designs.
- 06Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Building and Construction
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Mechanical
- Production and Processing
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters75% · −16%
- Furniture Finishers73% · −21%
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing71% · group pay
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters71% · −9%
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters71% · +9%
Change into floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Furniture Finishers82% · $44,540
- Upholsterers74% · $46,340
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers71% · $41,600
- Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers71% · $37,800
- Pest Control Workers69% · $45,250
Majors that lead here
- Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.