Floor Sanders and Finishers
Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.
Also called: Bowling Alley Refinisher, Finisher, Floor Finisher, Floor Mechanic, Floor Refinisher, Floor Renovator
Median pay
$50,440
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$37,070 – $70,340
People employed
3,720
Holland code
RCE
Realistic · Conventional · Enterprising
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 physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 2.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 3.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 4.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 5.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 6.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
Floor Sanders and Finishers pay by state
Annual median pay by state (23 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What floor sanders and finishers do
- 01Buff and vacuum floors to ensure their cleanliness prior to the application of finish.
- 02Scrape and sand floor edges and areas inaccessible to floor sanders, using scrapers, disk-type sanders, and sandpaper.
- 03Inspect floors for smoothness.
- 04Attach sandpaper to rollers of sanding machines.
- 05Guide sanding machines over surfaces of floors until surfaces are smooth.
- 06Apply filler compound and coats of finish to floors to seal wood.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Building and Construction
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Administration and Management
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: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- 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 sanders and finishers
- Furniture Finishers87% · −12%
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters86% · −6%
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic81% · −8%
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers79% · −2%
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining78% · +14%
Change into floor sanders and finishers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Furniture Finishers85% · $44,540
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers79% · $49,450
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters79% · $47,550
- Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons79% · $40,470
- Fence Erectors78% · $47,980
Majors that lead here
- Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.