Jobs Similar to Floor Sanders and Finishers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to floor sanders and finishers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Terrazzo Workers and Finishers, Carpet Installers and Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall.
Floor Sanders and Finishers: $50,440 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Floor Sanders and Finishers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terrazzo Workers and FinishersSame group | 82% | $76,170+51% | High school |
| 2 | Carpet InstallersSame group | 81% | $50,3400% | High school |
| 3 | Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallSame group | 81% | $49,120−3% | High school |
| 4 | StonemasonsSame group | 81% | $57,390+14% | High school |
| 5 | Brickmasons and BlockmasonsSame group | 80% | $62,120+23% | High school |
| 6 | Tile and Stone SettersSame group | 80% | $55,690+10% | High school |
| 7 | Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters | 79% | $47,550−6% | High school |
| 8 | Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons | 79% | $40,470−20% | High school |
| 9 | Structural Iron and Steel WorkersSame group | 79% | $62,780+24% | High school |
| 10 | Hazardous Materials Removal Workers | 79% | $49,450−2% | High school |
| 11 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | 78% | $57,430+14% | High school |
| 12 | Fence Erectors | 78% | $47,980−5% | High school |
| 13 | GlaziersSame group | 78% | $57,080+13% | High school |
| 14 | Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | 78% | $46,960−7% | High school |
| 15 | CarpentersSame group | 78% | $60,580+20% | High school |
| 16 | Reinforcing Iron and Rebar WorkersSame group | 78% | $58,970+17% | High school |
| 17 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 78% | $49,880−1% | High school |
| 18 | Furniture Finishers | 78% | $44,540−12% | High school |
| 19 | Pile Driver OperatorsSame group | 77% | $73,300+45% | High school |
| 20 | Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersSame group | 77% | $57,020+13% | High school |
- 1Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
82% similar · $76,170 (+51%) · High school · Same group
- 2Carpet Installers
81% similar · $50,340 (0%) · High school · Same group
- 3Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
81% similar · $49,120 (−3%) · High school · Same group
- 4Stonemasons
81% similar · $57,390 (+14%) · High school · Same group
- 5Brickmasons and Blockmasons
80% similar · $62,120 (+23%) · High school · Same group
- 6Tile and Stone Setters
80% similar · $55,690 (+10%) · High school · Same group
- 7Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
79% similar · $47,550 (−6%) · High school
- 8Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons
79% similar · $40,470 (−20%) · High school
- 9Structural Iron and Steel Workers
79% similar · $62,780 (+24%) · High school · Same group
- 10Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
79% similar · $49,450 (−2%) · High school
- 11Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
78% similar · $57,430 (+14%) · High school
- 12Fence Erectors
78% similar · $47,980 (−5%) · High school
- 13Glaziers
78% similar · $57,080 (+13%) · High school · Same group
- 14Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
78% similar · $46,960 (−7%) · High school
- 15Carpenters
78% similar · $60,580 (+20%) · High school · Same group
- 16Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers
78% similar · $58,970 (+17%) · High school · Same group
- 17Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
78% similar · $49,880 (−1%) · High school
- 18Furniture Finishers
78% similar · $44,540 (−12%) · High school
- 19Pile Driver Operators
77% similar · $73,300 (+45%) · High school · Same group
- 20Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
77% similar · $57,020 (+13%) · High school · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than floor sanders and finishers.
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers82% similar · $76,170 (+51%)
- Pile Driver Operators77% similar · $73,300 (+45%)
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers79% similar · $62,780 (+24%)
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons80% similar · $62,120 (+23%)
- Carpenters78% similar · $60,580 (+20%)
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers78% similar · $58,970 (+17%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for floor sanders and finishers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where floor sanders and finishers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Furniture Finishers (85)
- Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (79)
- Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters (79)
- Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons (79)
- Fence Erectors (78)
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (78)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (78)
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (77)
- Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators (77)
- Foundry Mold and Coremakers (77)
Questions about jobs like floor sanders and finishers
What jobs are most similar to floor sanders and finishers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (82% similar), Carpet Installers (81% similar), Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall (81% similar), Stonemasons (81% similar) and Brickmasons and Blockmasons (80% similar).
Which jobs like floor sanders and finishers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Terrazzo Workers and Finishers ($76,170, +51%; usually a high school diploma), Pile Driver Operators ($73,300, +45%; usually a high school diploma) and Structural Iron and Steel Workers ($62,780, +24%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with floor sanders and finishers ($50,440). Without more preparation than floor sanders and finishers usually need: Terrazzo Workers and Finishers, Pile Driver Operators and Structural Iron and Steel Workers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.