### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Flooring Installers and Tile and Stone Setters Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			Tile and marble settersFloor sanders and finishers must remove old stain before applying the new coats.							
						Quick Facts:     Flooring Installers and Tile and Stone Setters2023     Median Pay
            						$48,690     per year
										$23.41     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    No formal educational credentialWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    See How to Become OneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    120,900Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    3% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    3,500What Flooring Installers and Tile and Stone Setters Do
                                                
                        
                        
Flooring installers and tile and stone setters lay and finish carpet, wood, vinyl, tile, and other materials.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Installing flooring, tile, and stone is physically demanding, with workers spending much of their time reaching, bending, and kneeling. Most work full time, although schedules may vary.
            
                                                How to Become a Flooring Installer or Tile and Stone Setter
                                                
                        
Flooring installers and tile and stone setters typically need no formal educational credential. They learn their trade on the job, sometimes starting as a helper.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for flooring installers and tile and stone setters was $48,690 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of flooring installers and tile and stone setters is projected to grow							 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 9,800 openings for flooring installers and tile and stone setters are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for flooring installers and tile and stone setters.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of flooring installers and tile and stone setters with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about flooring installers and tile and stone setters by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Flooring Installers and Tile and Stone Setters Do 
            

			Tile and stone settersSome tile and stone setters create intricate designs.			
Flooring installers and tile and stone setters lay and finish carpet, wood, vinyl, and other materials, such as ceramic, glass, marble, and granite.
Duties
Flooring installers and tile and stone setters typically do the following:
Remove existing materials from floors, walls, or other surfaces
Clean and level the surface to be covered
Measure the area and cut material to fit
Arrange materials according to design plans
Place materials and secure with adhesives, nails, or staples
Fill joints with filler compound and remove excess compound
Trim excess carpet or linoleum
Apply finishes, such as sealants and stainsFlooring installers and tile and stone setters lay the materials that improve the look and feel of homes, offices, restaurants, and other buildings. Many of these workers install materials on floors. However, they also work on walls, ceilings, countertops, and showers.
Installing floors and tiles requires a smooth, even base of mortar or plywood. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters or other construction craftworkers lay this base. On remodeling jobs, workers may need to remove old flooring and smooth the surface before laying the base.
The following are examples of types of flooring installers and tile and stone setters:
***Carpet installers*** lay carpet on new floors or over existing flooring. They use special tools, including “knee kickers” to position the carpet and power stretchers to pull the carpet snugly against walls. They also join carpet edges and seam edges by sewing or by using tape with glue and a heated carpet iron.
***Carpet tile installers***lay modular pieces of carpet that may be glued into place. Installing carpet tiles may be an option where standard carpet is impractical, such as in designing a pattern over an area.
***Floor sanders and finishers*** scrape and smooth wood floors, often using power sanders. They then apply stains and sealants to preserve the wood. (For information on workers who install wood floors, see the profile on carpenters.)
***Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles,***install a variety of resilient flooring materials. ***Linoleum installers***lay washable flooring material of the same name, cutting the linoleum to size and gluing it into place. ***Vinyl installers***lay plastic-based flooring that includes vinyl ester, vinyl sheeting, and vinyl tile. Installers of laminate, manufactured wood, and wood tile floors are included in this category.
***Tile and stone setters*** install pieces of ceramic, marble, granite, glass, or other materials. ***Tile installers***, sometimes called ***tile setters,*** cut tiles using wet saws, tile scribes, or handheld tile cutters. They then use trowels of different sizes to spread mortar or a sticky paste, called mastic, evenly on the work surface before placing the tiles. ***Tile finishers*** apply grout between tiles after the tiles are set by using a rubber trowel, called a float, and then wipe the tiles clean after the grout dries. ***Stone setters*** may cut marble, granite, or other stone to a specified size with a wet saw. They use special adhesives to fasten the stone to the desired surface; in remodeling projects, they may first need to smooth the underlying surface after removing old materials.
 Work Environment
			Tile and marble settersCarpet installers spend a lot of time kneeling when stretching carpet.			

	    
				
	
	    	    		Flooring installers and tile and stone setters held about 120,900 jobs in 2022. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up flooring installers and tile and stone setters was distributed as follows:
    	    	
    	Tile and stone setters
                59,400Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
                30,200Carpet installers
                25,100Floor sanders and finishers
                6,200The largest employers of flooring installers and tile and stone setters were as follows:
        Specialty trade contractors
                49%Self-employed workers
                30Manufacturing
                5Construction of buildings
                5Installing flooring, tile, and stone is physically demanding, requiring workers to spend much of their time reaching, bending, and kneeling. Workers typically wear kneepads while kneeling; safety goggles when using grinders, saws, and sanders; and dust masks or respirator systems to prevent inhaling work-generated dust in enclosed areas with poor ventilation.
Injuries and Illnesses
Carpet installers and floor sanders and finishers have some of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.
Work Schedules
Most flooring installers and tile and stone setters work full time, although schedules may vary. In commercial settings, they may need to work evenings and weekends to avoid disturbing regular business operations.
 How to Become a Flooring Installer or Tile and Stone Setter

			Tile and stone settersMost flooring installers and tile and stone setters learn on the job working with experienced installers.			
Flooring installers and tile and stone setters typically need no formal educational credential. They learn their trade on the job, sometimes starting as a helper. Some learn through an apprenticeship.
Education
There are typically no formal education requirements for becoming a flooring installer or tile and stone setter, although candidates entering an apprenticeship program may need a high school diploma or equivalent.
Certain high school courses, such as art and math, may be helpful for flooring installers and tile and stone setters.
Training
Flooring installers and tile and stone setters typically learn on the job, working with experienced installers or starting as helpers.
New workers usually do simple tasks, such as moving materials. As they gain experience, they take on more complex tasks, such as cutting carpet. Some helpers work as tile finishers before becoming tile installers.
Some flooring installers and tile and stone setters learn their trade through a 2- to 4-year apprenticeship. For each year of a typical program, apprentices must complete a predetermined number of hours of technical instruction and paid on-the-job training. Technical instruction in the apprenticeship may include mathematics, building code requirements, safety and first-aid practices, and blueprint reading. After completing an apprenticeship program, flooring installers and tile and stone setters are considered journey workers and may perform duties on their own.
Certification
Several organizations offer certification for floor and tile installers. Although certification is not required, it demonstrates that a flooring installer and tile and stone setter has a specific mastery of skills to do a job.
The Ceramic Tile Education Foundation(CTEF) offers the Certified Tile Installer (CTI) designation for workers with 2 or more years of experience as a tile installer. Applicants must pass a written test and a hands-on performance evaluation.
Several groups, including the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, the International Masonry Institute(IMI), theInternational Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers(IUBAC), the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), the Tile Contractors’ Association of America(TCAA), and the Tile Council of North America(TCNA) have created the Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers(ACT) program. To qualify for the program, applicants must have either completed a qualified apprenticeship program or earned the CTI certification. Requirements for certification include passing both an exam and a field test.
The National Wood Flooring Association(NWFA) offers optional certification for floor sanders and finishers. Sanders and finishers must have 2 years of experience and must have completed NWFA-approved training. Applicants are required to complete written and performance tests.
The International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association(CFI) offers certification for flooring and tile installers. Installers need 2 years of experience before they can take the written test and performance evaluation.
The International Standards & Training Alliance(INSTALL) offers a comprehensive flooring certification program for flooring and tile installers. INSTALL certification requires both classroom and hands-on training and covers all major types of flooring.
Important Qualities
***Color vision.*** Flooring installers and tile and stone setters often determine small color variations and must be able to distinguish among colors in patterns for the best looking finish.
***Customer-service skills.*** Flooring installers and tile and stone setters must be courteous with and considerate of customers, especially while completing tasks in customers’ homes.
***Detail oriented.*** Flooring installers and tile and stone setters need to be thorough and exacting to ensure that tile, wood, and carpet patterns are properly aligned.
***Math skills.*** Flooring installers and tile and stone setters use math to measure an area to be covered and to calculate the amount of material needed to cover it.
***Physical stamina.*** Flooring installers and tile and stone setters must be able to stand or kneel for many hours in order to spread adhesive quickly and place tiles before the adhesive hardens.
***Physical strength.*** Flooring installers and tile and stone setters must be able to lift, carry, and set heavy pieces of flooring material into position.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Flooring Installers and Tile and Stone SettersMedian annual wages, May 2023Construction trades workers$52,000  Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers$48,690  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for flooring installers and tile and stone setters was $48,690 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,120, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $81,500.

			
                    	Median annual wages for flooring installers and tile and stone setters in May 2023 were as follows:
        Tile and stone setters
		$48,910Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
		48,840Floor sanders and finishers
		47,760Carpet installers
		47,520In May 2023, the median annual wages for flooring installers and tile and stone setters in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Specialty trade contractors
                $50,140Manufacturing
                45,370Construction of buildings
                36,880Most flooring installers and tile and stone setters work full time, although schedules may vary. In commercial settings, they may need to work evenings and weekends to avoid disturbing regular business operations.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
              Flooring Installers and Tile and Stone SettersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Construction trades workers3%  Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers3%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of flooring installers and tile and stone setters is projected to grow				 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 9,800 openings for flooring installers and tile and stone setters are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Projected employment of flooring installers and tile and stone setters varies by occupation (see table). The construction of new homes and the renovation of existing units will be the primary source of flooring and tile and stone installation over the projections decade.
Vinyl and other resilient flooring products have become increasingly popular, especially in homes, which will lead to employment growth for floor layers. Tile and stone installation will continue to be common for bathrooms, restaurants, and other buildings, supporting demand for these workers.
			

                        Employment projections data for     flooring installers and tile and stone setters, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers**
			47-2040
			120,900
			124,400
			3
			3,500
			Get data**Carpet installers**
			47-2041
			25,100
			22,300
			-11
			-2,800
			Get data**Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles**
			47-2042
			30,200
			32,300
			7
			2,200
			Get data**Floor sanders and finishers**
			47-2043
			6,200
			6,200
			0
			0
			Get data**Tile and stone setters**
			47-2044
			59,400
			63,500
			7
			4,100
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Carpet installers
					Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
					Floor sanders and finishers
					Tile and stone setters **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of flooring installers and tile and stone setters. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Carpenters**
            Carpenters construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $56,350**Masonry Workers**
            Masonry workers use bricks, concrete and concrete blocks, and natural and manmade stones to build structures.
            See How to Become One
            $53,010**Painters, Construction and Maintenance**
            Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, large machinery and equipment, and bridges and other structures.
            No formal educational credential
            $47,700**Electricians**
            Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $61,590**Glaziers**
            Glaziers install glass in windows, skylights, and other fixtures in buildings.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $51,100**Grounds Maintenance Workers**
            Grounds maintenance workers install and maintain landscapes, prune trees or shrubs, and do other tasks to ensure that vegetation is attractive, orderly, and safe.
            See How to Become One
            $37,690**Hazardous Materials Removal Workers**
            Hazardous materials removal workers identify and dispose of harmful substances such as asbestos, lead, and radioactive waste.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $47,280**Material Moving Machine Operators**
            Material moving machine operators use equipment to transport objects.
            See How to Become One
            $44,750**Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters**
            Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters install and repair piping fixtures and systems.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $61,550**Construction Laborers and Helpers**
            Construction laborers and helpers perform tasks, such as using, supplying, or holding materials or tools and cleaning work areas and equipment, on construction sites.
            See How to Become One
            $44,310
 Contacts for More Information
								
For details about apprenticeships, training, or other work opportunities in this trade, contact the offices of the state employment service, the state apprenticeship agency, local contractors or firms that employ flooring installers and tile and stone setters, or local union–management apprenticeship committees. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor's Apprenticeship program online or by phone at 877-872-5627. Visit Apprenticeship.govto search for apprenticeship opportunities.
For more information about flooring installers and tile and stone setters, visit
Ceramic Tile Education Foundation
International Masonry Institute
International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers
Tile Contractors’ Association of America
The Tile Council of North America, Inc.
Home Builders Institute
For more information about training and certification of flooring installers and tile and stone setters, visit
International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association
Finishing Trades Institute International
International Standards & Training Alliance (INSTALL)
National Tile Contractors Association
National Wood Flooring Association

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Carpet InstallersFloor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard TilesFloor Sanders and FinishersTile and Stone Setters
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Flooring Installers and Tile and Stone Setters, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/tile-and-marble-setters.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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