The median pay for Floor Sanders and Finishers is $50,440 a year ($24.25/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 1.4% through 2035, with about 300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
- SOC 47-2043
- Construction and Extraction
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Floor Sander and Finisher in four numbers
- Median pay
- $50,440a year, or $24.25/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $70K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.4%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3004,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20254.7K
- Projected 20354.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 4.7K Projected 2035 4.7K - Typical education
- No formal credentialneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school46.6%
- High school34.6%
- Certificate16.4%
- Some college2.3%
Highest education held by floor sanders and finishers Segment Value Less than high school 46.6% High school 34.6% Certificate 16.4% Some college 2.3%
Also advertised as: Finisher, Floor Finisher, Floor Mechanic, Floor Refinisher, Floor Sander, Floor Sander and Finisher.
Pay
How much do Floor Sanders and Finishers make?
Every floor sander and finisher in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$50,440
Middle half earn $41,600 to $59,620
- 10th
- $37,070
- 25th
- $41,600
- 75th
- $59,620
- 90th
- $70,340
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $37,070 |
| 25th | $41,600 |
| Median | $50,440 |
| 75th | $59,620 |
| 90th | $70,340 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $50,440
- Median hourly wage
- $24.25/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $52,460
- People employed
- 3,720
Versus all US occupations
At $50,440, the median for Floor Sanders and Finishers sits in line with the $50,980 median across all US occupations.
Versus construction and extraction occupations
Inside the Construction and Extraction group, where the middle occupation pays $60,020, this is 16% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $70,340 or more while the bottom 10% earn $37,070, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 23% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Utah pays the most at $74,240, and still leads at $75,093 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Floor Sanders and Finishers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Utah | $74,240 | $75,093 | 30 |
| 2Minnesota | $62,940 | $63,820 | N/A |
| 3Oregon | $62,020 | $60,003 | N/A |
| 4New York | $60,470 | $56,032 | 240 |
| 5Massachusetts | $58,230 | $55,060 | N/A |
| 6Washington | $55,620 | $51,975 | 90 |
| 7Colorado | $55,180 | $53,546 | 130 |
| 8Kentucky | $54,580 | $60,537 | N/A |
| 9Florida | $52,060 | $50,341 | 270 |
| 10Michigan | $51,400 | $53,421 | N/A |
Job outlook
Is Floor Sander and Finisher a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Floor Sanders and Finishers | +1.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Floor Sanders and Finishers to change 1.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 300 openings are projected each year, 6.4% of the 4,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of flooring installers and tile and stone setters is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
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.
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.
Getting in
How to become a Floor Sander and Finisher
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.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
No formal educational credential
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as floor sanders and finishers.
- Less than a High School Diploma46.6%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)34.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate16.4%
- Some College Courses2.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Less than a High School Diploma | 46.6% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 34.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 16.4% |
| Some College Courses | 2.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Floor Sander and Finisher do?
Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.
Flooring installers and tile and stone setters lay and finish carpet, wood, vinyl, and other materials, such as ceramic, glass, marble, and granite.
Day-to-day tasks
- Buff and vacuum floors to ensure their cleanliness prior to the application of finish.
- Scrape and sand floor edges and areas inaccessible to floor sanders, using scrapers, disk-type sanders, and sandpaper.
- Inspect floors for smoothness.
- Guide sanding machines over surfaces of floors until surfaces are smooth.
- Apply filler compound and coats of finish to floors to seal wood.
- Attach sandpaper to rollers of sanding machines.
- Remove excess glue from joints, using knives, scrapers, or wood chisels.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
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.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Speaking2.8
- Critical Thinking2.8
- Reading Comprehension2.6
- Active Learning2.6
- Writing2.1
- Learning Strategies2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Speaking | 2.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.6 |
| Active Learning | 2.6 |
| Writing | 2.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operation and Control3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Operations Monitoring2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.8
- Quality Control Analysis2.6
- Judgment and Decision Making2.6
- Service Orientation2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.8 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.6 |
| Service Orientation | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Project management software
- Video creation and editing software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Floor Sander and Finisher?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Floor Sander and Finisher |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.3
- Enterprising1.5
- Social1.4
- Investigative1.4
- Artistic1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Floor Sander and Finisher
O*NET related occupations
- Construction and Extraction
Floor Layer, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
$56,460median a year
Most earn $38K to $97K
+9.0%No formal credential - Production
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
- Construction and Extraction
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer
$58,930median a year
Most earn $38K to $102K
+2.5%No formal credential
More construction and extraction careers
Median annual pay, with floor sanders and finishers highlighted
- Plumber$63,800
- Electrician$63,190
- Structural Iron and Steel Worker$62,780
- Sheet Metal Worker$61,800
- Carpenter$60,580
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$59,850
- Roofer$55,440
- Floor Sander and Finisher$50,440
- Oil and Gas Roustabout$46,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Plumber | $63,800 |
| Electrician | $63,190 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $62,780 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 |
| Carpenter | $60,580 |
| Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator | $59,850 |
| Roofer | $55,440 |
| Floor Sander and Finisher | $50,440 |
| Oil and Gas Roustabout | $46,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Floor Sander and Finisher appears on
Questions
Floor Sander and Finisher: frequently asked questions
How much do Floor Sanders and Finishers make?
Floor Sanders and Finishers earn a median of $50,440 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), close to the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $24.25/hr. The middle half earn between $41,600 and $59,620. The top 10% earn $70,340 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Floor Sander and Finisher?
No. BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry requirement for Floor Sanders and Finishers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as little or no preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 46.6% hold less than a high school diploma.
Is Floor Sander and Finisher a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.4% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Floor Sander and Finisher do?
Flooring installers and tile and stone setters lay and finish carpet, wood, vinyl, and other materials, such as ceramic, glass, marble, and granite. A core O*NET task: buff and vacuum floors to ensure their cleanliness prior to the application of finish. Employers most often ask for Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Floor Sanders and Finishers the most?
The highest state medians for Floor Sanders and Finishers are Utah ($74,240), Minnesota ($62,940), Oregon ($62,020) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Floor Sander and Finisher?
O*NET scores Floor Sanders and Finishers highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.