Carpet Installers: Job Description
Lay and install carpet from rolls or blocks on floors. Install padding and trim flooring materials.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Carpet Installers Perform?
The core tasks performed by carpet installers span:
- Inspect the surface to be covered to determine its condition, and correct any imperfections that might show through carpet or cause carpet to wear unevenly.
- Roll out, measure, mark, and cut carpeting to size with a carpet knife, following floor sketches and allowing extra carpet for final fitting.
- Join edges of carpet and seam edges where necessary, by sewing or by using tape with glue and heated carpet iron.
- Cut and trim carpet to fit along wall edges, openings, and projections, finishing the edges with a wall trimmer.
- Plan the layout of the carpet, allowing for expected traffic patterns and placing seams for best appearance and longest wear.
- Stretch carpet to align with walls and ensure a smooth surface, and press carpet in place over tack strips or use staples, tape, tacks or glue to hold carpet in place.
- Take measurements and study floor sketches to calculate the area to be carpeted and the amount of material needed.
- Install carpet on some floors using adhesive, following prescribed method.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful carpet installers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Carpet Cleaning Tech (Carpet Cleaning Technician)
- Carpet Installation Specialist
- Carpet Installer
- Carpet Layer
- Carpet Mechanic
- Carpet Technician
- Carpet Tile Layer
- Commercial Carpet Installer
Job Outlook
There are about 743,108 carpet installers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +13.4% over the projection horizon.
Carpet Installers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $72,945 |
| Hourly median | $35.07 |
| 10th percentile | $48,722 |
| 25th percentile | $60,834 |
| 75th percentile | $85,056 |
| 90th percentile | $97,168 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $107,850 |
| Nevada | $82,270 |
| Minnesota | $82,160 |
| New Hampshire | $63,610 |
| Alaska | $61,040 |
| Washington | $60,070 |
| Idaho | $56,020 |
| California | $54,840 |
| Arizona | $54,620 |
| Vermont | $53,430 |
| Tennessee | $52,780 |
| Colorado | $52,690 |
| Wisconsin | $51,330 |
| Ohio | $51,120 |
| New York | $50,910 |
| Missouri | $50,620 |
| Oregon | $49,810 |
| Wyoming | $49,600 |
| Kansas | $49,320 |
| Florida | $49,080 |
| Maryland | $48,940 |
| Massachusetts | $48,660 |
| Michigan | $48,220 |
| Connecticut | $47,280 |
| Indiana | $47,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,160 |
| Texas | $47,100 |
| Virginia | $45,300 |
| Utah | $43,270 |
| Illinois | $43,200 |
| Rhode Island | $43,090 |
| Oklahoma | $42,640 |
| South Dakota | $42,640 |
| Nebraska | $40,700 |
| Iowa | $40,620 |
| New Mexico | $38,130 |
| Louisiana | $37,870 |
| Mississippi | $37,700 |
| Alabama | $37,610 |
| Georgia | $37,130 |
| North Carolina | $37,100 |
| Arkansas | $36,400 |
| West Virginia | $36,160 |
| Delaware | $35,470 |
| Kentucky | $34,250 |
| South Carolina | $33,070 |
| Montana | $27,940 |
Where Carpet Installers Earn the Most
Earnings for carpet installers differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $62,059 | 14.2% | 0.97 |
| Far Western US | $60,310 | 33.1% | 2.63 |
| New England | $56,426 | 1.6% | 1.29 |
| Plains States | $47,593 | 4.3% | 1.06 |
| Southwest | $47,464 | 10.9% | 0.95 |
| Great Lakes | $47,405 | 14.1% | 1.08 |
| Rocky Mountains | $44,982 | 6.6% | 2.09 |
| Southeast | $40,439 | 15.1% | 0.67 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Carpet Installers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $82,270 | 730 |
| Reno, NV | NV | $81,620 | 170 |
| Madison, WI | WI | $66,600 | 90 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | NH | $62,940 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $62,650 | 380 |
| Rochester, NY | NY | $61,670 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $60,070 | 280 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $59,030 | 30 |
Which Industries Hire Carpet Installers
The bulk of carpet installers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 9,160 | $50,590 |
| Retail Trade | 4,940 | $50,290 |
| Wholesale Trade | 330 | $45,850 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 180 | $37,750 |
| Manufacturing | 140 | $47,100 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 50 | n/a |
| Educational Services | 30 | $58,310 |
Below are examples of industries where carpet installers work:
Tools and Technology
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for carpet installers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
- Telephone Conversations
How to Become Carpet Installers
Most carpet installers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons (Supplemental)
- Carpenters (Supplemental)
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles (Primary-Short)
- Floor Sanders and Finishers (Primary-Short)
- Tile and Stone Setters (Primary-Short)
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (Supplemental)
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (Primary-Long)
- Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for carpet installers typically earn programs in:
Construction Trades
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2041.00 (Carpet Installers).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.