Carpet Installers in California
Thinking about a career as a Carpet Installers in California? Below are the key facts. Lay and install carpet from rolls or blocks on floors. Install padding and trim flooring materials. Excludes “Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles” (47-2042).
What do Carpet Installers Make in California?
For a carpet installers working in California, the median annual wage is $54,840 per year (or roughly $26.36/hour).Earnings range from $35,430 at the 10th percentile to $78,560 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,430 | $17.04 |
| 25th percentile | $37,320 | $17.94 |
| Median (50th) | $54,840 | $26.36 |
| 75th percentile | $65,390 | $31.44 |
| 90th percentile | $78,560 | $37.77 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in California nationwide is 1.48, meaning that carpet installers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, carpet installers earn a median of $72,945 per year ($35.07/hour), lower than the California median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 743,108 carpet installers across the United States. In California alone, about 2,600 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 180 carpet installers.
Top California Metros for Carpet Installers
The largest metro-area employers of carpet installers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 800 | $55,680 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 400 | $55,690 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 380 | $62,650 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 250 | $45,300 |
| Fresno, CA | 50 | $45,920 |
Top States for Carpet Installers Employment
View the states that employ the most carpet installers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 2,600 |
| Texas | 1,010 |
| Nevada | 930 |
| Illinois | 710 |
| New York | 650 |
| Pennsylvania | 650 |
| Oregon | 580 |
| Washington | 580 |
| Michigan | 450 |
| New Jersey | 450 |
| Florida | 450 |
| Wisconsin | 420 |
| Georgia | 360 |
| Utah | 350 |
| Arizona | 320 |
| Missouri | 320 |
| North Carolina | 310 |
| Maryland | 280 |
| Ohio | 270 |
| Alabama | 230 |
Highest-Paying States for Carpet Installers
These states pay the most for carpet installers.
| 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 |
Skills
Key carpet installers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for carpet installers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Carpet Installers typically:
- 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.
- Clean up before and after installation, including vacuuming carpet and discarding remnant pieces.
- Measure, cut and install tackless strips along the baseboard or wall.
- Nail tack strips around area to be carpeted or use old strips to attach edges of new carpet.
- Cut carpet padding to size and install padding, following prescribed method.
Work Activities
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Getting Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Controlling Machines and Processes
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Autodesk AutoCAD
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Building Management & Inspection
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like carpet installers include:
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons
- Carpenters
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
- Floor Sanders and Finishers
- Tile and Stone Setters
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Also Known As
Carpet Cleaning Tech (Carpet Cleaning Technician), Carpet Installation Specialist, Carpet Installer, Carpet Layer, Carpet Mechanic, Carpet Technician, Carpet Tile Layer, Commercial Carpet Installer, Commercial Floor Covering Installer, Floor Coverer, Floor Coverer Installer, Floor Covering Installer, Floor Installation Mechanic, Floor Technician, Flooring Installer.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 47-2041.00