Flooring Installers and Tile and Marble Setters: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

Education Required
There are no specific education requirements for someone to become a flooring installer or tile and marble setter. A high school diploma or equivalent is preferred for those entering an apprenticeship program.
Training Required
Flooring installers and tile and marble setters typically learn their duties through on-the-job training, working with experienced installers. Although workers may enter training directly, many start out as helpers.
Job Outlook
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 10% (Faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.)
Median pay: How much do Flooring Installers and Tile and Marble Setters make?
$39,150 Annual Salary
$18.82 per hour

Flooring installers and tile and marble setters lay and finish carpet, wood, vinyl, and tile.

What do Flooring Installers and Tile and Marble Setters do?

Flooring installers and tile and marble setters typically do the following:

  • Remove existing flooring or wall covering
  • Clean and level the surface to be covered
  • Measure the area and cut flooring material to fit
  • Arrange flooring according to design plans
  • Place flooring, using adhesives, nails, or staples
  • Fill joints with filler compound and remove excess compound
  • Trim excess carpet or linoleum
  • Apply necessary finishes, such as sealants and stains

Nearly every building has a finished floor, and flooring installers and tile and marble setters lay the materials that improve the look and feel of homes, offices, restaurants, and other buildings. Although most of the materials installed by these workers cover only floors, some materials are also installed on walls and countertops or in showers.

A smooth, even base of mortar or plywood is required for floors and tile to be installed. The base may be installed by flooring installers and tile and marble setters or by other construction craftworkers. When remodeling, workers may need to remove the old flooring and smooth the surface.

The following are examples of types of flooring installers and tile and marble setters:

Careers for Flooring Installers and Tile and Marble Setters

  • Apprentice hard tile installers
  • Apprentice tile setters
  • Carpet installers
  • Carpet layers
  • Carpet tile installers
  • Ceramic tile installers
  • Ceramic tile mechanics
  • Commercial carpet installers
  • Composition floor layers
  • Cork floor installers
  • Floor finishers
  • Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
  • Floor refinishers
  • Floor sanders
  • Floor sanders and finishers
  • Floor sanding machine operators
  • Floor scrapers
  • Hard tile setters
  • Hardwood finishers
  • Laminate floor installers
  • Linoleum installers
  • Marble ceiling installers
  • Marble installers
  • Marble setters
  • Mosaic floor layers
  • Parquet floor layers
  • Residential carpet installers
  • Resilient tile installers
  • Shock-absorption floor layers
  • Tile and marble setters
  • Tile applicators
  • Tile finishers
  • Tile installers
  • Tile masons
  • Tilesetters
  • Vinyl flooring installers
  • Vinyl installers
  • Wall-to-wall carpet installers
  • Wood tile installers

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