Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Floor Layers
Floor Layers apply blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors.
Table of contents
What they do
Floor Layers apply blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors.
- Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.
- Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions.
- Inspect the surface to be covered to ensure that it is firm and dry.
- Trim excess covering materials, tack edges and join sections of covering material to form a tight joint.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Floor Layers inspect the surface to be covered to ensure that it is firm and dry. They trim excess covering materials, tack edges, and join sections of covering material to form a tight joint.
A typical day for a Floor Layer will also include:
- Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.
- Form a smooth foundation by stapling plywood or Masonite over the floor or by brushing waterproof compound onto the surface and filling cracks with plaster, putty, or grout to seal pores.
- Determine traffic areas and decide the location of seams.
- Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions.
- Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces or foundations, using chalk lines and dividers.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Floor Layers also remove excess cement to clean the finished surface. They may also measure and mark guidelines on surfaces or foundations, using chalk lines and dividers.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Floor Layers disconnect and remove appliances, light fixtures, and worn floor and wall covering from floors, walls, and cabinets. They might also form a smooth foundation by stapling plywood or Masonite over the floor or by brushing waterproof compound onto the surface and filling cracks with plaster, putty, or grout to seal pores.
In addition, they sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them heat and soften floor covering materials to patch cracks or fit floor coverings around irregular surfaces, using a blowtorch.
To some Floor Layers, it is also their responsibility to layout, position, and apply shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors, walls, and cabinets, following guidelines to keep courses straight and create designs.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
63% said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they found their job meaningful.
My typical day starts with meeting one of the crews on a new site to speak with the homeowner and lead, help solve any problems, and give everyone a rundown of how this job should be tackled.
After I meet with the crews on new jobs I head into the office. I start the day by answering emails and calling any new leads that we have acquired. After this, I go meet with homeowners and create estimates for their projects. By this time there is usually some reason that I need to visit one of the sites where we are already working to help sort out some sort of unforeseen issue such as subflooring that needs to be replaced. I contact the homeowner to explain the situation, and added cost of replacing it. Then get their blessing on doing so. While I try to keep a tight schedule, no day is typical because I have to prioritize things on the fly as they arise.
The rest of the day is just like managing any other business. You spend your days communicating and coordinating through emails, text, calls, and face-to-face conversations. I am very lucky in that my daughter is a great lead carpenter who can solve any problem on the job. This allows me to focus on growing the business instead of spending my days solving unforeseen issues and putting out fires.
Pros
The biggest pro for this job is seeing a physical result at the end of the project. It gives you a sense of pride that shuffling papers and numbers around doesn’t provide. My favorite pro to this job is I have created a great place to work for several people where they aren’t micromanaged and are treated fairly. Over the years, we’ve trained several people who went on to start their own businesses. I get to make my living helping improve the lives of our employees as well as the homeowners. I get to meet many kind, interesting people. It’s very rewarding.
Cons
The biggest con is that since I am tasked with running the business, I don’t get to put my hands on the projects much at all anymore. Like seeing the physical result of your efforts at the end of the day, working with your hands provides a sense of fulfillment that can’t be matched in any office. Students should keep in mind that there is a shortage of skilled trades today. The world will always need plumbers, electricians, and carpenters. Having a physically active, tactile vocation provides a sense of fulfillment that you just can’t acquire elsewhere.
Another con is when we have an issue arise such as the subflooring I mentioned above, and the homeowner won’t authorize replacing it for one reason or another. I can’t just do shoddy work. On the occasion that something like this happens, we repair it anyway. Shrinks the profit margin, but it’s the right thing to do. Just like in any other business, we sometimes have customers who are unreasonable or make impossible requests. However, since I’ve been doing this for so long I’m pretty skilled at dealing with this sort of thing. Always tell the leads to let me know when this happens so that I can handle it.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.
Demand for this career is growing fast.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
Salary is below average.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Floor Layers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $27,260 to $33,900 per year or $13 to $16 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $79,500 | $38 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $61,450 | $30 |
| Median | $45,520 | $22 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $33,900 | $16 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $27,260 | $13 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Floor Layers based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $54200 | $26.06 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $52490 | $25.24 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | $50450 | $24.26 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers | $46560 | $22.38 |
| Home Furnishings Stores | $46490 | $22.35 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $46000 | $22.12 |
| Employment Services | $43750 | $21.04 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | $42320 | $20.34 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $42110 | $20.25 |
| Residential Building Construction | $36100 | $17.36 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Floor Layers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Floor Layers including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building Finishing Contractors | 13290 | $50450 | $24.26 |
| Home Furnishings Stores | 1520 | $46490 | $22.35 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 330 | $52490 | $25.24 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 260 | $46000 | $22.12 |
| Residential Building Construction | 230 | $36100 | $17.36 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 220 | $42320 | $20.34 |
| Employment Services | 120 | $43750 | $21.04 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 30 | $54200 | $26.06 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers | $46560 | $22.38 | |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $42110 | $20.25 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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