Career Overview
Lay and install carpet from rolls or blocks on floors. Install padding and trim flooring materials.
Also Known As
- Carpet Installer
- Carpet Mechanic
- Flooring Installer
- Installer
Alternate Job Titles
- 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
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Cut and install vinyl composition tile or vinyl base.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Extent Flexibility
- Trunk Strength
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
- Static Strength
- Speech Recognition
- Manual Dexterity
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Visualization
- Oral Expression
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Perseverance
- Cautiousness
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Air underlayment staplers
- Butane glue guns
- Carpet awls
- Carpet base cutters
- Carpet clamps
- Carpet cutters
- Carpet grippers/pullers
- Carpet seam steamers
- Carpet shears
- Carpet trolleys
- Carpet tucking tools
- Caulking guns
- Concrete nail drivers
- Cool tip glue guns
- Cove base guns
Work Environment
- 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
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $32,830 |
| Median | $49,850 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $83,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 14,980
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $54,340
Tile and Stone Setters
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $52,240
Floor Sanders and Finishers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $49,150
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $48,680
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Education: Less than a High School Diploma
Median Salary: $58,140
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.