What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles in the U.S. earn more than $56,460 a year — the middle 80% land between $37,600 and $96,700. About 23,640 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Craft and related trades workers earn about ₹16,825 a month on average — around ₹2.0 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$56,460typical pay / year
23,640people in this work
$96,700+top 10% earn
₹2.0 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Keeping the record1
Finish flooring edges and seams
+Finish the floor by fitting and securing the last rows against skirting and door thresholds, trim and scribe…
Finish flooring edges and seams
+Finish the floor by fitting and securing the last rows against skirting and door thresholds, trim and scribe each board for tight seams, sand any high spots, fill gaps with matching filler, and leave a clean, dust-free surface ready for seal on Friday.
The tools that do the workFlooring Technologies QFloorsjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work19
Remove excess cement to clean finished surface.
+Remove the excess cement from the finished tiled surface using a firm scraper and damp sponge so all grout…
Remove excess cement to clean finished surface.
+Remove the excess cement from the finished tiled surface using a firm scraper and damp sponge so all grout lines and tile faces are smooth and free of residue, check edges for hollows, and vacuum the floor before final inspection.
The tools that do the workFlooring Technologies QFloorsO*NET
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Trim excess covering materials, tack edges, and join sections of covering material to form tight joint.
+Trim the excess covering at seams with a sharp straightedge, tack down edges so they lie flat, and stitch or…
Trim excess covering materials, tack edges, and join sections of covering material to form tight joint.
+Trim the excess covering at seams with a sharp straightedge, tack down edges so they lie flat, and stitch or seam-join adjacent sections to create a tight, even joint that will not lift under foot traffic.
The tools that do the workFocus Floor CoveringO*NET
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Apply adhesive cement to floor or wall material to join and adhere foundation material.
+Spread adhesive cement evenly over the substrate with the correct notched trowel, apply the floor or wall…
Apply adhesive cement to floor or wall material to join and adhere foundation material.
+Spread adhesive cement evenly over the substrate with the correct notched trowel, apply the floor or wall covering into wet adhesive with proper pressure, and wipe excess before it skins to ensure full bond and clean edges.
The tools that do the workAya Associates Comp-U-FloorO*NET
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Cut covering and foundation materials, according to blueprints and sketches.
+Measure and cut covering and underlayment to the blueprint dimensions, mark pieces on the material, make…
Cut covering and foundation materials, according to blueprints and sketches.
+Measure and cut covering and underlayment to the blueprint dimensions, mark pieces on the material, make ergonomic straight and compound cuts where needed, and dry-fit each piece to the layout before final placement.
The tools that do the workMeasure Square FloorEstimate ProO*NET
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Determine traffic areas and decide location of seams.
+Walk the site to map high-traffic zones, mark seam lines to fall away from doorways and along less visible…
Determine traffic areas and decide location of seams.
+Walk the site to map high-traffic zones, mark seam lines to fall away from doorways and along less visible runs, and decide seam placement so joints carry load sensibly and minimise wear in busiest corridors.
The tools that do the workProject visualizationO*NET
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Disconnect and remove appliances, light fixtures, and worn floor and wall covering from floors, walls, and cabinets.
+Disconnect and remove appliances and light fittings as needed, strip out worn floor and wall coverings…
Disconnect and remove appliances, light fixtures, and worn floor and wall covering from floors, walls, and cabinets.
+Disconnect and remove appliances and light fittings as needed, strip out worn floor and wall coverings carefully to avoid damage to cabinets and wiring, and dispose of waste while preserving salvageable fixtures.
The tools that do the workOn Center On-Screen TakeoffO*NET
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Heat and soften floor covering materials to patch cracks or fit floor coverings around irregular surfaces, using blowtorch.
+Heat the affected vinyl and backing with the torch until pliable, press filler into the crack, trim and…
Heat and soften floor covering materials to patch cracks or fit floor coverings around irregular surfaces, using blowtorch.
+Heat the affected vinyl and backing with the torch until pliable, press filler into the crack, trim and smooth excess, cool and test bond, ensure surrounding timber and adhesives are protected and ventilated before leaving site.
The tools that do the workFlooring Technologies QFloorsO*NET
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Apply shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings
+Lay the chosen underlay or acoustic membrane across the subfloor, cut and fit around door frames and pipes,…
Apply shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings
+Lay the chosen underlay or acoustic membrane across the subfloor, cut and fit around door frames and pipes, bond seams with recommended adhesive, roll the surface for contact, and check decorative finish runs straight to the main sightline.
The tools that do the workMeasure Square FloorEstimate Projob descriptions
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Ensure proper alignment and adhesion of flooring
+Dry-fit the first run of tiles or planks from the chosen datum, snap control lines, apply adhesive in small…
Ensure proper alignment and adhesion of flooring
+Dry-fit the first run of tiles or planks from the chosen datum, snap control lines, apply adhesive in small sections, bed units straight to line, tap joints for uniform grout gaps and check levels every metre before the adhesive skins.
The tools that do the workPacific Solutions FloorRightjob descriptions
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Maintain and clean work area during installation
+Sweep and vacuum the work area hourly, bag and remove offcuts, wipe adhesive spillages before they set, set…
Maintain and clean work area during installation
+Sweep and vacuum the work area hourly, bag and remove offcuts, wipe adhesive spillages before they set, set out a sealed debris bin and damp-mop at knock-off so tools and pathways stay safe for the crew and client.
The tools that do the workProject visualizationjob descriptions
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Follow safety procedures and use protective equipment
+Put on gloves, eye protection, respirator and knee pads, isolate heat and adhesive work with warning signs,…
Follow safety procedures and use protective equipment
+Put on gloves, eye protection, respirator and knee pads, isolate heat and adhesive work with warning signs, confirm extinguisher and first-aid kit are at hand, and brief the crew on emergency shutdown before starting.
The tools that do the workRadio frequency identification RFIDjob descriptions
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Prepare the surface
+Strip loose material, sand and fill depressions, vacuum and solvent-wipe the subfloor, check moisture with a…
Prepare the surface
+Strip loose material, sand and fill depressions, vacuum and solvent-wipe the subfloor, check moisture with a meter, apply primer where needed and leave to cure to the manufacturer’s specification before laying.
The tools that do the workAya Associates Comp-U-FloorESCO
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Clean wood surface
+Prepare the stair landing by removing loose dust and grit with a broom, sand high spots and edges until the…
Clean wood surface
+Prepare the stair landing by removing loose dust and grit with a broom, sand high spots and edges until the surface is smooth to the touch, vacuum all sanding dust with a HEPA filter, then wipe down with a damp cloth and allow to dry before laying tile.
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Cut parquet or board elements to size
+Cut the parquet and board elements to the exact measured lengths for the living room run, mitre ends where…
Cut parquet or board elements to size
+Cut the parquet and board elements to the exact measured lengths for the living room run, mitre ends where the skirting meets, label each cut for its position, deburr edges and stack by row to avoid waste and rework.
The tools that do the workFlooring Technologies QFloorsESCO
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Lay them in a predetermined pattern
+Lay the cut tiles and boards in the herringbone pattern planned for the hallway, maintain 3 mm expansion…
Lay them in a predetermined pattern
+Lay the cut tiles and boards in the herringbone pattern planned for the hallway, maintain 3 mm expansion gaps, stagger joints to the layout plan, check alignment with the chalk line every two rows and correct before adhesive sets.
The tools that do the workProject visualizationESCO
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Work ergonomically
+Set up the workstation and lifting aids, alternate kneeling and standing every 30 minutes, use knee pads and…
Work ergonomically
+Set up the workstation and lifting aids, alternate kneeling and standing every 30 minutes, use knee pads and back brace when moving planks, take a five minute stretching break every hour and keep the work area tidy to reduce trips.
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Follow health and safety procedures in construction
+Follow the site safety plan: wear safety boots, eye protection, dust mask and hearing protection during…
Follow health and safety procedures in construction
+Follow the site safety plan: wear safety boots, eye protection, dust mask and hearing protection during cutting, keep a dust extraction unit running, barricade the work area and log permits and incidents in the site safety book.
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Create smooth wood surface
+Prepare surfaces by sanding high spots and filling gaps, clean dust with a tack cloth, run a final pass with…
Create smooth wood surface
+Prepare surfaces by sanding high spots and filling gaps, clean dust with a tack cloth, run a final pass with 180 grit for an even face, then inspect under daylight for grain tear-out before adhesive or finish.
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Focus floor covering
+Enter measured tile layout, waste factor and labor hours into focus floor covering, attach photos of…
Focus floor covering
+Enter measured tile layout, waste factor and labor hours into focus floor covering, attach photos of substrate condition, confirm grout color with client and set install start for Wednesday morning.
The tools that do the workFocus Floor CoveringO*NET
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Says who?
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses