How much does a carpet installer make?
The median carpet installer in the United States earns $50,340 per year, about $24.20 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all carpet installers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 47-2041.
Carpet installer salary range
Pay for carpet installers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $35,450 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $82,140. The average (mean) wage of $56,990 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,450 | $17.05 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $41,970 | $20.18 | |
| Median (50th) | $50,340 | $24.20 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $66,320 | $31.89 | |
| 90th percentile | $82,140 | $39.49 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for carpet installers (SOC 47-2041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Carpet installer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Carpet installers earn the most in New Jersey at $115,180 a year, and the least in South Carolina at $33,810. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $115,180 | 390 |
| Minnesota | $85,910 | N/A |
| Alaska | $76,790 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $74,510 | 50 |
| Nevada | $67,040 | 710 |
| New Hampshire | $65,600 | 60 |
| Missouri | $63,960 | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $60,830 | 420 |
| Hawaii | $58,710 | N/A |
| Kansas | $57,920 | 70 |
| Oregon | $57,800 | 520 |
| Maryland | $57,030 | 250 |
| Iowa | $55,920 | N/A |
| Vermont | $54,830 | 30 |
| Washington | $54,830 | 470 |
| California | $54,440 | 2,270 |
| Ohio | $54,370 | 310 |
| New Mexico | $52,700 | 60 |
| New York | $52,160 | 710 |
| Idaho | $51,550 | 170 |
| Colorado | $51,280 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $50,600 | N/A |
| Delaware | $50,350 | 70 |
| Indiana | $49,640 | 190 |
| Illinois | $49,480 | 580 |
| Louisiana | $49,400 | 100 |
| Connecticut | $49,230 | 40 |
| Virginia | $48,920 | 210 |
| Michigan | $48,790 | 470 |
| Florida | $48,580 | 550 |
| Georgia | $48,260 | 530 |
| Massachusetts | $47,930 | N/A |
| Arizona | $47,920 | 260 |
| Alabama | $46,600 | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,030 | 490 |
| Utah | $44,480 | 240 |
| Montana | $43,840 | 150 |
| Texas | $43,610 | 810 |
| Oklahoma | $42,490 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $40,420 | 80 |
| Kentucky | $37,800 | 130 |
| Arkansas | $37,390 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $36,590 | 180 |
| West Virginia | $36,220 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $33,810 | 80 |
State median wages for carpet installers (SOC 47-2041), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for carpet installers
The BLS projects employment of carpet installers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 16.4%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 17,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 14,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 700 openings a year for carpet installers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a carpet installer
The typical entry-level education for carpet installers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a carpet installer earns
Experience, licensing, certifications, region, and overtime move these numbers the most. A licensed, experienced worker in a high cost metro or a strong union market lands near the top of the range, while apprentices and workers in rural areas start closer to the bottom.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New Jersey, $115,180) and the lowest (South Carolina, $33,810) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 13,780 people work as carpet installers in the United States. At $50,340 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Carpet installer salary FAQ
How much does a carpet installer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a carpet installer is $24.20. The middle half of carpet installers earn between $20.18 and $31.89 per hour.
What is the highest carpet installer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of carpet installers earn more than $82,140 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a carpet installer make a year?
The median annual salary for a carpet installer is $50,340. The average (mean) wage of $56,990 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a carpet installer a well paid job?
At $50,340 a year, a carpet installer earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 13,780 people work as carpet installers in the United States.
Which state pays carpet installers the most?
New Jersey has the highest median salary for carpet installers at $115,180 a year. Minnesota ($85,910) and Alaska ($76,790) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a carpet installer a good career?
Employment of carpet installers is projected to shrink 16.4% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a carpet installer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for carpet installers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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