How much does a floor layer make?
The median floor layer in the United States earns $56,460 per year, about $27.15 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all floor layers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 47-2042.
Floor layer salary range
Pay for floor layers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $37,600 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $96,700. The average (mean) wage of $61,760 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 | $37,600 | $18.08 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $45,660 | $21.95 | |
| Median (50th) | $56,460 | $27.15 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $73,840 | $35.50 | |
| 90th percentile | $96,700 | $46.49 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles (SOC 47-2042), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Floor layer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Floor layers earn the most in Alaska at $92,860 a year, and the least in Montana at $37,710. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $92,860 | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $79,280 | 1,060 |
| Hawaii | $77,280 | 210 |
| Illinois | $69,880 | 1,330 |
| New York | $61,360 | 880 |
| California | $61,210 | 4,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,050 | 720 |
| New Jersey | $59,840 | 700 |
| Ohio | $59,470 | 850 |
| Minnesota | $59,380 | 490 |
| South Dakota | $58,930 | 180 |
| Nevada | $58,540 | 560 |
| Florida | $57,020 | 1,660 |
| Washington | $56,800 | 370 |
| Oregon | $56,460 | 300 |
| Iowa | $54,960 | 160 |
| Missouri | $54,710 | 590 |
| Maine | $53,390 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $52,860 | 700 |
| North Carolina | $51,700 | 490 |
| Vermont | $51,200 | 60 |
| Indiana | $50,720 | 730 |
| Virginia | $50,440 | 270 |
| Kentucky | $50,380 | 390 |
| Tennessee | $49,900 | 200 |
| South Carolina | $49,860 | 170 |
| New Mexico | $49,790 | 200 |
| Mississippi | $49,240 | 100 |
| North Dakota | $48,050 | 90 |
| Utah | $47,900 | 550 |
| Maryland | $47,880 | 450 |
| Connecticut | $47,210 | 110 |
| Michigan | $46,800 | 670 |
| Georgia | $46,030 | 330 |
| Colorado | $46,020 | 240 |
| Kansas | $45,970 | 180 |
| West Virginia | $45,390 | 30 |
| Arizona | $44,740 | 610 |
| Texas | $43,070 | 1,480 |
| Louisiana | $42,260 | 70 |
| Arkansas | $40,750 | 210 |
| Alabama | $38,730 | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $38,030 | 140 |
| Montana | $37,710 | 50 |
State median wages for floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles (SOC 47-2042), 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 floor layers
The BLS projects employment of floor layers to grow 9% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 29,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 32,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 2,200 openings a year for floor layers. 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 floor layer
The typical entry-level education for floor layers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-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 floor layer 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 (Alaska, $92,860) and the lowest (Montana, $37,710) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 23,640 people work as floor layers in the United States. At $56,460 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Floor layer salary FAQ
How much does a floor layer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a floor layer is $27.15. The middle half of floor layers earn between $21.95 and $35.50 per hour.
What is the highest floor layer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of floor layers earn more than $96,700 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a floor layer make a year?
The median annual salary for a floor layer is $56,460. The average (mean) wage of $61,760 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 floor layer a well paid job?
At $56,460 a year, a floor layer earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 23,640 people work as floor layers in the United States.
Which state pays floor layers the most?
Alaska has the highest median salary for floor layers at $92,860 a year. Massachusetts ($79,280) and Hawaii ($77,280) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a floor layer a good career?
Employment of floor layers is projected to grow 9% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 2,200 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a floor layer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for floor layers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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