How to Become a Floor Installer:
The Definitive Guide

Job Description

Floor Installers are a specialized construction group that focuses on the measurement, placement, and look of a home or business’s flooring options.

Duties

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Salary

On average in the United States, an experienced Floor Installer will make $24 an hour.

Each year, the salary for a Floor Installer on average is typically $50,118.

Those who are just beginning their career as a Floor Installer may make as little as $10 an hour due to internships and apprenticeships.

This means that you could potentially make $20,800 per year at the beginning of your career.

With experience and time in the field, it is possible that a Floor Installer could make over $35.

In this price range, a Floor Installer’s yearly salary looks to be about $72,800.

• Annually
• Monthly
• Hourly

*Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey.
Conducted by: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

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How to Become

Step 1Graduate High School

The first step in working as a Floor Installer is to graduate high school.

Typically, most teenagers will do this by the time they are eighteen years old in the United States.

This will take about four years and teach you basic knowledge to help you get into your dream career or college.

If you are over the age of eighteen and do not have a diploma, then consider signing up for a GED.

A GED is the equivalent of a high school diploma and takes about three to six months to complete.

You will need to take courses and pass an exam to earn your GED.

Step 2Become an Apprentice

Once you have graduated and decided to become a Floor Installer, the next step is to speak to the owner of a business or individual Floor Installer to gain an apprenticeship or internship.

An internship will provide you with experience but typically will not pay you, and an apprenticeship will give you that same experience with an hourly wage.

Depending on how old you are, you may even be able to gain hands-on knowledge while you are still in high school.

An apprenticeship can last anywhere from six months to three years and will allow you to work with senior Floor Installers to learn the tricks of the trade firsthand.

Step 3Gain Experience

While you are still in high school or right after you graduate and become employed as a Floor Installer, you can gain hands-on experience.

There are several ways to do so, first, you can start an internship.

This is usually unpaid and will show you the ropes of the career of a senior Floor Installer.

An internship can last anywhere from three months to a year and can result in some great knowledge.

If you are looking for a paid gig, you may want to consider an apprenticeship.

With an apprenticeship, you will receive an hourly wage while you learn how to work as a Floor Installer from your company.

Once you have enough experience as an apprentice, you could become a full-time employee.

Step 4Become Certified

You don’t need to become licensed unless you plan to branch out on your own and have a company that does floor installation.

Instead, it might be wise to become certified in the area of floor installation.

Certification provides customers certainty that they know what you are doing and are trained in the art of floor installation.

There are plenty of accredited places to become certified, including the International Standards and Training Alliance which has the Certified Installer credential as well as the International Certified Flooring Installers Association which provides the Floor Installers Certification.

With a certification, you will stand out from other Floor Installers, which means more chances for you to become hired.

Those who plan to have their own company should seek licensure, which can be found through your state’s licensing board.

Step 5Advance Your Career

With certification, you can find yourself at the top of your career, running a crew or even branching out on your own.

Those who are licensed can create their own company to ensure higher rates and marketability.

If you want to succeed in the flooring industry, you’ll also need to find new and better ways to complete floor installation.

This can be done by attending seminars, taking courses, and keeping up with what is new in the world of construction.

It may also be wise to consider different types of flooring and how to install high-quality floors, including solid hardwood flooring, intricate tile work, and ceramic.

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Education

To find a successful career as a Floor Installer, you will need to have at least a high school diploma.

A high school diploma can be completed in four years as a teenager, however, if you are an adult who does not have a high school diploma, you can earn a GED, which is the equivalent.

The GED program takes about 15 hours per week and will be completed after three to six months.

Once you have a high school diploma or GED, you can apply for a job as a Floor Installer, and then complete on-the-job training to finish out your education.

On-the-job training can be done through an internship or apprenticeship, and may even be possible while you are still in school.

An internship is often unpaid, or with low pay so that you can gain hands-on experience.

Sometimes, you can even earn school credits while completing an internship.

An apprenticeship is different because you could get paid to work and are oftentimes completing the apprenticeship for full-time employment.

These apprenticeships can be offered by businesses and even contractors.

You will typically work forty hours to finish out an apprenticeship that could take anywhere from one to three years to complete.

Once you have several years of experience working as a Floor Installer, you can branch out on your own with another company, create your own business, or become promoted in your current company.

There may be some extra training or courses to take if you want to consider advanced flooring.

These can come in the form of classes, conferences, or training programs around the country.

Those who choose to complete their Associate’s or bachelor’s degree to become a Floor Installer should major in business, precision metalworking, graphic design, or another related field.

Video About The Career

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Licensing & Certification

It may not be required in your state to become licensed to work as a Floor Installer, but if you would like to branch out on your own, it may be wise to contact the licensing board before you get started.

A license may also allow you to be considered a specialty or general contractor.

This type of license will ensure that you are up to date in floor installation knowledge and have experience in working with construction materials.

In areas where you will need licensure, you will need to have at least two to four years of experience in the field.

It is likely that you will need to take an exam to become licensed, and may even need to register as a company before you can begin working.

After approval, you’ll likely need to submit some type of fingerprint and background check to ensure you do not have a criminal record.

This will provide comfort to your customers as they hire you to work in their homes.

You may not be ready to become licensed but want to consider other options.

That is where certification comes in, and to become a certified Floor Installer there are plenty of options.

Several organizations offer accredited credentials, such as:

• Certified Installer Management Program from The Flooring Contractors Association
• Certified Flooring Installer from International Certified Flooring Installers
• Certified Professional from the National Wood Flooring Association

Ask your mentors, contractors, and employers for recommendations on certifications.

Each one will require a membership to the association, and then you’ll need to complete courses, show hands-on knowledge, and take an exam to become certified.

Depending on which type of certification you choose, it can take anywhere from several weeks to months to earn each credential.

The more specializations and certifications that you hold, the better you will get at flooring and more customers will come your way.

Average Training Program Duration: 0-6 Months

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Popular Programs

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Job Outlook

In the next decade, the Floor Installer career will likely grow by nearly seven percent.

This is about as fast as other occupations in the construction field.

Those who have worked many years as a Floor Installer may be ready for retirement or may be looking for other careers, so this will cause job openings throughout the country.

There will likely be about 9,800 Floor Installer positions open each year.

People who work in larger cities may find more opportunities to work as a Floor Installer.

All in all, there will be great prospects for those who are ready to commit to the Floor Installer career.

Employment Growth Projection: 7%

That's a higher than average projected growth of 4,100 jobs.

Floor Installer: Interest Over Time

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Should You Become a Floor Installer?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How long do you have to go to school to become a Floor Installer?

There is no set higher education that is required to work as a Floor Installer, however, you will need a high school diploma or GED.

A GED can take six months to complete, and a high school diploma will require four years of education.

If you have either of these credentials, you can work as a floor installer apprentice or new hire, which will require on-the-job training.

On-the-job training can take several weeks to many years to complete.

Q. How much money does a Floor Installer make a year?

Annually, an experienced Floor Installer will make about $50,118 on average or about $24 per hour.

With more time and education, you could make quite a bit more as a Floor Installer, up to $72,800 in some areas.

However, if you are just starting in this business, you will typically make closer to $20,800 per year.

Q. What kind of education do you need to be a Floor Installer?

The average Floor Installer begins their career with at least a high school diploma or a GED.

This is because it is easy to learn on the job through training and apprenticeship.

While it may take four years to complete high school, earning a GED can take about six months to finish.

An apprenticeship or internship can take anywhere from six months to several years to establish all the education needed to do this job well.

Q. Are Floor Installers in high demand?

Yes, Floor Installers are in high demand due to the growing need for new floors in businesses and homes throughout the country.

Upgrades, advancements in design, and aesthetics are other reasons that people may be interested in purchasing new flooring.

There will likely be an increase in this career over the next ten years, so now is your time to begin thinking about becoming a Floor Installer.

Q. What skills do you need to have to be a Floor Installer?

It is necessary to have on-the-job experience as a Floor Installer, but it is also important to possess other skills that can help you throughout your time in this career.

Some of the skills are physical, like the ability to lift heavy objects or work with tools, but you may also want to brush up on  your computer and math skills, as well as:

• Communication skills
• Reading comprehension
• Measuring
• Blueprint reading
• Attention to detail
• Teamwork ability

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