Construction and extraction
Carpet installer
Lay and install carpet from rolls or blocks on floors. Install padding and trim flooring materials.
Median pay
$50,340
Growth to 2035
−16%
declining
Openings a year
700
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Carpet installer
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Carpet installer: 47% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Plan the layout of the carpet, allowing for expected traffic patterns and placing seams for best appearance and longest wear.
- Join edges of carpet and seam edges where necessary, by sewing or by using tape with glue and heated carpet iron.
- Cut carpet padding to size and install padding, following prescribed method.
- Cut and trim carpet to fit along wall edges, openings, and projections, finishing the edges with a wall trimmer.
- 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.
- Roll out, measure, mark, and cut carpeting to size with a carpet knife, following floor sketches and allowing extra carpet for final fitting.
- Nail tack strips around area to be carpeted or use old strips to attach edges of new carpet.
- 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.
Also called: Carpet Flooring Installer · Carpet Layer · Carpet Mechanic · Commercial Floor Covering Installer · Floor Coverer · Floor Covering Installer · Floor Installation Mechanic · Flooring Installer
Outlook and AI
Carpet installers held 17,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 14,500 by 2035 (−16%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Demand change - share decreases as other floor coverings replace carpet.
Compare with
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- Carpet installer vs. Tile and stone setters
- Carpet installer vs. Floor sanders and finishers
- Carpet installer vs. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall
- Carpet installer vs. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Carpet installer vs. Furniture finisher
- Carpet installer vs. Paperhanger
- Carpet installer vs. Terrazzo workers and finishers
- Carpet installer vs. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Carpet installer vs. Upholsterer