Floor Sanders and Finishers

SOC: 47-2043 O*NET: 47-2043.00
Median Salary
$50,440
per year
Job Growth
➡️ 2.6%
Average (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
0.4
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or less
Job Zone 1

Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.

What does a Floor Sanders and Finishers do?

Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.

How much can you earn?

Entry Level
$37,070
10th percentile
Early Career
$41,600
25th percentile
Median
$50,440
50th percentile
Experienced
$59,620
75th percentile
Top Earners
$70,340
90th percentile

National Salary Distribution

10th
$37,070
25th
$41,600
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$50,440
Mean: $52,460
75th
$59,620
90th
$70,340
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)

Key Insights

  • •Salary range spans $33,270 from entry level to top earners
  • •Middle 50% earn between $41,600 and $59,620
  • •Salary spread is 35.7% around the median, showing moderate variation
  • •Total national employment: 3,720 professionals

What's the job outlook?

Job Market Intelligence

Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk

Current Employment

National Employment:5,600

Top Industries

Construction92.2%
Specialty Trade Contractors85.8%
Building Finishing Contractors82.5%

10-Year Outlook

Growth Rate:+2.6%
Annual Openings:400

Employment Projections

2024 (Current)5,600
Current
2034 (Projected)5,800
+2.6%
+100
Employment Change
+2.6%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection

Growth Category: As fast as average

Geographic Salary & Employment Data

Explore where Floor Sanders and Finishers professionals work across the United States

Showing 15 of 23 locations
Florida
270 jobs$52,0601.15x
New York
240 jobs$60,4701.05x
North Carolina
190 jobs$39,1701.59x
Texas
140 jobs$40,1200.42x
Colorado
130 jobs$55,1801.94x
Virginia
110 jobs$46,8601.08x
Washington
90 jobs$55,6201.03x
South Carolina
60 jobs$44,3101.03x
Utah
30 jobs$74,2400.84x
Iowa
30 jobs$46,8100.91x
Pennsylvania
30 jobs$45,4500.22x
Minnesota
0 jobs$62,9400.00x
Oregon
0 jobs$62,0200.00x
Massachusetts
0 jobs$58,2300.00x
Kentucky
0 jobs$54,5800.00x

Understanding the Data

Location Quotient (LQ):

  • • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
  • • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
  • • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average

Data Source:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025

Key Growth Factors

  • •Average growth expected

What skills do you need?

Top 10 Most Important Skills

#1
Building and Construction
100%
#2
Operation and Control
100%
#3
Arm-Hand Steadiness
100%
#4
Control Precision
92%
#5
Customer and Personal Service
88%
#6
Manual Dexterity
82%
#7
English Language
76%
#8
Trunk Strength
74%
#9
Coordination
70%
#10
Multilimb Coordination
66%

Skills Overview

Building and Construction
advanced5.0
100%
Operation and Control
advanced5.0
100%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
advanced5.0
100%
Control Precision
advanced4.6
92%
Customer and Personal Service
intermediate4.4
88%
Manual Dexterity
intermediate4.1
82%
English Language
intermediate3.8
76%
Trunk Strength
intermediate3.7
74%

Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.

Filter:
Sort by:

Building and Construction

advanced
Importance100%
knowledge
5.0/5.0

Operation and Control

advanced
Importance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0

Arm-Hand Steadiness

advanced
Importance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0

Control Precision

advanced
Importance92%
abilities
4.6/5.0

Customer and Personal Service

intermediate
Importance88%
knowledge
4.4/5.0

Manual Dexterity

intermediate
Importance82%
abilities
4.1/5.0

English Language

intermediate
Importance76%
knowledge
3.8/5.0

Trunk Strength

intermediate
Importance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0

Coordination

intermediate
Importance70%
skills
3.5/5.0

Multilimb Coordination

intermediate
Importance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0

Production and Processing

intermediate
Importance64%
knowledge
3.2/5.0

Near Vision

basic
Importance58%
abilities
2.9/5.0

Highly Transferable Skills

These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:

Construction Laborers60%
3 shared skills
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders60%
3 shared skills
Dancers50%
2 shared skills
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers50%
2 shared skills
Helpers--Roofers50%
2 shared skills
Paperhangers50%
2 shared skills

Skills by Career Stage

Entry Level

Must Have:
  • ✓Building and Construction
  • ✓Customer and Personal Service
Learn on the Job:
  • →Production and Processing
  • →Administration and Management
  • →Multilimb Coordination

Mid Career

Expected:
  • ✓Building and Construction
  • ✓Customer and Personal Service
  • ✓Operation and Control
  • ✓Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • ✓Control Precision

Senior Level

Mastery Required:
  • ★Building and Construction
  • ★Customer and Personal Service
  • ★Operation and Control
  • ★Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • ★Control Precision

Skill Development Tips

  • •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
  • •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
  • •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
  • •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time

What technology will you use?

Technology & Digital Skills

Essential technology proficiencies for Floor Sanders and Finishers

Technology Intensity
Medium

Digital Literacy Requirements

This career requires intermediate digital literacy

1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert

Key Digital Competencies:

Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥

Hot Technologies in Demand

These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field

Microsoft Excel

🔥 Hot Tech

Technology Stack

Technology Stack Overview

Key technologies used in this career

Microsoft Excel

📚 Technology Learning Resources

Recommended Certifications

  • •Vendor-specific software certifications
  • •Industry-recognized technology credentials
  • •Professional development courses

Online Learning Platforms

  • •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
  • •Coursera - University-level programs
  • •Udemy - Practical skills training

💡 Technology Skill Development Tips

  • •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
  • •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
  • •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
  • •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers

What's the work environment like?

🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
OCCASIONAL

💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?

Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:

  • •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
  • •Can you meet high physical demands?
  • •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
  • •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?

What are the key tasks?

Tasks & Responsibilities

7
Core Tasks
7
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (7)
1

Inspect floors for smoothness.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
100%
General Responsibilities100% perform
2

Scrape and sand floor edges and areas inaccessible to floor sanders, using scrapers, disk-type sanders, and sandpaper.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
98%
General Responsibilities97% perform
3

Guide sanding machines over surfaces of floors until surfaces are smooth.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
96%
General Responsibilities94% perform
4

Attach sandpaper to rollers of sanding machines.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
94%
General Responsibilities91% perform
5

Apply filler compound and coats of finish to floors to seal wood.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
92%
General Responsibilities88% perform
6

Remove excess glue from joints, using knives, scrapers, or wood chisels.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
90%
General Responsibilities85% perform
7

Buff and vacuum floors to ensure their cleanliness prior to the application of finish.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
88%
General Responsibilities82% perform

💡 Key Takeaways

  • •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
  • •100% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
  • •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities

What career paths are available?

Career Pathways

0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase

Advancement Opportunities

Typical career progression paths from Floor Sanders and Finishers

💡 Career Planning Tips

  • •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
  • •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
  • •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
  • •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves

Is this career right for you?

Personality & Values Fit

Is This Career Right for You?

Floor Sanders and Finishers professionals typically have a RCE Holland code and highly value support

RRealistic
CConventional
EEnterprising

Important Personality Traits

Work styles that contribute to success as a Floor Sanders and Finishers

Attention to Detail

Critical

Attention to Detail

Importance Level4.55

Integrity

Very Important

Integrity

Importance Level4.33

Dependability

Very Important

Dependability

Importance Level4.20

Independence

Important

Independence

Importance Level3.97

Initiative

Important

Initiative

Importance Level3.83

Adaptability/Flexibility

Important

Adaptability/Flexibility

Importance Level3.81

Complete Work Styles Profile

Attention to Detail
4.5
Integrity
4.3
Dependability
4.2
Independence
4.0
Initiative
3.8
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.8
Self-Control
3.8
Cooperation
3.7
Stress Tolerance
3.7
Persistence
3.7

💡 Tips for Career Fit Success

  • •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
  • •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
  • •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
  • •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career

What education is required?

Education Level

High school diploma or less
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED

Preparation Level

Job Zone 1
Little or No Preparation Needed

Experience Needed

Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed

📚 Education Requirement

Required Level:High school diploma or less

These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.

Training:

Short demonstration or on-the-job training

💼 Experience Requirement

Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed

Common pathways to gain experience:

  • • On-the-job training is typical
  • • Tasks can be learned within a few days or weeks
  • • Basic skills development
1

Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed

These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed.

On-the-job training is typicalTasks can be learned within a few days or weeksBasic skills development

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