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Floor sander: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$50,440median pay per year, or $24.25 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $37,070lowest 10% earn less
  2. $41,60025th percentile
  3. $50,440median
  4. $59,62075th percentile
  5. $70,340top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A floor sander, which BLS calls a Floor Sander and Finisher, had median pay of $50,440 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 1.4% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the rate for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.4%[2]
Openings per year
300[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[7]

How much do floor sanders make?

The median floor sander earned $50,440 a year, or $24.25 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $52,460 a year and $25.22 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[5], so the floor sander median was close to it and slightly lower.

Point Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][9] $37,070 $17.82
25th percentile[4][9] $41,600 $20.00
Median[1] $50,440 $24.25
75th percentile[4][9] $59,620 $28.66
90th percentile[4][9] $70,340 $33.82

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of floor sanders earned less than $37,070, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $70,340[4][10]. BLS does not publish a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits like health insurance[11]. That matters here, because 21.1% of floor sanders and finishers were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state medians for 23 states[13]. Utah had the highest at $74,240, followed by Minnesota at $62,940 and Oregon at $62,020[13]. North Carolina had the lowest of the states listed, at $39,170[13]. Job counts are small, and Utah's figure rests on 30 jobs[13].

The most jobs were in Florida (270), New York (240), North Carolina (190), Texas (140) and Colorado (130)[14].

In the metro data, Raleigh-Cary, NC had 30 jobs and a median of $39,920[15].

Show median pay in 23 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Utah[13]$74,24030
Minnesota$62,940n/a
Oregon$62,020n/a
New York$60,470240
Massachusetts$58,230n/a
Washington$55,62090
Colorado$55,180130
Kentucky$54,580n/a
Florida$52,060270
Michigan$51,400n/a
Maryland$51,100n/a
Missouri$48,540n/a
Ohio$48,000n/a
New Hampshire$47,310n/a
Virginia$46,860110
Iowa$46,81030
Indiana$46,520n/a
Pennsylvania$45,45030
South Carolina$44,31060
Nebraska$43,880n/a
Georgia$40,530n/a
Texas$40,120140
North Carolina$39,170190

How to become a floor sander

The BLS profile for this job also covers flooring installers and tile and stone setters, so these training details describe that wider group[16].

Several organizations offer certification for floor and tile installers. It is not required[23]. Art and math classes in high school may help[24].

What floor sanders do

Floor sanders scrape and sand wood floors until they are smooth, then apply coats of finish[25]. O*NET lists these tasks:

O*NET sample titles include floor finisher, floor refinisher and hardwood floor finisher and sander[27]. For the wider group, BLS names detail orientation, color vision, math and customer-service skills as useful[28][29][30][31].

Where they work

For flooring installers and tile and stone setters overall, specialty trade contractors were the largest employer, at 58% in 2025[32]. The work is physically demanding, with a lot of reaching, bending and kneeling[33]. Workers wear kneepads, safety goggles around grinders, saws and sanders, and dust masks or respirators in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas[33].

Floor sanders and finishers have some of the highest injury and illness rates of all occupations[34]. In the wider group, most work full time and schedules vary. In commercial settings, evening and weekend work may be needed to avoid disturbing business[35].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of Floor Sanders and Finishers to grow 1.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,700 to 4,700 jobs, a change of 100 jobs[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. The pay data above counts only about 3,720 wage and salary jobs[36].

BLS expects about 300 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[6]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.3% of workers leave the labor force and 3.8% move to a different occupation[37].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a small trade with no formal education requirement and moderate on-the-job training[7]. Median pay was close to the all-occupations median, and the top 10% earned more than $70,340[1][5][4]. Growth is slower than average, though openings come up each year[2][3][6]. The work is physically demanding and has high injury rates[33][34].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a floor sander make an hour?
The median was $24.25 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $25.22[1][8]. The 10th percentile was $17.82 and the 90th was $33.82[9].
What education do you need to be a floor sander?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry education, with no related experience needed[7].
How long does it take to become a floor sander?
BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training[7]. Apprenticeships in the wider group last 2 to 4 years[21][16].
Are floor sanders in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 1.4% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 300 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for floor sanders?
Utah had the highest median at $74,240, then Minnesota at $62,940[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Floor Sanders and Finishers in the US was $50,440 per year and $24.25 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Floor Sanders and Finishers is projected to grow 1.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,700 to 4,700 jobs (a change of +100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Floor Sanders and Finishers: 10th percentile $37,070, 25th percentile $41,600, 75th percentile $59,620, 90th percentile $70,340. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 300 openings for Floor Sanders and Finishers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Floor Sanders and Finishers: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Floor Sanders and Finishers was $52,460 per year and $25.22 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Floor Sanders and Finishers: 10th percentile $17.82, 25th percentile $20.00, 75th percentile $28.66, 90th percentile $33.82. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 21.1% of Floor Sanders and Finishers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Floor Sanders and Finishers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Floor Sanders and Finishers jobs: Florida 270; New York 240; North Carolina 190; Texas 140; Colorado 130. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Floor Sanders and Finishers jobs: Raleigh-Cary, NC 30 (median $39,920). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Flooring Installers and Tile and Stone Setters" covers Floor Sanders and Finishers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. O*NET 47-2043.00 survey of workers (19 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 47%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 35%, Post-Secondary Certificate 16% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Certification. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Floor Sanders and Finishers. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Floor Sanders and Finishers. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET 47-2043.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Finisher, Floor Finisher, Floor Mechanic, Floor Refinisher, Floor Sander, Floor Sander and Finisher, Hardwood Floor Finisher and Sander, Hardwood Floor Refinisher. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of flooring installers and tile and stone setters in 2025: Specialty trade contractors 58%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,720 people were employed as Floor Sanders and Finishers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  37. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Floor Sanders and Finishers: 2.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.