Carpet Installers
Description OES Code: 87600
Replace, repair, and install carpet. They fit and bond it to wood, concrete, metal floors. Before laying any type of floor covering, installers sweep the floor and inspect it to be sure it is firm, dry and smooth. If necessary, they fill cracks or holes and sand uneven spots until the surface is level. A very uneven floor may be resurfaced with plywood, particle board, fiberboard, latex underlayment, or other material.

Wages, California
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $8.84
25th Percentile $10.26
50th Percentile $14.68
75th Percentile $22.67

Wages, San Joaquin County
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $10.97
25th Percentile $12.13
50th Percentile $15.12
75th Percentile $23.08

Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey

Hours & Benefits
When work is available, installers work four or five days a week for eight hours a day. Overtime is paid at time and one-half or double the regular rate.

Employment Trends, California
Employment 1998 7,800
Projected Employment 2008 9,300
Percent Change 1998-2008 19.2%
Separations 1998-2008 2,000

Employment Trends, San Joaquin County
Employment 1999 120
Projected Employment 2006 150
Percent Change 1999-2006 25%
Separations 1999-2006 20

Employment Trends by California County

Working Conditions
Floor Covering Installers work indoors at installation sites. Surroundings may vary from an old and dusty Victorian era home or a large apartment building being remodeled to a new office building still under construction. Installers often work alone or with an apprentice or helper on small residential jobs; on large commercial jobs, they are usually part of a crew.

Installers must work very carefully but quickly, to keep within cost estimates. The work is also physically demanding. Much of their work day is spent kneeling and squatting as they stretch, hold, and hammer the materials on the floor. Although equipment or manual assistance is
available for lifting very heavy loads, installers often move furniture and carry rolls of floor covering weighing several hundred pounds. As a result, back problems may develop. Knee ailments caused by striking the "knee kicker" and long contact with cold, hard floors are another
potential problem. Materials such as adhesives, solvents, and seaming ta

Advancement
Journey-level installers keep their skills up to date by attending classes at floor covering training centers and those offered by manufacturers of floor covering materials and supplies. Some experienced installers become supervisors or estimators. Others go into business for themselves as licensed contractors.

Getting the Job & Other Information
Journey-level installers can register with the union or apply directly to floor covering retailers and installation contractors. Applicants for apprenticeship should contact the union in their area or the Division of Apprenticeship Standards of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Applicants may also contact the California Employment Development Department Job Service offices in their areas.

For a list of current job listing, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Education and Training
Some Floor Covering Installers learn the trade informally on the job by working as helpers for experienced installers. However, most authorities recommend formal apprenticeship training jointly sponsored by employers and the unions, such as the Carpet, Linoleum, and Soft Tile Layers Union or the Resilient Floor & Decorative Covering Union.

Apprenticeship programs couple on-the-job training with related classroom instruction. Classes, held once or twice a week at special floor covering training centers, usually cover both carpet and resilient floor installation. Such training enables apprentices to graduate as fully trained workers, thus greatly increasing their employability. Applicants for apprenticeship training must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or the equivalent. A written aptitude and math test and an oral interview may also be required. Qualified candidates are placed on an eligible list and dispatched to employers as openings occur. In some locations, candidates are allowed to solicit their own jobs from a list of approved employers. Most programs are three years in length.

Skills & Other Requirements
Floor Covering Installers need above-average physical stamina and strength, manual dexterity, and mechanical skill. Good eyesight, including normal color vision, is required. Accurate perception of space and form is essential; installers must be able to reproduce designs and patterns shown in sketches or scale drawings. They should be able to do basic arithmetic calculations quickly and correctly; to reason; and, to make judgments. Helpful high school courses include mathematics (through geometry), wood and metal shop, mechanical drawing, and blueprint reading.

References
California Occupational Guide #383

Related Occupations: Tile Setters, Glaziers

Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)