Best institutions to study Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker
A program that prepares individuals to plan, prepare, install, and repair carpet; linoleum; vinyl; ceramic, marble, quarry, mosaic, and terazzo tiles; and wood materials on floors, walls, and stairs.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 30 Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 46.0413, a specialization of Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04), and leads most directly to the Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles occupation (BLS SOC 47-2042).
About Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker programs
A program that prepares individuals to plan, prepare, install, and repair carpet; linoleum; vinyl; ceramic, marble, quarry, mosaic, and terazzo tiles; and wood materials on floors, walls, and stairs. Includes instruction in measuring, cutting, and installing materials; use of hand and power-operated equipment; estimation of material and labor costs; and safety training.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker program, part of the Building/Construction Finishing field, prepares individuals to expertly plan, install, and repair various flooring materials, including carpet, linoleum, and tiles. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a hands-on career in construction trades, focusing on enhancing interior spaces with quality flooring solutions.
Students will gain essential skills in measuring, cutting, and installing flooring materials, as well as using hand and power-operated equipment. Coursework also includes safety training and estimating material and labor costs, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for the demands of the industry.
Credentials awarded
What Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years11 graduates / yr · 1 institution37%
- Associate's degree11 graduates / yr · 1 institution37%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year8 graduates / yr · 1 institution27%
Graduates over time
Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 30 |
| 2022 | 21 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 30 |
Top 2 institutions for Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 22 | 40% | — | $51,303 |
| 2 | College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NVPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 19% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Building/Construction Finishing field (CIP 46.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 2 states
Where Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker graduates come from. Each state links to all Building/Construction Finishing programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 1 | 22 | Ivy Tech Community College22 / yr |
| Nevada | 1 | 8 | College of Southern Nevada8 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 47-2042, Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Floor Layers, Carpet Installers, or Tile and Stone Setters, among others. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 9.5% and approximately 2,700 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $54,340, and typically, no formal educational credential is required.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 46.0413
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tilesprimary SOC 47-2042 | $56,460 | +9.5% Much faster than average | ~2,700 | No formal educational credential |
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers SOC 47-1011 | $79,920 | +5.3% Faster than average | ~74,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Tile and Stone Setters SOC 47-2044 | $55,690 | +10.1% Much faster than average | ~4,200 | No formal educational credential |
Carpet Installers SOC 47-2041 | $50,340 | -9.6% Decline | ~1,100 | No formal educational credential |
Floor Sanders and Finishers SOC 47-2043 | $50,440 | +2.6% About as fast as average | ~400 | No formal educational credential |
Terrazzo Workers and Finishers SOC 47-2053 | $76,170 | -11.1% Decline | ~100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.
- Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions.
- Inspect surface to be covered to ensure that it is firm and dry.
- Trim excess covering materials, tack edges, and join sections of covering material to form tight joint.
- Form a smooth foundation by stapling plywood or Masonite over the floor or by brushing waterproof compound onto surface and filling cracks with plaster, putty, or grout to seal pores.
- Measure and mark guidelines on surfaces or foundations, using chalk lines and dividers.
Tools and technology used
Other Building/Construction Finishing specializations
The 12 other 6-digit CIP codes under Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04).
- Building/CIP 46.0401
Property Maintenance 2,461 graduates / yr97 institutions - Building Construction Technology/CIP 46.0415
Technician 2,137 graduates / yr127 institutions - Building/CIP 46.0412
Construction Site Management/ Manager 1,748 graduates / yr73 institutions - Building/CIP 46.0499
Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection 638 graduates / yr36 institutions - Building/CIP 46.0403
Home/ Construction Inspection/ Inspector 334 graduates / yr31 institutions - Drywall Installation/CIP 46.0404
Drywaller partial data254 graduates / yr3 institutions - Concrete Finishing/CIP 46.0402
Concrete Finisher partial data79 graduates / yr6 institutions - RooferCIP 46.0410partial data42 graduates / yr3 institutions
- InsulatorCIP 46.0414limited data35 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Painting/CIP 46.0408
Painter and Wall Coverer partial data29 graduates / yr4 institutions - GlazierCIP 46.0406limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions
- Metal Building Assembly/CIP 46.0411
Assembler limited data5 graduates / yr1 institutions
Common questions
What types of flooring materials will I learn to work with?+
You will learn to work with carpet, linoleum, vinyl, ceramic, marble, quarry, mosaic, and terrazzo tiles, as well as wood materials.
What credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn an Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years, an Associate's degree, or an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and various technical skills related to flooring installation.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 9.5% and about 2,700 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker?+
Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker is CIP 46.0413 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Building/Construction Finishing (CIP 46.04). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to plan, prepare, install, and repair carpet; linoleum; vinyl; ceramic, marble, quarry, mosaic, and terazzo tiles; and wood materials on floors, walls, and stairs. Includes instruction in measuring, cutting, and installing materials; use of hand and power-operated equipment; estimation of material and labor costs; and safety training.
How many institutions offer Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 30 credentials in the year. That is 0.4% of all Building/Construction Finishing graduates.
How much do Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles occupation, which Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker most directly leads to, pays a median of $56,460 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Building/Construction Finishing field report median earnings of $51,303 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card