Floor Sanders and Finishers
Floor Sanders and Finishers (SOC 47-2043) earn a median $50,440 a year ($24.25 an hour) in the United States, with 3,720 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Utah.
What floor sanders and finishers do
Floor sanders and finishers scrape and sand wooden floors smooth and then apply coats of finish. They make passes with a floor sanding machine, attaching sandpaper to its rollers and guiding it over the surface until it is smooth, and then handle the edges and other places the machine cannot reach with scrapers, disk-type sanders and sandpaper. After inspecting the floor for smoothness they buff and vacuum it, since dirt left behind would show through the finish. Filler compound and coats of finish are then applied to seal the wood, and excess glue is removed from joints with knives, scrapers or wood chisels. Titles in the trade include floor refinisher and floor renovator, and one listed specialty is refinishing bowling alleys. Installing new planks belongs to carpenters, and general cleaning belongs to janitorial workers.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report that no high school diploma is required, and training happens on the job.
Also called: Bowling Alley Refinisher, Finisher, Floor Finisher, Floor Mechanic, Floor Refinisher.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.82 | $20.00 | $24.25 | $28.66 | $33.82 | $25.22 | 3,720 |
| Annual | $37,070 | $41,600 | $50,440 | $59,620 | $70,340 | $52,460 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where floor sanders and finishers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Utah | Hourly | $31.46 | $32.80 | $35.69 | $37.22 | $37.22 | $35.01 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $65,430 | $68,230 | $74,240 | $77,410 | $77,410 | $72,820 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $26.58 | $28.07 | $30.26 | $30.26 | $30.26 | $29.28 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $55,290 | $58,390 | $62,940 | $62,940 | $62,950 | $60,900 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $27.84 | $29.51 | $29.82 | $30.22 | $32.83 | $29.95 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $57,910 | $61,370 | $62,020 | $62,860 | $68,280 | $62,290 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.72 | $28.37 | $29.07 | $34.89 | $34.89 | $29.66 | 240 | 0.03 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $49,350 | $59,020 | $60,470 | $72,560 | $72,560 | $61,700 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $21.82 | $23.16 | $28.00 | $30.44 | $33.02 | $26.89 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $45,380 | $48,170 | $58,230 | $63,310 | $68,680 | $55,930 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Florida | Hourly | $15.69 | $22.02 | $25.03 | $25.64 | $26.95 | $23.65 | 270 | 0.03 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $32,640 | $45,800 | $52,060 | $53,340 | $56,060 | $49,190 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.72 | $28.37 | $29.07 | $34.89 | $34.89 | $29.66 | 240 | 0.03 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $49,350 | $59,020 | $60,470 | $72,560 | $72,560 | $61,700 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $14.99 | $17.78 | $18.83 | $21.54 | $22.88 | $19.48 | 190 | 0.04 | 1.59 |
| Annual | $31,190 | $36,970 | $39,170 | $44,800 | $47,590 | $40,520 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.40 | $17.82 | $19.29 | $26.96 | $26.96 | $21.74 | 140 | 0.01 | 0.42 |
| Annual | $36,180 | $37,070 | $40,120 | $56,070 | $56,070 | $45,220 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $22.76 | $23.08 | $26.53 | $28.09 | $28.15 | $26.00 | 130 | 0.05 | 1.94 |
| Annual | $47,350 | $48,000 | $55,180 | $58,430 | $58,550 | $54,080 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $23.16 | $23.16 | $30.43 | $30.57 | $33.20 | $27.40 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $48,170 | $48,170 | $63,290 | $63,580 | $69,050 | $56,990 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $30.26 | $30.26 | $30.26 | $30.26 | $30.26 | $30.00 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $62,940 | $62,940 | $62,940 | $62,940 | $62,950 | $62,410 | ||||
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | Hourly | $18.71 | $22.50 | $27.31 | $27.90 | $30.18 | $26.22 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $38,920 | $46,790 | $56,800 | $58,030 | $62,770 | $54,530 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $17.14 | $18.45 | $26.24 | $36.69 | $36.70 | $27.72 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $35,640 | $38,380 | $54,580 | $76,320 | $76,330 | $57,660 | ||||
| Cleveland, OH | Hourly | $18.50 | $19.29 | $22.98 | $27.00 | $27.00 | $23.03 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $38,480 | $40,130 | $47,800 | $56,160 | $56,160 | $47,910 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | Hourly | $17.70 | $18.27 | $19.19 | $22.75 | $22.75 | $19.92 | 30 | 0.04 | 1.81 |
| Annual | $36,820 | $37,990 | $39,920 | $47,320 | $47,320 | $41,440 | ||||
Top industries employing floor sanders and finishers
Building Finishing Contractors employ 82.5% of floor sanders and finishers nationally (3,070 jobs) at a median $51,980 a year ($24.99 an hour), followed by Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers (2.7%) and Employment Services (1.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Finishing Contractors NAICS 238300 | 3,070 | 82.5% | $51,980 | $24.99 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers NAICS 449100 | 100 | 2.7% | $46,450 | $22.33 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 70 | 1.9% | $37,450 | $18.01 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing NAICS 321900 | 60 | 1.6% | $38,080 | $18.31 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (3,720). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $39,140 for floor sanders and finishers in May 2021 and $50,440 in May 2025, with employment of 4,340 and 3,720.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $39,140 | $18.82 | 4,340 |
| May 2022 | $46,060 | $22.14 | 4,270 |
| May 2023 | $47,760 | $22.96 | 5,070 |
| May 2024 | $49,150 | $23.63 | 4,140 |
| May 2025 | $50,440 | $24.25 | 3,720 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
23 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah profile | $35.69 | $74,240 | $65,430 | $77,410 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.84 |
| 2 | Minnesota profile | $30.26 | $62,940 | $55,290 | $62,950 | ** | ** | ** |
| 3 | Oregon profile | $29.82 | $62,020 | $57,910 | $68,280 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | New York profile | $29.07 | $60,470 | $49,350 | $72,560 | 240 | 0.03 | 1.05 |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $28.00 | $58,230 | $45,380 | $68,680 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | Washington profile | $26.74 | $55,620 | $38,050 | $81,110 | 90 | 0.03 | 1.03 |
| 7 | Colorado profile | $26.53 | $55,180 | $47,350 | $58,550 | 130 | 0.05 | 1.94 |
| 8 | Kentucky profile | $26.24 | $54,580 | $46,750 | $80,150 | ** | ** | ** |
| 9 | Florida profile | $25.03 | $52,060 | $32,640 | $56,060 | 270 | 0.03 | 1.15 |
| 10 | Michigan profile | $24.71 | $51,400 | $37,440 | $59,620 | ** | ** | ** |
| 11 | Maryland profile | $24.57 | $51,100 | $35,640 | $76,320 | ** | ** | ** |
| 12 | Missouri profile | $23.34 | $48,540 | $44,670 | $57,030 | ** | ** | ** |
| 13 | Ohio profile | $23.08 | $48,000 | $38,480 | $58,750 | ** | ** | ** |
| 14 | New Hampshire profile | $22.75 | $47,310 | $46,800 | $53,170 | ** | ** | ** |
| 15 | Virginia profile | $22.53 | $46,860 | $31,140 | $67,200 | 110 | 0.03 | 1.08 |
| 16 | Iowa profile | $22.51 | $46,810 | $31,660 | $95,680 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.91 |
| 17 | Indiana profile | $22.37 | $46,520 | $38,390 | $120,510 | ** | ** | ** |
| 18 | Pennsylvania profile | $21.85 | $45,450 | $36,980 | $79,370 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.22 |
| 19 | South Carolina profile | $21.30 | $44,310 | $39,470 | $48,320 | 60 | 0.03 | 1.03 |
| 20 | Nebraska profile | $21.10 | $43,880 | $39,520 | $49,530 | ** | ** | ** |
| 21 | Georgia profile | $19.49 | $40,530 | $37,250 | $58,780 | ** | ** | ** |
| 22 | Texas profile | $19.29 | $40,120 | $36,180 | $56,070 | 140 | 0.01 | 0.42 |
| 23 | North Carolina profile | $18.83 | $39,170 | $31,190 | $47,590 | 190 | 0.04 | 1.59 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (47-2040), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Construction and Extraction Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 47-2043 Floor Sanders and Finishers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 47-2043, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 47-2043.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.