Average Carpet Installers Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Carpet Installers is $49,850 per year. The middle 50% earn between $39,140 and $65,530, with 14,980 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates . Data covers 47 states and 42 metro areas.
Wage range
Pay distribution
Here is how Carpet Installers pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $32,830
- 25th
- $39,140
- Median
- $49,850
- 75th
- $65,530
- 90th
- $83,200
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Carpet Installers earn close to the national median for all US workers. Solidly middle-income.
Pay varies significantly across workers. Seniority, employer size, and specialization all move the needle, so it is normal for two carpet installers at different points in their careers to earn very different salaries.
BLS projections
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for carpet installers from 2024 to 2034. This occupation is projected to shrink. Workers may face more competition for fewer openings, and the role may see automation or consolidation pressure.
- Projected growth
- -9.6%
- -1,900 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 1,100
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave.
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
There are no formal educational requirements for entry. Much of the training happens through experience on the job.
Where Carpet Installers earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where carpet installers work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is New Jersey at $107,850, about 116.3% above the national median. At the metro level, Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV leads with a median of $82,270.
By state
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $107,850 | 450 |
| Nevada | $82,270 | 930 |
| Minnesota | $82,160 | N/A |
| New Hampshire | $63,610 | 110 |
| Alaska | $61,040 | 40 |
| Washington | $60,070 | 580 |
| Idaho | $56,020 | 180 |
| California | $54,840 | 2,600 |
By metro
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $82,270 | 730 |
| Reno, NV | $81,620 | 170 |
| Madison, WI | $66,600 | 90 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $62,940 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62,650 | 380 |
| Rochester, NY | $61,670 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $60,070 | 280 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $59,030 | 30 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see carpet installers pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2024, the national median salary for Carpet Installers rose from $40,090 to $49,850, a gain of +24.3% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +22.7%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $40,090 would need to be worth $49,190 in 2024 dollars.
The actual 2024 median of $49,850 is $660 above that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of +1.3% in purchasing power.
Wages have roughly kept pace with inflation. Nominal pay rose by 24.3%, but inflation absorbed most of it.
- Nominal change
- +24.3%
- 2019–2024
- Cumulative inflation
- +22.7%
- US CPI, 2019–2024
- Real change
- +1.3%
- After adjusting for inflation
Annual history
Median salary over time
Carpet Installers median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2019
- $40,090
- 2020
- $41,480
- 2021
- $46,640
- 2022
- $45,240
- 2023
- $47,520
- 2024
- $49,850
Similar jobs
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Floor Sanders And Finishers
- $49,150
- Stonemasons
- $51,990
- Tile And Stone Setters
- $52,240
- Construction Laborers
- $46,730
- Terrazzo Workers And Finishers
- $57,260
Common salary questions for Carpet Installers
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Carpet Installers workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.