Floor Covering Installers
(NOC 7295)
in All Trades and TransportationFloor covering installers install many types of resilient or carpet floor coverings in residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. They work for construction companies, floor-covering contractors, and carpet outlets, or they may be self-employed.
Job Outlook
Average
Read more
Compared to: All Trades and Transportation
Size of the occupation in Nova Scotia: small, with infrequent opportunities.
Demand: Employment growth will lead to several new positions. Some positions will become available due to employee turnover. There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation. A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
Work hours: full-time, usually. Jobs are typically permanent positions.
Hourly Pay
$14.50
Minimum$21.50
Median$25.00
MaximumAnnual Pay
$6,012
Minimum$22,598
Median$50,296
MaximumCompared to: All Trades and Transportation
Hourly Pay
$15.00
Minimum$24.00
Median$37.00
MaximumAnnual Pay
$7,580
Minimum$37,269
Median$79,787
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Floor covering installers install many types of resilient or carpet floor coverings in residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. They work for construction companies, floor-covering contractors, and carpet outlets, or they may be self-employed.
Job duties
Floor covering installers:
- Inspect, measure, and mark surfaces to be covered.
- Measure, cut and fasten underlay and underpadding.
- Measure, cut and install carpeting using hand or machine stitcher, seaming iron, bonding tape, or other bonding materials.
- Stretch carpeting using knee-kicker or power stretcher and secure carpeting to floor or other surfaces using staple gun or other devices.
- Measure, cut and install resilient floor covering using adhesive, rollers and other hand tools.
- Install hardwood floors using glue, staples, nails, or other means.
- Inspect and repair damaged floor coverings.
- May estimate material and labour costs.
Sample job titles
- carpet installer
- carpet layer
- floor covering installer
- floor layer
- hardwood floor covering installer
- residential floor and wall covering installer
- vinyl floor installer
- wood floor installer
Skills
- Strength and stamina
- Good colour vision to match colours
- Hand-eye coordination
- Problem-solving skills
- Mathematical skills
- Communication skills
- Organizational skills
- Customer service skills
Job requirements
- High school or equivalent (usually).
- Over four years of work experience in the trade and some courses in floorcovering installation are usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
- Trade Qualifier option, 8,100 hours, and other criteria.
- Certification for floorcovering installers is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
- Write and score a minimum of 70% on the Red Seal exam for floorcovering installers.
- Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.
Other considerations
- Floorcovering installers work indoors in a wide variety of settings.
- They work a 40-hour workweek and overtime may be required to meet deadlines. Renovating or decorating premises already in use may require working at night.
- Risks include contact with toxic materials or injuries from working with tools or heavy lifting.
- A growing number of floorcovering installers work primarily in one specialization like carpet or resilient floor installation.
- Floorcovering installers may work closely with designers, engineers, architects, and other tradespeople such as carpenters, painters, lathers (interior systems mechanics), drywallers, and cabinetmakers.
- Jobs in the construction industry are affected by seasonal changes and economic conditions. Work may be on a project basis. Workers should be prepared for periods of unemployment.
- With experience, journeypersons may move into supervisory, management, and sales positions, or start their own business.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Trades and Transportation
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
$22,598 median annual incomeNorth Shore
$15,651 median annual incomeCape Breton
$34,833 median annual incomeAnnapolis Valley
$19,942 median annual incomeSouthern
N/ACompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Construction
Retail trade
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
Manufacturing
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
55-64
35-44
25-34
15-24
65+
Compared to: All Trades and Transportation
45-54
55-64
35-44
25-34
15-24
Top levels of education
Less than high school
$20,483 median annual incomeHigh school
$19,867 median annual incomeTrade Certification
$34,784 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$19,100 median annual incomeCompared to: All Trades and Transportation
Trade Certification
$46,494 median annual incomeHigh school
$31,260 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$42,050 median annual incomeLess than high school
$28,319 median annual incomeBachelor
$30,527 median annual incomeEducation & training
Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker
College or Trades ProgramThese programs prepare students to plan, prepare, install, and repair carpet, linoleum, vinyl, ceramic, marble, quarry, mosaic, and terrazzo tiles, and wood materials on floors, walls, and stairs. They include courses in measuring, cutting, and installing materials, use of hand and power-operated equipment, estimation of material and labour costs, and safety training.
Institutions providing this program
High School Diploma or Equivalent
High School ProgramAdults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.
Institutions providing this program
Various, NS
Various, NS
Various, NS
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Certificate of Qualification (Voluntary): This is a designated trade in Nova Scotia. Employers may require certification, but a certificate is not needed to legally work in this trade.