Flooring installers and tile and marble setters lay and finish carpet, wood, vinyl, and tile.

Installing flooring, tile, and marble is physically demanding, with workers spending much of their time reaching, bending, and kneeling. Those in commercial settings may work evenings and weekends.

Although some flooring installers and tile and marble setters learn their trade through an apprenticeship, most learn on the job, sometimes starting as a helper.

Employment of flooring installers and tile and marble setters is projected to grow 5 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The replacement of older floors, coupled with population and business growth, will drive demand for more workers. Overall job prospects should be best for workers who can install a wide variety of floors.

This occupation supported 96,400 jobs in 2012 and 125,400 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 30.1%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 12.2% in 2022 to 108,200 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 98,700, compared with an observed value of 125,400, 27.1% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 6.2% in 2024 to 131,400 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 110,500 jobs for 2024, 15.9% lower than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much better than the 2012 trend within this occupation.