# Floor Sanders and Finishers

> Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/floor-sanders-and-finishers
- SOC code: 47-2043.00
- Career family: Construction and extraction
- Median annual pay: $50,440 (10th percentile $37,070, 90th percentile $70,340)
- Projected growth: Slower than average, +1.4%
- Openings a year: 300
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 6 |
| Artistic (A) | 6 |
| Social (S) | 7 |
| Enterprising (E) | 9 |
| Conventional (C) | 39 |

## What you'd do

- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 83/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 83/100)
- Getting Information (importance 80/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 77/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 77/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 77/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 76/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 75/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 73/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 69/100)

## Skills

Operation and Control, Active Listening, Coordination, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Building and Construction, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Production and Processing, Administration and Management, Mechanical, Mathematics, Design, Public Safety and Security, Sales and Marketing

## Also called

Bowling Alley Refinisher, Finisher, Floor Finisher, Floor Mechanic, Floor Refinisher, Floor Renovator, Floor Sander, Floor Sander and Finisher, Floor Sanding Machine Operator, Floor Scraper

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4604) (CIP 4604, 319 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Utah Valley University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-valley-university-3103) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $82,443 | $97,793 | $11,042 |
| [The University of Texas at San Antonio](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio-2767) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $74,627 | $90,691 | $17,750 |
| [Tuskegee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tuskegee-university-2832) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $74,054 | $87,107 | not reported |
| [Pennsylvania College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-college-of-technology-2096) | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | $69,819 | $74,310 | $27,000 |

## Related careers

- [Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/floor-layers-except-carpet-wood-and-hard-tiles): $56,460 median pay
- [Furniture Finishers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/furniture-finishers): $44,540 median pay
- [Carpet Installers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/carpet-installers): $50,340 median pay
- [Terrazzo Workers and Finishers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/terrazzo-workers-and-finishers): $76,170 median pay
- [Tile and Stone Setters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tile-and-stone-setters): $55,690 median pay
- [Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/drywall-and-ceiling-tile-installers): $58,930 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.