Construction & Extraction
Floor Sanders and Finishers
Also called: Finisher, Floor Finisher, Floor Mechanic, Floor Refinisher
US median pay
$50,440
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+1.4%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
300
4,700 employed
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.
What they do day to day
- Buff and vacuum floors to ensure their cleanliness prior to the application of finish.
- Scrape and sand floor edges and areas inaccessible to floor sanders, using scrapers, disk-type sanders, and sandpaper.
- Inspect floors for smoothness.
- Attach sandpaper to rollers of sanding machines.
- Guide sanding machines over surfaces of floors until surfaces are smooth.
- Apply filler compound and coats of finish to floors to seal wood.
- Remove excess glue from joints, using knives, scrapers, or wood chisels.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operation and Control3.1/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Time Management2.9/5
- Operations Monitoring2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.8/5
- Quality Control Analysis2.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.6/5
- Service Orientation2.5/5
Knowledge
- Building and Construction4.1/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.1/5
- English Language3.6/5
- Production and Processing3.3/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
- Mechanical3.0/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): No formal educational credential.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Less than high school47%
- High school diploma35%
- Post-secondary certificate16%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.