Carpet installers
SOC Code: 47-2041
Carpet installers carries a 31% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $49,850 and -9.6% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 20,300 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Carpet installers (SOC 47-2041) carries an AI exposure score of 31%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 20,300 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -9.6% change through 2034 — a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $49,850, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires No formal educational credential, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Carpet installers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Inspect the surface to be covered to determine its condition, and correct any imperfections that might show through carpet or cause carpet to wear unevenly.
- 2. Roll out, measure, mark, and cut carpeting to size with a carpet knife, following floor sketches and allowing extra carpet for final fitting.
- 3. Join edges of carpet and seam edges where necessary, by sewing or by using tape with glue and heated carpet iron.
- 4. Cut and trim carpet to fit along wall edges, openings, and projections, finishing the edges with a wall trimmer.
- 5. Plan the layout of the carpet, allowing for expected traffic patterns and placing seams for best appearance and longest wear.
- 6. Stretch carpet to align with walls and ensure a smooth surface, and press carpet in place over tack strips or use staples, tape, tacks or glue to hold carpet in place.
- 7. Take measurements and study floor sketches to calculate the area to be carpeted and the amount of material needed.
- 8. Install carpet on some floors using adhesive, following prescribed method.
- 9. Clean up before and after installation, including vacuuming carpet and discarding remnant pieces.
- 10. Measure, cut and install tackless strips along the baseboard or wall.
Key Skills Required
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Quality Control Analysis
- Time Management
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Judgment and Decision Making
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Building and Construction
- Production and Processing
- Education and Training
- Mechanical
- Design
- Public Safety and Security
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Carpet installers?
Carpet installers has an AI exposure score of 31%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Carpet installers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Carpet installers is projected to decline by 9.6% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 20,300 workers.
What skills are needed for Carpet installers?
Key skills for Carpet installers include Monitoring, Coordination, Mathematics, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Carpet installers earn?
The median annual wage for Carpet installers is $49,850, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Carpet installers?
The typical entry-level education for Carpet installers is No formal educational credential. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Carpet installers?
Carpet installers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).