Carpet Installer Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Carpet Installers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$50,340
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$24.20
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$82,140
entry level starts ~$35,450
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 14,000 employed

How much does a Carpet Installer make?

A Carpet Installer earns a median annual salary of $50,340 in the United States, which works out to roughly $24.20 per hour for full-time work. Most Carpet Installers earn between $35,450 at the entry level and $82,140 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $41,970 and $66,320 a year.

That is $11,050 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Carpet Installer salary range by percentile

Half of all Carpet Installers earn between $41,970 and $66,320 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$35,450$17.04
25th percentile (early career)$41,970$20.18
50th percentile (median)$50,340$24.20
75th percentile (experienced)$66,320$31.88
90th percentile (top earners)$82,140$39.49

Highest-paying states for Carpet Installer

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New Jersey leads the country for Carpet Installer pay at $115,180 a year, followed by Minnesota ($85,910) and Alaska ($76,790). At the other end, South Carolina posts the lowest median at $33,810 — a gap of $81,370 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1New Jersey$115,180$55.38+129%
2Minnesota$85,910$41.30+71%
3Alaska$76,790$36.92+53%
4Tennessee$74,510$35.82+48%
5Nevada$67,040$32.23+33%

Workforce and education

About 14,000 people work as Carpet Installers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $56,990 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Carpet Installer make in the United States?
The median Carpet Installer salary in the United States is $50,340 per year, or about $24.20 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $35,450, while the top 10% of earners make $82,140 or more.
How does Carpet Installer pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Carpet Installer median of $50,340 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Carpet Installers the most?
New Jersey is the highest-paying state for Carpet Installers, with a median salary of $115,180 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Carpet Installer?
Becoming a Carpet Installer typically requires a high school diploma. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
How many Carpet Installers work in the United States?
About 14,000 people were employed as Carpet Installers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

Related salaries

Other construction & trades roles with similar pay.

Tile and Stone Setters

$55,690
median pay · 36,000 employed

Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall

$49,120
median pay · 44,000 employed

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

$67,890
median pay · 13,000 employed

Helpers--Electricians

$42,670
median pay · 64,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.