Salary Range
Low (10th %)$33,080
Median$47,760
High (90th %)$69,540
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Scrape and sand wooden floors to smooth surfaces using floor scraper and floor sanding machine, and apply coats of finish.
The occupation "Floor Sanders and Finishers" has an automation risk of 14.1%, which is only slightly below its base risk of 14.3%. This suggests that while certain aspects of the job are susceptible to automation, the majority of the tasks require human oversight and skill. The nature of the work—restoring, finishing, and maintaining floor surfaces—demands a combination of technical knowledge and hands-on dexterity that machines currently struggle to match. The risk figure reflects a balance between tasks that can be mechanized and those that inherently need the nuanced touch of a skilled worker. The most automatable tasks in this occupation include buffing and vacuuming floors to ensure cleanliness before applying a finish, scraping and sanding floor edges and inaccessible areas, and inspecting floors for smoothness. These tasks are repetitive, can often be standardized, and may be performed by advanced robotics or specialized machines with relative ease. For example, automated buffing and vacuuming robots already exist in some industries, while computer vision could assist in smoothness inspection. The scrape-and-sand task, though requiring some finesse, can also be partially mechanized for high-efficiency environments. Conversely, several key activities demonstrate strong resistance to automation, justifying the occupation’s lower automation risk. Removing excess glue from joints with knives or chisels, applying filler compounds and multiple coats of finish to seal the wood, and skillfully guiding sanding machines over floors all require adaptability, attention to detail, and a feel for the material that automation lacks. These resistant tasks necessitate a degree of originality, particularly in responding to unique floor conditions and ensuring quality outcomes; this is reflected in the identified "bottleneck skill," originality, which has a measured impact on the potential for automation (2.0%). In essence, while some preparatory or repetitive steps might be automated, the more nuanced, variable, and quality-sensitive tasks at the core of this occupation keep its automation risk relatively low.
Filter by Automatable Status
Buff and vacuum floors to ensure their cleanliness prior to the application of finish.
Non-Automatable
Scrape and sand floor edges and areas inaccessible to floor sanders, using scrapers, disk-type sanders, and sandpaper.
Non-Automatable
Inspect floors for smoothness.
Partially Automatable
Attach sandpaper to rollers of sanding machines.
Non-Automatable
Guide sanding machines over surfaces of floors until surfaces are smooth.
Partially Automatable
Apply filler compound and coats of finish to floors to seal wood.
Non-Automatable
Remove excess glue from joints, using knives, scrapers, or wood chisels.
Non-Automatable
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Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsGetting InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsProcessing InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAnalyzing Data or InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsThinking CreativelyUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentWorking with ComputersRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAssisting and Caring for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesDocumenting/Recording InformationRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
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Brickmasons and Blockmasons
Low19.41%
Lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances, to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures.
Carpenters
Low17.84%
Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.
Carpet Installers
Low17.00%
Lay and install carpet from rolls or blocks on floors. Install padding and trim flooring materials.
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
Low14.12%
Apply blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing, sound-deadening, or decorative coverings to floors.
Tile and Stone Setters
Low13.80%
Apply hard tile, stone, and comparable materials to walls, floors, ceilings, countertops, and roof decks.
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Low15.23%
Smooth and finish surfaces of poured concrete, such as floors, walks, sidewalks, roads, or curbs using a variety of hand and power tools. Align forms for sidewalks, curbs, or gutters; patch voids; and use saws to cut expansion joints.
Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
Low9.52%
Apply a mixture of cement, sand, pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion durable and decorative surfaces.
Construction Laborers
Low21.08%
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Low6.66%
Apply plasterboard or other wallboard to ceilings or interior walls of buildings. Apply or mount acoustical tiles or blocks, strips, or sheets of shock-absorbing materials to ceilings and walls of buildings to reduce or reflect sound. Materials may be of decorative quality. Includes lathers who fasten wooden, metal, or rockboard lath to walls, ceilings, or partitions of buildings to provide support base for plaster, fireproofing, or acoustical material.
Tapers
Low12.39%
Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
Low7.42%
Line and cover structures with insulating materials. May work with batt, roll, or blown insulation materials.
Painters, Construction and Maintenance
Low20.83%
Paint walls, equipment, buildings, bridges, and other structural surfaces, using brushes, rollers, and spray guns. May remove old paint to prepare surface prior to painting. May mix colors or oils to obtain desired color or consistency.
Plasterers and Stucco Masons
Low8.23%
Apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. May also set ornamental plaster.
Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters
Low23.11%
Help brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, or tile and marble setters by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying, or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Furniture Finishers
Low24.64%
Shape, finish, and refinish damaged, worn, or used furniture or new high-grade furniture to specified color or finish.
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Medium44.55%
Set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines. May operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment.
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Medium40.69%
Grind, sand, or polish, using hand tools or hand-held power tools, a variety of metal, wood, stone, clay, plastic, or glass objects. Includes chippers, buffers, and finishers.
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
Medium35.73%
Paint, coat, or decorate articles, such as furniture, glass, plateware, pottery, jewelry, toys, books, or leather.
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium42.67%
Set up, operate, or tend spraying or rolling machines to coat or paint any of a wide variety of products, including glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal, plastic, paper, or wood, with lacquer, silver, copper, rubber, varnish, glaze, enamel, oil, or rust-proofing materials. Includes painters of transportation vehicles such as painters in auto body repair facilities.
Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
Medium44.30%
Mold, shape, form, cast, or carve products such as food products, figurines, tile, pipes, and candles consisting of clay, glass, plaster, concrete, stone, or combinations of materials.
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
Low25.93%
Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. Duties may include tending furnace and boiler, performing routine maintenance activities, notifying management of need for repairs, and cleaning snow or debris from sidewalk.
Paperhangers
Low7.43%
Cover interior walls or ceilings of rooms with decorative wallpaper or fabric, or attach advertising posters on surfaces such as walls and billboards. May remove old materials or prepare surfaces to be papered.
Segmental Pavers
Low12.33%
Lay out, cut, and place segmental paving units. Includes installers of bedding and restraining materials for the paving units.