Floor Sanders and Finishers

What the job really is

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

At a glance

• Sector: Construction & Extraction
• O*NET-SOC code: 47-2043
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 7
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Application brushes, Claw hammers, Computer aided design CAD software, Corner tools, Draw chisels, Drum sanders, Dust masks, Edge sanders, Finish application rollers, Finish edging tools, Floor buffers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
• Furniture Finishers
• Carpet Installers
• Terrazzo Workers and Finishers
• Tile and Stone Setters
• Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
• Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
• Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Floor Sanders and Finishers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.