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Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles

The short answer

This job is less likely to change much. Most of the work is the kind AI can't help with. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to grow over the next decade, with about 95 openings expected each year.

Step 1

Where your job stands

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. Most of what it involves isn't the kind of work AI can take over.

How much AI could touch this job

Least exposedband 1 of 5
least exposedmost exposed

Looking at the job itself, AI could help with a small part of this job's tasks.

What this means

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.

Step 2

What AI can and can’t help with in this job

This job is in the least exposed fifth of New York jobs for AI exposure. The tasks below show why: most of what it involves is work AI can't simply take over.

Almost none of this job's tasks are the kind AI can help with or automate.

Tasks AI can't do much of

  1. Sweep, scrape, sand, or chip dirt and irregularities to clean base surfaces, correcting imperfections that may show through the covering.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  2. Cut flooring material to fit around obstructions.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  3. Inspect surface to be covered to ensure that it is firm and dry.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  4. Trim excess covering materials, tack edges, and join sections of covering material to form tight joint.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  5. Form a smooth foundation by stapling plywood or Masonite over the floor or by brushing waterproof compound onto surface and filling cracks with plaster, putty, or grout to seal pores.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

Step 3

Jobs you could switch to

If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.

See related jobs in

The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.

  • Paperhangers

    Very similar work
    slightly less pay20 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$61,859 vs your $63,024 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus long-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Building and Construction
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Near Vision
    • Mathematics

    New skills to build

    • Gross Body Equilibrium
    • Gross Body Coordination
  • Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters

    Very similar work
    +1% pay74 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 1% more—$63,700 vs your $63,024 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Building and Construction
    • Mechanical
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Near Vision
    • Trunk Strength

    New skills to build

    • Speed of Limb Movement
    • Gross Body Equilibrium
    • Wrist-Finger Speed
  • Plasterers and Stucco Masons

    Very similar work
    +96% pay80 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 96% more—$123,437 vs your $63,024 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus long-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Building and Construction
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Near Vision
    • Design
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness

    New skills to build

    • Gross Body Equilibrium
    • Quality Control Analysis
  • Glaziers

    Very similar work
    +1% pay210 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 1% more—$63,430 vs your $63,024 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus apprenticeship.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Building and Construction
    • Mechanical
    • Near Vision
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Mathematics

    New skills to build

    • Gross Body Equilibrium
  • Insulation Workers, Mechanical

    Very similar work
    slightly less pay110 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$60,716 vs your $63,024 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus apprenticeship.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Building and Construction
    • Mathematics
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Mechanical
    • Production and Processing

    New skills to build

    • Personnel and Human Resources
    • Administration and Management
    • Education and Training
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Public Safety and Security
  • Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

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    +4% pay608 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 4% more—$65,776 vs your $63,024 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Building and Construction
    • Near Vision
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Trunk Strength

    New skills to build

    • Speed of Limb Movement
    • Quality Control Analysis
  • Tile and Stone Setters

    Similar work
    slightly less pay267 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$62,915 vs your $63,024 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus long-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Building and Construction
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Near Vision
    • Mathematics
    • Visualization

    New skills to build

    • Mathematical Reasoning
  • Brickmasons and Blockmasons

    Similar work
    +38% pay245 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 38% more—$86,702 vs your $63,024 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus apprenticeship.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Building and Construction
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Near Vision
    • Mathematics
    • Mechanical

    New skills to build

    • Gross Body Equilibrium
    • Trunk Strength
    • Quality Control Analysis
    • Static Strength
  • Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall

    Similar work
    slightly less pay153 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$60,702 vs your $63,024 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Extent Flexibility
    • Building and Construction
    • Trunk Strength
    • Mechanical
    • Manual Dexterity

    New skills to build

    • Gross Body Equilibrium
  • Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers

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    slightly less pay277 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$62,936 vs your $63,024 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Building and Construction
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Near Vision
    • Mathematics
    • Mechanical

    New skills to build

    • Gross Body Equilibrium
  • Roofers

    Somewhat similar work
    +8% pay424 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 8% more—$67,802 vs your $63,024 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Building and Construction
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Near Vision

    New skills to build

    • Gross Body Equilibrium
    • Gross Body Coordination
    • Stamina
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  • Sheet Metal Workers

    Somewhat similar work
    +20% pay471 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 20% more—$75,758 vs your $63,024 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus apprenticeship.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Building and Construction
    • Mathematics
    • Mechanical
    • Near Vision
    • Design

    New skills to build

    • Computers and Electronics
    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Repairing
    • Mathematical Reasoning
    • Troubleshooting