Carpet Installers Salary
Carpet Installers in New Jersey make a median of $115,180 a year, or about $55.38 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $115,945 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,067/month, or 29.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $115K get you in New Jersey?
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for carpet installers, local pay runs about 129% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $2,067/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level carpet installers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $115K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Carpet Installers salary by metro in New Jersey
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $70K | -40% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a carpet installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
Yes — at the median salary of $115K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for carpet installers in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new carpet installers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,927/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 71% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is carpet installer a high-paying job in New Jersey?
Local pay is 129% above the national median — $115K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for carpet installers?
New Jersey pays $115K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +129%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do carpet installers make in New Jersey?
The median is $115,180 a year, that works out to about $55 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,790, and experienced carpet installers can clear $128,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $115K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,017/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 29.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a carpet installers salary go in New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median carpet installers salary is worth about $115,945 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do carpet installers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.