Tile and Stone Setters: Career Profile
Apply hard tile, stone, and comparable materials to walls, floors, ceilings, countertops, and roof decks.
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The Daily Work of Tile and Stone Setters Take On?
The core tasks performed by tile and stone setters span:
- Align and straighten tile using levels, squares, and straightedges.
- Finish and dress the joints and wipe excess grout from between tiles, using damp sponge.
- Cut and shape tile to fit around obstacles and into odd spaces and corners, using hand and power cutting tools.
- Determine and implement the best layout to achieve a desired pattern.
- Mix, apply, and spread plaster, concrete, mortar, cement, mastic, glue or other adhesives to form a bed for the tiles, using brush, trowel and screed.
- Study blueprints and examine surface to be covered to determine amount of material needed.
- Measure and mark surfaces to be tiled, following blueprints.
- Lay and set mosaic tiles to create decorative wall, mural, and floor designs.
What Tile and Stone Setters Need to Know
Successful tile and stone setters rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Tile and Stone Setters Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Acoustical Carpenter
- Acoustical Installer
- Acoustical Material Worker
- Bathroom Fitter
- Ceramic Tile Installer
- Ceramic Tile Mechanic
- Ceramic Tile Setter
- Floor Tile Layer
Job Outlook
There are about 637,476 tile and stone setters working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +3.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Tile and Stone Setters Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $46,953 |
| Hourly median | $22.57 |
| 10th percentile | $33,901 |
| 25th percentile | $40,427 |
| 75th percentile | $53,479 |
| 90th percentile | $60,005 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Tile and Stone Setters Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $96,080 |
| Maine | $68,470 |
| Rhode Island | $64,980 |
| New York | $63,210 |
| Washington | $62,210 |
| Minnesota | $61,850 |
| Missouri | $60,450 |
| Vermont | $60,320 |
| Connecticut | $59,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,010 |
| Wisconsin | $58,850 |
| New Jersey | $58,760 |
| Nevada | $58,270 |
| California | $57,510 |
| Colorado | $57,130 |
| Kansas | $55,820 |
| Oregon | $54,380 |
| Illinois | $53,430 |
| Michigan | $53,430 |
| Iowa | $52,000 |
| Idaho | $50,550 |
| Montana | $50,440 |
| Nebraska | $50,220 |
| Indiana | $49,770 |
| Georgia | $49,460 |
| Ohio | $49,440 |
| New Hampshire | $49,150 |
| Utah | $48,790 |
| Arizona | $48,160 |
| Florida | $48,080 |
| Maryland | $47,980 |
| North Dakota | $47,020 |
| West Virginia | $46,590 |
| Kentucky | $46,120 |
| Louisiana | $45,610 |
| South Carolina | $45,100 |
| Delaware | $44,880 |
| Mississippi | $44,750 |
| South Dakota | $44,450 |
| North Carolina | $44,220 |
| Oklahoma | $43,620 |
| Texas | $43,530 |
| Alabama | $42,740 |
| Tennessee | $41,600 |
| Virginia | $41,520 |
| New Mexico | $38,920 |
| Arkansas | $37,950 |
Where Tile and Stone Setters Earn the Most
Compensation for tile and stone setters shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $60,979 | 12.7% | 1.05 |
| Far Western US | $59,492 | 30.7% | 2.09 |
| New England | $58,109 | 1.2% | 0.76 |
| Plains States | $56,697 | 5.1% | 0.78 |
| Great Lakes | $52,991 | 9.9% | 0.71 |
| Rocky Mountains | $50,596 | 8.6% | 3.37 |
| Southeast | $46,289 | 21.6% | 1.43 |
| Southwest | $45,353 | 10.1% | 1.24 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $99,380 | 380 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $97,830 | 70 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $77,240 | 90 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $73,640 | |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $73,310 | 610 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $72,840 | 2,630 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $67,610 | 120 |
| Evansville, IN | IN | $67,220 | 40 |
Top Industries Employing Tile and Stone Setters
Most tile and stone setters are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 31,210 | $55,160 |
| Manufacturing | 5,420 | $47,350 |
| Retail Trade | 1,480 | $52,700 |
| Educational Services | 40 | $47,690 |
Tile and Stone Setters work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Customer relationship management CRM software: Salesforce software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of tile and stone setters reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How to Become Tile and Stone Setters
Typical tile and stone setters positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons (Primary-Long)
- Stonemasons (Primary-Short)
- Carpenters (Supplemental)
- Carpet Installers (Primary-Long)
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles (Primary-Short)
- Floor Sanders and Finishers (Supplemental)
- Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (Primary-Long)
- Terrazzo Workers and Finishers (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Future tile and stone setters typically earn programs in:
Construction Trades
2 programs across 2 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 47-2044.00 (Tile and Stone Setters).
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