Tile and stone setters salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $55,690 | $26.77 |
| Mean (average) | $59,250 | $28.49 |
| 90th percentile | $86,110 | $41.40 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Tile and stone setters pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 47 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $44,800 | $33,610 | $51,750 | 260 | 0.54 |
| Arizona | $52,000 | $37,290 | $70,180 | 1,060 | 1.41 |
| Arkansas | $38,980 | $31,360 | $50,110 | 160 | 0.54 |
| California | $58,880 | $39,990 | $99,830 | 8,250 | 1.96 |
| Colorado | $57,690 | $35,040 | $83,200 | 870 | 1.32 |
| Connecticut | $63,150 | $47,660 | $104,070 | 230 | 0.6 |
| Florida | $47,280 | $28,050 | $72,380 | 4,070 | 1.78 |
| Georgia | $47,840 | $39,680 | $66,410 | 360 | 0.32 |
| Hawaii | $79,270 | $43,980 | $114,300 | 440 | 3.05 |
| Idaho | $47,940 | $36,510 | $59,220 | 570 | 2.89 |
| Illinois | $67,160 | $46,680 | $112,780 | 730 | 0.52 |
| Indiana | $48,450 | $37,700 | $77,170 | 540 | 0.73 |
| Iowa | $54,350 | $43,700 | $77,460 | 240 | 0.68 |
| Kansas | $54,920 | $39,470 | $74,990 | 310 | 0.94 |
| Kentucky | $47,380 | $34,620 | $56,290 | 180 | 0.4 |
| Louisiana | $44,750 | $28,770 | $56,650 | 190 | 0.43 |
| Maine | $70,720 | $59,280 | $131,890 | 60 | 0.41 |
| Maryland | $45,670 | $33,280 | $75,200 | 240 | 0.37 |
| Massachusetts | $81,150 | $52,040 | $104,170 | 410 | 0.49 |
| Michigan | $47,950 | $31,660 | $68,210 | 1,010 | 1 |
| Minnesota | $70,560 | $52,070 | $81,980 | 610 | 0.89 |
| Mississippi | $39,130 | $32,080 | $60,330 | 60 | 0.23 |
| Missouri | $60,590 | $39,250 | $79,470 | 470 | 0.69 |
| Montana | $58,670 | $44,500 | $70,640 | 240 | 2.07 |
| Nebraska | $59,350 | $31,600 | $85,530 | ||
| Nevada | $61,200 | $44,030 | $117,690 | 1,450 | 4.07 |
| New Hampshire | $49,900 | $45,170 | $84,830 | 40 | 0.26 |
| New Jersey | $62,370 | $38,420 | $113,930 | 460 | 0.47 |
| New Mexico | $44,550 | $33,480 | $59,740 | 280 | 1.38 |
| New York | $61,260 | $39,520 | $96,700 | 2,990 | 1.34 |
| North Carolina | $44,650 | $35,090 | $58,090 | 680 | 0.6 |
| North Dakota | $42,620 | $36,910 | $77,630 | 70 | 0.7 |
| Ohio | $46,140 | $36,520 | $72,050 | 670 | 0.52 |
| Oklahoma | $44,340 | $33,280 | $105,570 | 280 | 0.7 |
| Oregon | $58,790 | $35,760 | $81,950 | 790 | 1.73 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,230 | $44,300 | $96,980 | 880 | 0.63 |
| Rhode Island | $49,170 | $39,520 | $74,880 | ||
| South Carolina | $43,510 | $28,230 | $106,270 | ||
| South Dakota | $50,640 | $38,660 | $67,830 | 30 | 0.33 |
| Tennessee | $43,570 | $31,160 | $59,140 | 350 | 0.47 |
| Texas | $47,030 | $35,100 | $80,880 | 1,260 | 0.39 |
| Utah | $49,340 | $35,830 | $69,640 | 1,590 | 3.96 |
| Vermont | $55,890 | $46,810 | $65,000 | 140 | 2.02 |
| Virginia | $48,880 | $28,990 | $72,870 | 750 | 0.79 |
| Washington | $77,920 | $56,560 | $102,720 | 660 | 0.81 |
| West Virginia | $50,900 | $37,830 | $68,880 | 50 | 0.3 |
| Wisconsin | $62,680 | $48,540 | $85,620 | 410 | 0.61 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for tile and stone setters
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 21.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for tile and stone setters
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Mason/Masonry CIP 46.0101
- Carpet, Floor, and Tile Worker CIP 46.0413
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Salesforce software (hot technology)
- Aya Associates Comp-U-Floor
- EasyCAD Iris 2D
- Measure Square FloorEstimate Pro
- TileGem
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Instructing, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Ceramic Tile Mechanic, Ceramic Tile Setter, Tile and Marble Installer, Tile and Marble Setter, Tile Finisher, Tile Installer, Tile Man, Tile Mason, Tile Mechanic, Tile Setter.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do tile and stone setters make?
The national median annual wage for tile and stone setters was $55,690 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,140 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $86,110. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do tile and stone setters need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is tile and stone setters a growing career?
BLS projects employment of tile and stone setters to change +9.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay tile and stone setters the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($81,150), Hawaii ($79,270), Washington ($77,920). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.