Tile and Stone Setters
Apply hard tile, stone, and comparable materials to walls, floors, ceilings, countertops, and roof decks.
Also called: Ceramic Tile Mechanic · Ceramic Tile Setter · Tile and Marble Installer · Tile and Marble Setter · Tile Finisher · Tile Installer
Median pay (national)
$52,240
$36,140–$82,960 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
38,740
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+10.1%
~4,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for tile and stone setters shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $82,960 versus $36,140 at the bottom 10% — 2.3x. The median of $52,240 leaves roughly 59% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +10.1% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the 3% average for all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 4,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 47 states with released data, Hawaii pays the most for this role (median $96,080, +84% vs the national median), while Arkansas sits lowest at $37,950 — a 153% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Mathematics as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- 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.
- Apply mortar to tile back, position the tile, and press or tap with trowel handle to affix tile to base.
- Mix and apply mortar or cement to edges and ends of drain tiles to seal halves and joints.
- Apply a sealer to make grout stain- and water-resistant.
Tools & technology
- Salesforce software
- Aya Associates Comp-U-Floor
- EasyCAD Iris 2D
- Measure Square FloorEstimate Pro
- TileGem
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Design
- Administration and Management
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Education and Training