Tile setter salary: what tile and stone setters actually make
BLS employer-survey wages for 35,850 tile and stone setters nationwide, plus the union scale contractors must pay on federal jobs.
What tile and stone setters earn: the full range
The middle half of tile and stone setters earn between $21.73 and $33.76 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $41.40 ($86,110 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $17.86.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $17.86 – $21.73 | $37,140 – $45,200 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.73 – $33.76 | $45,200 – $70,220 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $33.76 – $41.40 | $70,220 – $86,110 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification. Union journeyman scale by county is in the prevailing-wage section below.
Tile setter pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $39.02 | 46% above |
| Hawaii | $38.11 | 42% above |
| Washington | $37.46 | 40% above |
| Maine | $34.00 | 27% above |
| Minnesota | $33.92 | 27% above |
| Pennsylvania | $33.77 | 26% above |
| Illinois | $32.29 | 21% above |
| Connecticut | $30.36 | 13% above |
| Wisconsin | $30.14 | 13% above |
| New Jersey | $29.99 | 12% above |
| New York | $29.45 | 10% above |
| Nevada | $29.42 | 10% above |
| Missouri | $29.13 | 9% above |
| Nebraska | $28.53 | 7% above |
| California | $28.31 | 6% above |
| Oregon | $28.27 | 6% above |
| Montana | $28.21 | 5% above |
| Colorado | $27.74 | 4% above |
| Vermont | $26.87 | about the same as |
| Kansas | $26.40 | 1% below |
| Iowa | $26.13 | 2% below |
| Arizona | $25.00 | 7% below |
| West Virginia | $24.47 | 9% below |
| South Dakota | $24.34 | 9% below |
| New Hampshire | $23.99 | 10% below |
| Utah | $23.72 | 11% below |
| Rhode Island | $23.64 | 12% below |
| Virginia | $23.50 | 12% below |
| Indiana | $23.29 | 13% below |
| Idaho | $23.05 | 14% below |
| Michigan | $23.05 | 14% below |
| Georgia | $23.00 | 14% below |
| Kentucky | $22.78 | 15% below |
| Florida | $22.73 | 15% below |
| Texas | $22.61 | 16% below |
| Ohio | $22.18 | 17% below |
| Maryland | $21.96 | 18% below |
| Alabama | $21.54 | 20% below |
| Louisiana | $21.52 | 20% below |
| North Carolina | $21.47 | 20% below |
| New Mexico | $21.42 | 20% below |
| Oklahoma | $21.32 | 20% below |
| Tennessee | $20.95 | 22% below |
| South Carolina | $20.92 | 22% below |
| North Dakota | $20.49 | 23% below |
| Mississippi | $18.81 | 30% below |
| Arkansas | $18.74 | 30% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $39.02 | $36.88 | #1 | 410 |
| Hawaii | $38.11 | $34.65 | #4 | 440 |
| Washington | $37.46 | $35.01 | #3 | 660 |
| Maine | $34.00 | $35.05 | #2 | 60 |
| Minnesota | $33.92 | $34.40 | #6 | 610 |
| Pennsylvania | $33.77 | $34.60 | #5 | 880 |
| Illinois | $32.29 | $32.29 | #7 | 730 |
| Connecticut | $30.36 | $29.31 | #14 | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $30.14 | $32.03 | #9 | 410 |
| New Jersey | $29.99 | $27.56 | #16 | 460 |
| New York | $29.45 | $27.29 | #21 | 2,990 |
| Nevada | $29.42 | $29.42 | #13 | 1,450 |
| Missouri | $29.13 | $32.08 | #8 | 470 |
| Nebraska | $28.53 | $31.66 | #10 | — |
| California | $28.31 | $25.57 | #23 | 8,250 |
| Oregon | $28.27 | $27.34 | #20 | 790 |
| Montana | $28.21 | $29.82 | #11 | 240 |
| Colorado | $27.74 | $26.91 | #22 | 870 |
| Vermont | $26.87 | $27.42 | #18 | 140 |
| Kansas | $26.40 | $29.30 | #15 | 310 |
| Iowa | $26.13 | $29.76 | #12 | 240 |
| Arizona | $25.00 | $24.83 | #26 | 1,060 |
| West Virginia | $24.47 | $27.34 | #19 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $24.34 | $27.47 | #17 | 30 |
| New Hampshire | $23.99 | $23.02 | #39 | 40 |
| Utah | $23.72 | $23.98 | #31 | 1,590 |
| Rhode Island | $23.64 | $23.11 | #38 | — |
| Virginia | $23.50 | $23.24 | #36 | 750 |
| Indiana | $23.29 | $24.96 | #25 | 540 |
| Idaho | $23.05 | $24.14 | #30 | 570 |
| Michigan | $23.05 | $23.96 | #32 | 1,010 |
| Georgia | $23.00 | $23.88 | #34 | 360 |
| Kentucky | $22.78 | $25.25 | #24 | 180 |
| Florida | $22.73 | $21.98 | #44 | 4,070 |
| Texas | $22.61 | $23.29 | #35 | 1,260 |
| Ohio | $22.18 | $23.90 | #33 | 670 |
| Maryland | $21.96 | $20.91 | #47 | 240 |
| Alabama | $21.54 | $24.26 | #29 | 260 |
| Louisiana | $21.52 | $24.40 | #27 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $21.47 | $22.77 | #42 | 680 |
| New Mexico | $21.42 | $23.23 | #37 | 280 |
| Oklahoma | $21.32 | $24.28 | #28 | 280 |
| Tennessee | $20.95 | $22.80 | #41 | 350 |
| South Carolina | $20.92 | $22.33 | #43 | — |
| North Dakota | $20.49 | $23.02 | #40 | 70 |
| Mississippi | $18.81 | $21.62 | #45 | 60 |
| Arkansas | $18.74 | $21.57 | #46 | 160 |
Tile setter wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.08 | $33.01 | 27,330 |
| 2000 | $16.49 | $30.83 | 27,870 |
| 2001 | $17.02 | $30.94 | 30,390 |
| 2002 | $17.20 | $30.78 | 33,550 |
| 2003 | $17.12 | $29.95 | 36,900 |
| 2004 | $17.02 | $29.01 | 42,930 |
| 2005 | $17.56 | $28.95 | 47,410 |
| 2006 | $17.59 | $28.09 | 51,330 |
| 2007 | $18.61 | $28.90 | 52,790 |
| 2008 | $18.85 | $28.19 | 51,210 |
| 2009 | $18.83 | $28.26 | 41,140 |
| 2010 | $18.32 | $27.05 | 31,670 |
| 2011 | $17.83 | $25.52 | 28,630 |
| 2012 | $17.81 | $24.97 | 27,050 |
| 2013 | $18.06 | $24.96 | 30,090 |
| 2014 | $18.74 | $25.48 | 31,590 |
| 2015 | $18.94 | $25.73 | 34,940 |
| 2016 | $19.45 | $26.09 | 36,830 |
| 2017 | $20.04 | $26.32 | 38,820 |
| 2018 | $20.12 | $25.80 | 39,130 |
| 2019 | $20.70 | $26.07 | 40,470 |
| 2020 | $21.26 | $26.45 | 38,150 |
| 2021 | $22.99 | $27.31 | 41,160 |
| 2022 | $23.24 | $25.57 | 40,760 |
| 2023 | $23.52 | $24.85 | 42,420 |
| 2024 | $25.11 | $25.77 | 38,740 |
| 2025 | $26.77 | $26.77 | 35,850 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median tile setter wage changed by +4.1% over the last ten years.
Highest-paying metros for tile setters
| Metro | Median $/hr | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35.90 | $54.84 | 550 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $30.98 | $56.00 | 1,020 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $30.55 | $58.61 | 990 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $29.52 | $48.74 | 2,600 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $28.18 | $51.82 | 2,170 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $28.00 | $43.60 | 910 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $27.04 | $43.54 | 790 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $26.37 | $50.36 | 940 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $25.72 | $33.31 | 780 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $24.04 | $34.00 | 970 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $23.22 | $35.66 | 950 |
Union scale and prevailing wage for tile setters
Federal construction projects must pay the Davis-Bacon rate for each county. Where the rate comes from a union contract it is the local journeyman scale: base wage plus fringe (health, pension, training). Where it comes from a survey, it is often older and lower. This table summarises the Building-construction determination for tile setters in every state.
| State | Counties with a union rate | Typical union package (base + fringe, $/hr) | Typical survey rate | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 100% | $102.18 | — | 21/21 |
| Massachusetts | 100% | $102.03 | — | 14/14 |
| Hawaii | 100% | $77.69 | — | 5/5 |
| Rhode Island | 100% | $76.88 | — | 5/5 |
| California | 91% | $72.33 | $27.83 | 57/58 |
| Wisconsin | 81% | $68.09 | $22.16 | 72/72 |
| Oregon | 100% | $65.74 | — | 13/36 |
| Washington | 100% | $65.74 | — | 39/39 |
| New York | 98% | $58.85 | $24.02 | 44/62 |
| Illinois | 100% | $58.28 | — | 102/102 |
| Pennsylvania | 88% | $57.27 | $36.01 | 67/67 |
| West Virginia | 100% | $57.21 | — | 19/55 |
| Michigan | 100% | $56.84 | — | 79/83 |
| Missouri | 100% | $54.10 | — | 115/115 |
| Iowa | 100% | $53.79 | — | 15/99 |
| Alaska | 100% | $53.39 | — | 30/30 |
| Indiana | 100% | $52.95 | — | 74/92 |
| Kentucky | 6% | $50.92 | $31.87 | 112/120 |
| Ohio | 100% | $48.77 | — | 74/88 |
| District of Columbia | 100% | $48.54 | — | 1/1 |
| Virginia | 2% | $48.54 | $38.05 | 58/133 |
| Kansas | 100% | $43.70 | — | 20/105 |
| Alabama | 0% | — | $20.00 | 29/67 |
| Arizona | 0% | — | $21.50 | 15/15 |
| Delaware | 0% | — | $59.09 | 3/3 |
| Florida | 0% | — | $18.01 | 44/67 |
| Louisiana | 0% | — | $20.00 | 35/64 |
| Maryland | 0% | — | $48.84 | 21/24 |
| Minnesota | 0% | — | $59.91 | 87/87 |
| Mississippi | 0% | — | $18.00 | 16/82 |
| New Mexico | 0% | — | $19.00 | 26/33 |
| Nevada | 0% | — | $43.46 | 17/17 |
| South Carolina | 0% | — | $49.19 | 3/46 |
| Tennessee | 0% | — | $19.65 | 42/95 |
| Texas | 0% | — | $15.00 | 254/254 |
| Utah | 0% | — | $20.63 | 29/29 |
| Wyoming | 0% | — | $43.00 | 23/23 |
Source: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions, Building construction type. Not the official determination; see each state page for county detail and links to the official text.
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects tile and stone setters employment to change by +9.8% over 2025-35, with about 3,300 openings a year from growth and people leaving the occupation. Typical entry education: No formal educational credential.
Compare tile setter pay with other trades
See how tile setter pay compares with other trades on the ranking of all trades and the comparison pages.
Questions this page answers
How much do tile setters make?
The median tile setter earned $26.77 an hour, or $55,690 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 35,850 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $21.73 and $33.76 an hour.
How much do tile setters make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $17.86 at the 10th percentile to $41.40 at the 90th, with a median of $26.77. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice tile setter make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $17.86 to $21.73 an hour ($37,140 to $45,200 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays tile setters the most?
Massachusetts had the highest median at $39.02 an hour in May 2025, followed by Hawaii ($38.11) and Washington ($37.46). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are tile setter wages going up?
In today's dollars the median tile setter wage changed by +4.1% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $18.94 to $26.77.
Is tile setter a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $55,690 a year, a 90th percentile of $86,110, projected growth of +9.8% and about 3,300 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2044 (Tile and stone setters). Wages exclude overtime and benefits.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, latest year.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national. Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.