Tile setter salary in Alabama
Median $21.54 an hour for 260 tile setters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Tile setter pay in Alabama: the full range
Alabama ranks 38th of 47 states for median tile setter pay, and 29th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.26). 260 tile setters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.5× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $16.16 – $17.91 | $33,610 – $37,250 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $17.91 – $22.86 | $37,250 – $47,560 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $22.86 – $24.88 | $47,560 – $51,750 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Tile setter pay by metro in Alabama
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $18.01 | $22.44 | $24.10 | $26.72 | 30 | 4% above |
| Birmingham | $17.06 | $21.82 | $23.82 | $24.84 | 70 | 1% above |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Tile setter wages in Alabama over time
Table
| Year | Alabama $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.53 | $28.08 | $17.08 | 360 |
| 2000 | $13.37 | $25.00 | $16.49 | 280 |
| 2001 | $11.88 | $21.60 | $17.02 | 350 |
| 2002 | $12.33 | $22.07 | $17.20 | 320 |
| 2003 | $10.89 | $19.05 | $17.12 | 360 |
| 2004 | $10.42 | $17.76 | $17.02 | 420 |
| 2005 | $11.85 | $19.53 | $17.56 | 270 |
| 2006 | $11.82 | $18.88 | $17.59 | 470 |
| 2007 | $13.50 | $20.96 | $18.61 | 500 |
| 2008 | $13.21 | $19.75 | $18.85 | 570 |
| 2009 | $14.39 | $21.59 | $18.83 | 410 |
| 2010 | $14.85 | $21.92 | $18.32 | 460 |
| 2011 | $16.23 | $23.23 | $17.83 | 410 |
| 2012 | $14.41 | $20.21 | $17.81 | 380 |
| 2013 | $15.06 | $20.81 | $18.06 | 370 |
| 2014 | $14.62 | $19.88 | $18.74 | 320 |
| 2015 | $16.79 | $22.81 | $18.94 | 270 |
| 2016 | $18.85 | $25.29 | $19.45 | 230 |
| 2017 | $18.34 | $24.09 | $20.04 | 220 |
| 2018 | $17.88 | $22.92 | $20.12 | 250 |
| 2019 | $16.78 | $21.13 | $20.70 | 290 |
| 2020 | $17.13 | $21.31 | $21.26 | 250 |
| 2021 | $16.22 | $19.27 | $22.99 | 470 |
| 2022 | $17.43 | $19.17 | $23.24 | 380 |
| 2023 | $20.57 | $21.73 | $23.52 | 530 |
| 2024 | $20.55 | $21.09 | $25.11 | 310 |
| 2025 | $21.54 | $21.54 | $26.77 | 260 |
In today's dollars, the median tile setter wage in Alabama changed by -5.6% over the last ten years of data and by +1.9% since 2019.
Are there more tile setter jobs in Alabama?
BLS counted 260 tile setters in Alabama in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 10%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for tile setters in Alabama
Alabama's labor market agency projects the number of tile setters in the state to change by +15.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 420 to 490, with about 40 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 260 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Alabama labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for tile setters in Alabama
On federally funded construction in Alabama, contractors must pay tile setters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 29 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $20.00). 29 of the 29 counties still use a survey rate dated 2017 or earlier (for example Autauga County at $15.86). The market median for the state is $21.54.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bibb | Survey SUAL2015-027 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260099 |
| Blount | Survey SUAL2015-027 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260099 |
| Calhoun | Survey SUAL2015-012 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260084 |
| Chilton | Survey SUAL2015-027 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260099 |
| Colbert | Survey SUAL2015-028 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260100 |
| Etowah | Survey SUAL2015-013 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260085 |
| Hale | Survey SUAL2015-031 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260103 |
| Jefferson | Survey SUAL2015-015 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260087 |
| Lauderdale | Survey SUAL2015-028 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260100 |
| Lawrence | Survey SUAL2015-016 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260088 |
| Limestone | Survey SUAL2015-018 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260090 |
| Madison | Survey SUAL2015-019 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260091 |
| Morgan | Survey SUAL2015-022 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260094 |
| Pickens | Survey SUAL2015-031 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260103 |
| St. Clair | Survey SUAL2015-025 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260097 |
| Shelby | Survey SUAL2015-024 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260096 |
| Tuscaloosa | Survey SUAL2015-026 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260098 |
| Walker | Survey SUAL2015-027 2017-08-02 | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | AL20260099 |
| Autauga | Survey SUAL2015-010 2017-08-02 | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | AL20260082 |
| Baldwin | Survey SUAL2015-011 2017-08-02 | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | AL20260083 |
| Elmore | Survey SUAL2015-029 2017-08-02 | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | AL20260101 |
| Geneva | Survey SUAL2015-030 2017-08-02 | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | AL20260102 |
| Henry | Survey SUAL2015-030 2017-08-02 | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | AL20260102 |
| Houston | Survey SUAL2015-014 2017-08-02 | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | AL20260086 |
| Lee | Survey SUAL2015-017 2017-08-02 | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | AL20260089 |
| Lowndes | Survey SUAL2015-029 2017-08-02 | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | AL20260101 |
| Mobile | Survey SUAL2015-020 2017-08-02 | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | AL20260092 |
| Montgomery | Survey SUAL2015-021 2017-08-02 | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | AL20260093 |
| Russell | Survey SUAL2015-023 2017-08-02 | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | AL20260095 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Alabama prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Alabama?
Keep comparing
Tile setter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Alabama
More on Alabama
Questions this page answers
How much do tile setters make in Alabama?
The median tile setter in Alabama earned $21.54 an hour ($44,800 a year) in May 2025, 20% below the national median of $26.77. The middle half earn $17.91–$22.86; the top 10% earn more than $24.88.
Where does Alabama rank for tile setter pay?
Alabama ranks 38th of 47 states for tile setter pay, with a median of $21.54 an hour, and 29th after adjusting for Alabama's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.8, US = 100).
What is the union tile setter rate in Alabama?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a tile setter classification for most Alabama counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many tile setters work in Alabama?
BLS counted 260 tile setters in Alabama in May 2025, 0.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.54; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is tile setter work growing in Alabama?
Alabama's labor market agency projects +15.4% growth for tile setters between 2024 and 2034, from 420 to 490 jobs.
How many tile setter openings a year are there in Alabama?
Alabama projects about 40 openings a year for tile setters over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 3,300 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Alabama and metro areas, SOC 47-2044. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Alabama labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.