Tile setter salary in Iowa
Median $26.13 an hour for 240 tile and stone setters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 2000.
Tile setter pay in Iowa: the full range
Iowa ranks 21st of 47 states for median tile setter pay, and 12th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.76). 240 tile and stone setters work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $21.01 – $23.11 | $43,700 – $48,070 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.11 – $34.11 | $48,070 – $70,950 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $34.11 – $37.24 | $70,950 – $77,460 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Tile setter pay by metro in Iowa
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $15.19 | $29.34 | $44.49 | — | 12% above |
Tile setter wages in Iowa over time
Table
| Year | Iowa $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | $18.22 | $34.06 | $16.49 | — |
| 2001 | $18.56 | $33.74 | $17.02 | 170 |
| 2002 | $16.14 | $28.88 | $17.20 | 130 |
| 2003 | $15.58 | $27.26 | $17.12 | 230 |
| 2004 | $17.04 | $29.04 | $17.02 | 280 |
| 2005 | $17.91 | $29.52 | $17.56 | 110 |
| 2006 | $20.26 | $32.35 | $17.59 | 110 |
| 2007 | $17.43 | $27.06 | $18.61 | 120 |
| 2008 | $17.02 | $25.45 | $18.85 | 240 |
| 2009 | $16.76 | $25.15 | $18.83 | 260 |
| 2010 | $16.93 | $25.00 | $18.32 | 320 |
| 2011 | $16.13 | $23.09 | $17.83 | 260 |
| 2012 | $17.04 | $23.89 | $17.81 | 230 |
| 2013 | $16.97 | $23.45 | $18.06 | 270 |
| 2014 | $17.27 | $23.49 | $18.74 | 380 |
| 2015 | $17.15 | $23.30 | $18.94 | 330 |
| 2016 | $17.36 | $23.29 | $19.45 | 340 |
| 2017 | $19.16 | $25.16 | $20.04 | 240 |
| 2018 | $19.88 | $25.49 | $20.12 | 210 |
| 2019 | $22.80 | $28.71 | $20.70 | 140 |
| 2020 | $22.47 | $27.95 | $21.26 | 190 |
| 2021 | $18.32 | $21.77 | $22.99 | 190 |
| 2022 | $21.86 | $24.05 | $23.24 | 270 |
| 2023 | $23.41 | $24.73 | $23.52 | 220 |
| 2024 | $25.00 | $25.66 | $25.11 | 320 |
| 2025 | $26.13 | $26.13 | $26.77 | 240 |
In today's dollars, the median tile setter wage in Iowa changed by +12.2% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for tile setters in Iowa
On federally funded construction in Iowa, contractors must pay tile setters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 15 of the 15 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $53.79 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $26.13.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | Union BRIA0003-020 2025-05-01 | $37.44 | $19.12 | $56.56 | IA20260064 |
| Polk | Union BRIA0003-020 2025-05-01 | $37.44 | $19.12 | $56.56 | IA20260071 |
| Story | Union BRIA0003-020 2025-05-01 | $37.44 | $19.12 | $56.56 | IA20260074 |
| Warren | Union BRIA0003-020 2025-05-01 | $37.44 | $19.12 | $56.56 | IA20260075 |
| Harrison | Union BRIA0003-022 2025-06-01 | $34.80 | $19.24 | $54.04 | IA20260067 |
| Mills | Union BRIA0003-022 2025-06-01 | $34.80 | $19.24 | $54.04 | IA20260070 |
| Pottawattamie | Union BRIA0003-022 2025-06-01 | $34.80 | $19.24 | $54.04 | IA20260072 |
| Benton | Union BRIA0003-019 2025-05-01 | $36.00 | $17.79 | $53.79 | IA20260078 |
| Johnson | Union BRIA0003-019 2025-05-01 | $36.00 | $17.79 | $53.79 | IA20260068 |
| Jones | Union BRIA0003-019 2025-05-01 | $36.00 | $17.79 | $53.79 | IA20260078 |
| Linn | Union BRIA0003-019 2025-05-01 | $36.00 | $17.79 | $53.79 | IA20260069 |
| Scott | Union BRIA0003-006 2025-05-01 | $32.80 | $20.25 | $53.05 | IA20260073 |
| Black Hawk | Union BRIA0003-021 2025-05-01 | $30.65 | $20.10 | $50.75 | IA20260062 |
| Bremer | Union BRIA0003-021 2025-05-01 | $30.65 | $20.10 | $50.75 | IA20260063 |
| Grundy | Union BRIA0003-021 2025-05-01 | $30.65 | $20.10 | $50.75 | IA20260066 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Iowa prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Iowa?
Keep comparing
Tile setter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Iowa
Questions this page answers
How much do tile setters make in Iowa?
The median tile setter in Iowa earned $26.13 an hour ($54,350 a year) in May 2025, 2% below the national median of $26.77. The middle half earn $23.11–$34.11; the top 10% earn more than $37.24.
Where does Iowa rank for tile setter pay?
Iowa ranks 21st of 47 states for tile setter pay, with a median of $26.13 an hour, and 12th after adjusting for Iowa's cost of living (BEA price parity 87.8, US = 100).
What is the union tile setter rate in Iowa?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for tile setters in 15 counties, with a typical package of $53.79 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many tile setters work in Iowa?
BLS counted 240 tile and stone setters in Iowa in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.68; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Iowa and metro areas, SOC 47-2044.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.