Tile setter salary in Massachusetts
Median $39.02 an hour for 410 tile and stone setters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Tile setter pay in Massachusetts: the full range
Massachusetts ranks 1st of 47 states for median tile setter pay, and 1st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $36.88). 410 tile and stone setters work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $25.02 – $28.46 | $52,040 – $59,190 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $28.46 – $46.13 | $59,190 – $95,940 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $46.13 – $50.08 | $95,940 – $104,170 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Tile setter pay by metro in Massachusetts
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $25.93 | $39.54 | $51.49 | — | 1% above |
| Springfield | $25.67 | $32.25 | $50.04 | 30 | 17% below |
| Worcester | $23.50 | $28.33 | $43.45 | 50 | 27% below |
| Providence | $19.00 | $27.54 | $37.85 | 60 | 29% below |
Tile setter wages in Massachusetts over time
Table
| Year | Massachusetts $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $23.89 | $46.17 | $17.08 | 130 |
| 2000 | $19.36 | $36.20 | $16.49 | 80 |
| 2001 | $25.68 | $46.68 | $17.02 | 140 |
| 2002 | $27.16 | $48.60 | $17.20 | 170 |
| 2003 | $26.48 | $46.33 | $17.12 | 210 |
| 2004 | $29.94 | $51.03 | $17.02 | 510 |
| 2005 | $29.82 | $49.16 | $17.56 | 480 |
| 2006 | $26.07 | $41.63 | $17.59 | 500 |
| 2007 | $21.62 | $33.57 | $18.61 | 360 |
| 2008 | $24.52 | $36.66 | $18.85 | 480 |
| 2009 | $33.96 | $50.96 | $18.83 | 480 |
| 2010 | $36.36 | $53.68 | $18.32 | 480 |
| 2011 | $37.79 | $54.09 | $17.83 | 380 |
| 2012 | $35.70 | $50.06 | $17.81 | 380 |
| 2013 | $40.46 | $55.92 | $18.06 | 570 |
| 2014 | $39.50 | $53.72 | $18.74 | 640 |
| 2015 | $41.02 | $55.72 | $18.94 | 840 |
| 2016 | $30.77 | $41.27 | $19.45 | 720 |
| 2017 | $22.39 | $29.41 | $20.04 | 930 |
| 2018 | $19.40 | $24.87 | $20.12 | 750 |
| 2019 | $18.05 | $22.73 | $20.70 | 730 |
| 2020 | $19.18 | $23.86 | $21.26 | 430 |
| 2021 | $28.68 | $34.08 | $22.99 | 240 |
| 2022 | $30.74 | $33.82 | $23.24 | 140 |
| 2023 | — | — | $23.52 | 350 |
| 2025 | $39.02 | $39.02 | $26.77 | 410 |
In today's dollars, the median tile setter wage in Massachusetts changed by -30.0% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for tile setters in Massachusetts
On federally funded construction in Massachusetts, contractors must pay tile setters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 14 of the 14 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $102.03 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $39.02.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable | Union BRMA0003-001 2024-08-01 | $64.52 | $37.51 | $102.03 | MA20260001 |
| Bristol | Union BRMA0003-001 2024-08-01 | $64.52 | $37.51 | $102.03 | MA20260001 |
| Dukes | Union BRMA0003-001 2024-08-01 | $64.52 | $37.51 | $102.03 | MA20260001 |
| Essex | Union BRMA0003-001 2024-08-01 | $64.52 | $37.51 | $102.03 | MA20260001 |
| Middlesex | Union BRMA0003-001 2024-08-01 | $64.52 | $37.51 | $102.03 | MA20260001 |
| Nantucket | Union BRMA0003-001 2024-08-01 | $64.52 | $37.51 | $102.03 | MA20260001 |
| Norfolk | Union BRMA0003-001 2024-08-01 | $64.52 | $37.51 | $102.03 | MA20260001 |
| Plymouth | Union BRMA0003-004 2024-08-01 | $64.52 | $37.51 | $102.03 | MA20260012 |
| Suffolk | Union BRMA0003-001 2024-08-01 | $64.52 | $37.51 | $102.03 | MA20260001 |
| Worcester | Union BRMA0003-004 2024-08-01 | $64.52 | $37.51 | $102.03 | MA20260013 |
| Berkshire | Union MARB0097-001 2012-03-01 | $28.43 | $25.85 | $54.28 | MA20260003 |
| Franklin | Union MARB0097-001 2012-03-01 | $28.43 | $25.85 | $54.28 | MA20260003 |
| Hampden | Union MARB0097-001 2012-03-01 | $28.43 | $25.85 | $54.28 | MA20260003 |
| Hampshire | Union MARB0097-001 2012-03-01 | $28.43 | $25.85 | $54.28 | MA20260003 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Massachusetts prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Massachusetts?
Keep comparing
Tile setter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Massachusetts
Questions this page answers
How much do tile setters make in Massachusetts?
The median tile setter in Massachusetts earned $39.02 an hour ($81,150 a year) in May 2025, 46% above the national median of $26.77. The middle half earn $28.46–$46.13; the top 10% earn more than $50.08.
Where does Massachusetts rank for tile setter pay?
Massachusetts ranks 1st of 47 states for tile setter pay, with a median of $39.02 an hour, and 1st after adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (BEA price parity 105.8, US = 100).
What is the union tile setter rate in Massachusetts?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for tile setters in 14 counties, with a typical package of $102.03 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many tile setters work in Massachusetts?
BLS counted 410 tile and stone setters in Massachusetts in May 2025, 0.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.49; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Massachusetts 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.