Skilled Wages

Tile setter salary in Minnesota

Median $33.92 an hour for 610 tile setters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$33.92/hrMedian hourly wageMinnesota, May data
$70,560/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$25.03 – $39.4110th to 90th percentilehourly range
610Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Tile setter pay in Minnesota: the full range

Wage percentiles, MinnesotaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrMinnesota: 10th $25.03 · 25th $29.69 · median $33.92 · 75th $34.50 · 90th $39.41Minnesota$33.92$25.03$39.41United States: 10th $17.86 · 25th $21.73 · median $26.77 · 75th $33.76 · 90th $41.40United States$26.77
Hourly wage percentiles for tile setters: Minnesota vs United States, May 2025.

Minnesota ranks 5th of 47 states for median tile setter pay, and 6th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $34.40). 610 tile setters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$25.03 – $29.69$52,070 – $61,750roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$29.69 – $34.50$61,750 – $71,750the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$34.50 – $39.41$71,750 – $81,980the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Tile setter pay by metro in Minnesota

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrMinneapolis: $34.50Minneapolis$34.50Fargo: $25.70Fargo$25.70
Median hourly wage for tile setters by metro area in Minnesota, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Minneapolis$28.53$34.50$32.92$39.184502% above
Fargo$17.74$25.70$28.27$31.325024% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Tile setter wages in Minnesota over time

Minnesota, 1999-2025MinnesotaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$33.92Minnesota$26.77United States
Median hourly wage for tile setters, Minnesota vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMinnesota $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$21.41$41.37$17.08550
2000$21.99$41.11$16.49300
2001$20.15$36.63$17.02570
2002$20.31$36.35$17.20690
2003$19.59$34.28$17.12650
2004$21.67$36.93$17.02540
2005$22.15$36.51$17.56760
2006$21.18$33.82$17.59670
2007$19.62$30.46$18.61720
2008$19.76$29.55$18.85560
2009$18.89$28.35$18.83460
2010$19.23$28.39$18.32460
2011$19.81$28.35$17.83410
2012$20.41$28.62$17.81340
2013$20.35$28.12$18.06560
2014$20.55$27.95$18.74650
2015$20.88$28.36$18.94570
2016$21.84$29.30$19.45520
2017$22.43$29.46$20.04560
2018$23.14$29.67$20.12720
2019$22.92$28.86$20.70650
2020$24.25$30.17$21.26670
2021$23.32$27.71$22.99530
2022$24.58$27.04$23.24230
2023$27.00$28.53$23.52330
2024$29.74$30.52$25.11530
2025$33.92$33.92$26.77610

In today's dollars, the median tile setter wage in Minnesota changed by +19.6% over the last ten years of data and by +17.5% since 2019.

Are there more tile setter jobs in Minnesota?

0.2Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 16th of 44 states

BLS counted 610 tile setters in Minnesota in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 32%. 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 Minnesota

+8.6%Projected growth in Minnesota2024–2034, state agency
60Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
800Jobs in 2024860 projected for 2034
+9.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Minnesota's labor market agency projects the number of tile setters in the state to change by +8.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 800 to 860, with about 60 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 610 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Minnesota labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for tile setters in Minnesota

On federally funded construction in Minnesota, contractors must pay tile setters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 87 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $59.91). The market median for the state is $33.92.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MNAitkin: $76.42 (survey)Anoka: $78.66 (survey)Becker: $23.25 (survey)Beltrami: $76.42 (survey)Benton: $53.11 (survey)Big Stone: $41.19 (survey)Blue Earth: $59.42 (survey)Brown: $50.55 (survey)Carlton: $76.17 (survey)Carver: $78.66 (survey)Cass: $76.42 (survey)Chippewa: $58.31 (survey)Chisago: $78.66 (survey)Clay: $23.25 (survey)Clearwater: $67.70 (survey)Cook: $76.17 (survey)Cottonwood: $41.19 (survey)Crow Wing: $76.42 (survey)Dakota: $78.66 (survey)Dodge: $71.38 (survey)Douglas: $25.00 (survey)Faribault: $41.57 (survey)Fillmore: $46.16 (survey)Freeborn: $59.91 (survey)Goodhue: $78.66 (survey)Grant: $41.19 (survey)Hennepin: $78.66 (survey)Houston: $50.55 (survey)Hubbard: $76.42 (survey)Isanti: $73.08 (survey)Itasca: $76.42 (survey)Jackson: $41.19 (survey)Kanabec: $73.08 (survey)Kandiyohi: $25.00 (survey)Kittson: $19.93 (survey)Koochiching: $76.42 (survey)Lac qui Parle: $49.11 (survey)Lake: $76.17 (survey)Lake of the Woods: $67.70 (survey)Le Sueur: $59.42 (survey)Lincoln: $24.24 (survey)Lyon: $24.85 (survey)McLeod: $53.52 (survey)Mahnomen: $53.52 (survey)Marshall: $53.52 (survey)Martin: $50.55 (survey)Meeker: $53.11 (survey)Mille Lacs: $53.11 (survey)Morrison: $64.47 (survey)Mower: $59.91 (survey)Murray: $78.69 (survey)Nicollet: $59.42 (survey)Nobles: $78.69 (survey)Norman: $53.52 (survey)Olmsted: $71.38 (survey)Otter Tail: $23.25 (survey)Pennington: $53.52 (survey)Pine: $76.17 (survey)Pipestone: $64.46 (survey)Polk: $53.52 (survey)Pope: $25.00 (survey)Ramsey: $78.66 (survey)Red Lake: $53.52 (survey)Redwood: $36.99 (survey)Renville: $48.71 (survey)Rice: $78.66 (survey)Rock: $78.69 (survey)Roseau: $48.72 (survey)St. Louis: $76.17 (survey)Scott: $78.66 (survey)Sherburne: $64.47 (survey)Sibley: $59.91 (survey)Stearns: $53.11 (survey)Steele: $59.91 (survey)Stevens: $41.19 (survey)Swift: $41.19 (survey)Todd: $64.47 (survey)Traverse: $41.19 (survey)Wabasha: $71.38 (survey)Wadena: $76.42 (survey)Waseca: $59.91 (survey)Washington: $78.66 (survey)Watonwan: $50.55 (survey)Wilkin: $23.25 (survey)Winona: $59.91 (survey)Wright: $78.66 (survey)Yellow Medicine: $32.21 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$41.19$53.52$64.47$76.42survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for tile setters by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (survey)$0$20$40$60$80$100/hrRock (Minnesota): market median $33.92, prevailing (survey) $78.69, gap +$44.77Rock (Minnesota)+$44.77Anoka (Minneapolis): market median $34.50, prevailing (survey) $78.66, gap +$44.16Anoka (Minneapolis)+$44.16Clay (Fargo): market median $25.70, prevailing (survey) $23.25, gap −$2.45Clay (Fargo)−$2.45
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for tile setters, metro counties in Minnesota.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
Murraystate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$50.80$27.89$78.69MN20260077
Noblesstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$50.80$27.89$78.69MN20260079
Rockstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$50.80$27.89$78.69MN20260093
Anokastate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$47.52$31.14$78.66MN20260028
Carverstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$47.52$31.14$78.66MN20260036
Chisagostate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$47.52$31.14$78.66MN20260039
Dakotastate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$47.52$31.14$78.66MN20260045
Goodhuestate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$47.52$31.14$78.66MN20260051
Hennepinstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$47.52$31.14$78.66MN20260053
Ramseystate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$47.52$31.14$78.66MN20260088
Ricestate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$47.52$31.14$78.66MN20260092
Scottstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$47.52$31.14$78.66MN20260095
Washingtonstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$47.52$31.14$78.66MN20260108
Wrightstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$47.52$31.14$78.66MN20260112
Aitkinstate SAMN2025-001 2025-12-22$43.77$32.65$76.42MN20260027

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Minnesota prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Minnesota?

161.1kConstruction jobsMinnesota, 2026-09
+5.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20260k50k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025161kSep 2026
Construction employment in Minnesota (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Tile setter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Minnesota

More on Minnesota

Questions this page answers

How much do tile setters make in Minnesota?

The median tile setter in Minnesota earned $33.92 an hour ($70,560 a year) in May 2025, 27% above the national median of $26.77. The middle half earn $29.69–$34.50; the top 10% earn more than $39.41.

Where does Minnesota rank for tile setter pay?

Minnesota ranks 5th of 47 states for tile setter pay, with a median of $33.92 an hour, and 6th after adjusting for Minnesota's cost of living (BEA price parity 98.6, US = 100).

What is the union tile setter rate in Minnesota?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a tile setter classification for most Minnesota counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many tile setters work in Minnesota?

BLS counted 610 tile setters in Minnesota in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.89; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is tile setter work growing in Minnesota?

Minnesota's labor market agency projects +8.6% growth for tile setters between 2024 and 2034, from 800 to 860 jobs.

How many tile setter openings a year are there in Minnesota?

Minnesota projects about 60 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, Minnesota 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: Minnesota labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.