Tile setter salary in New Mexico
Median $21.42 an hour for 280 tile and stone setters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 2000.
Tile setter pay in New Mexico: the full range
New Mexico ranks 41st of 47 states for median tile setter pay, and 37th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $23.23). 280 tile and stone setters work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $16.10 – $16.86 | $33,480 – $35,060 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $16.86 – $23.34 | $35,060 – $48,540 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $23.34 – $28.72 | $48,540 – $59,740 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Tile setter pay by metro in New Mexico
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $16.41 | $22.13 | $28.24 | 160 | 3% above |
| Santa Fe | $17.29 | $17.76 | $26.63 | — | 17% below |
| Las Cruces | $14.39 | $16.81 | $23.62 | 30 | 22% below |
Tile setter wages in New Mexico over time
Table
| Year | New Mexico $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | $11.55 | $21.59 | $16.49 | — |
| 2001 | $12.96 | $23.56 | $17.02 | 400 |
| 2002 | $13.37 | $23.93 | $17.20 | 440 |
| 2003 | $13.80 | $24.15 | $17.12 | 450 |
| 2004 | $13.47 | $22.96 | $17.02 | 410 |
| 2005 | $11.54 | $19.02 | $17.56 | 500 |
| 2006 | $12.51 | $19.98 | $17.59 | 590 |
| 2007 | $13.50 | $20.96 | $18.61 | 570 |
| 2008 | $13.78 | $20.61 | $18.85 | 530 |
| 2009 | $13.57 | $20.36 | $18.83 | 330 |
| 2010 | $14.36 | $21.20 | $18.32 | 300 |
| 2011 | $16.24 | $23.24 | $17.83 | 210 |
| 2012 | $15.68 | $21.99 | $17.81 | 190 |
| 2013 | $16.00 | $22.11 | $18.06 | 180 |
| 2014 | $15.70 | $21.35 | $18.74 | 160 |
| 2015 | $16.69 | $22.67 | $18.94 | 130 |
| 2016 | $15.90 | $21.33 | $19.45 | 120 |
| 2017 | $13.29 | $17.46 | $20.04 | 200 |
| 2018 | $14.76 | $18.92 | $20.12 | 270 |
| 2019 | $15.30 | $19.27 | $20.70 | 180 |
| 2020 | $18.88 | $23.49 | $21.26 | 120 |
| 2021 | $17.17 | $20.40 | $22.99 | 260 |
| 2022 | $17.74 | $19.52 | $23.24 | 280 |
| 2023 | $18.29 | $19.32 | $23.52 | 260 |
| 2024 | $18.71 | $19.20 | $25.11 | 190 |
| 2025 | $21.42 | $21.42 | $26.77 | 280 |
In today's dollars, the median tile setter wage in New Mexico changed by -5.5% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for tile setters in New Mexico
On federally funded construction in New Mexico, contractors must pay tile setters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 26 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $19.00). 26 of the 26 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Catron County at $19.00). The market median for the state is $21.42.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catron | Survey SUNM2010-001 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260013 |
| Chaves | Survey SUNM2010-002 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260014 |
| Curry | Survey SUNM2010-004 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260016 |
| De Baca | Survey SUNM2010-005 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260017 |
| Eddy | Survey SUNM2010-006 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260018 |
| Grant | Survey SUNM2010-007 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260019 |
| Hidalgo | Survey SUNM2010-020 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260032 |
| Lea | Survey SUNM2010-008 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260020 |
| Lincoln | Survey SUNM2010-009 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260021 |
| Luna | Survey SUNM2010-011 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260023 |
| Otero | Survey SUNM2010-013 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260025 |
| Roosevelt | Survey SUNM2010-015 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260027 |
| Sierra | Survey SUNM2010-020 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260032 |
| Socorro | Survey SUNM2010-017 2010-11-09 | $19.00 | $0.00 | $19.00 | NM20260029 |
| Cibola | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $14.30 | $1.02 | $15.32 | NM20260031 |
| Colfax | Survey SUNM2010-003 2010-11-09 | $14.30 | $1.02 | $15.32 | NM20260015 |
| Guadalupe | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $14.30 | $1.02 | $15.32 | NM20260031 |
| Harding | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $14.30 | $1.02 | $15.32 | NM20260031 |
| Los Alamos | Survey SUNM2010-010 2010-11-09 | $14.30 | $1.02 | $15.32 | NM20260022 |
| McKinley | Survey SUNM2010-012 2010-11-09 | $14.30 | $1.02 | $15.32 | NM20260024 |
| Mora | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $14.30 | $1.02 | $15.32 | NM20260031 |
| Quay | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $14.30 | $1.02 | $15.32 | NM20260031 |
| Rio Arriba | Survey SUNM2010-014 2010-11-09 | $14.30 | $1.02 | $15.32 | NM20260026 |
| San Miguel | Survey SUNM2010-016 2010-11-09 | $14.30 | $1.02 | $15.32 | NM20260028 |
| Taos | Survey SUNM2010-019 2010-11-09 | $14.30 | $1.02 | $15.32 | NM20260031 |
| Union | Survey SUNM2010-018 2010-11-09 | $14.30 | $1.02 | $15.32 | NM20260030 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the New Mexico prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in New Mexico?
Keep comparing
Tile setter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in New Mexico
Questions this page answers
How much do tile setters make in New Mexico?
The median tile setter in New Mexico earned $21.42 an hour ($44,550 a year) in May 2025, 20% below the national median of $26.77. The middle half earn $16.86–$23.34; the top 10% earn more than $28.72.
Where does New Mexico rank for tile setter pay?
New Mexico ranks 41st of 47 states for tile setter pay, with a median of $21.42 an hour, and 37th after adjusting for New Mexico's cost of living (BEA price parity 92.2, US = 100).
What is the union tile setter rate in New Mexico?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a tile setter classification for most New Mexico counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many tile setters work in New Mexico?
BLS counted 280 tile and stone setters in New Mexico in May 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.38; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, New Mexico 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.