Tile setter salary in Rhode Island
Median $23.64 an hour for — tile setters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 2006 and the state's own outlook.
Tile setter pay in Rhode Island: the full range
Rhode Island ranks 27th of 47 states for median tile setter pay, and 38th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $23.11). — tile setters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.9× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $19.00 – $19.07 | $39,520 – $39,660 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $19.07 – $28.47 | $39,660 – $59,220 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $28.47 – $36.00 | $59,220 – $74,880 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Tile setter pay by metro in Rhode Island
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $19.00 | $27.54 | $37.85 | 60 | 16% above |
Tile setter wages in Rhode Island over time
Table
| Year | Rhode Island $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | $21.08 | $33.66 | $17.59 | — |
| 2007 | $21.86 | $33.94 | $18.61 | — |
| 2008 | $20.83 | $31.15 | $18.85 | — |
| 2010 | $18.15 | $26.80 | $18.32 | 30 |
| 2011 | $25.18 | $36.04 | $17.83 | 30 |
| 2013 | $15.78 | $21.81 | $18.06 | — |
| 2014 | $16.59 | $22.56 | $18.74 | 70 |
| 2015 | $17.44 | $23.69 | $18.94 | — |
| 2016 | — | — | $19.45 | 80 |
| 2017 | $19.72 | $25.90 | $20.04 | 90 |
| 2018 | $14.96 | $19.18 | $20.12 | 60 |
| 2019 | $15.27 | $19.23 | $20.70 | — |
| 2022 | $22.25 | $24.48 | $23.24 | 40 |
| 2023 | $29.88 | $31.57 | $23.52 | — |
| 2024 | $31.24 | $32.06 | $25.11 | — |
| 2025 | $23.64 | $23.64 | $26.77 | — |
In today's dollars, the median tile setter wage in Rhode Island changed by -0.2% over the last ten years of data and by +22.9% since 2019.
Outlook for tile setters in Rhode Island
Rhode Island's labor market agency projects the number of tile setters in the state to change by +12.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 90 to 110, with about 10 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.8% over 2025-35.
Source: Rhode Island labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for tile setters in Rhode Island
On federally funded construction in Rhode Island, contractors must pay tile setters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 5 of the 5 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $76.88 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $23.64.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | Union BRRI0003-002 2022-09-01 | $46.54 | $30.34 | $76.88 | RI20260001 |
| Kent | Union BRRI0003-002 2022-09-01 | $46.54 | $30.34 | $76.88 | RI20260001 |
| Newport | Union BRRI0003-002 2022-09-01 | $46.54 | $30.34 | $76.88 | RI20260001 |
| Providence | Union BRRI0003-002 2022-09-01 | $46.54 | $30.34 | $76.88 | RI20260001 |
| Washington | Union BRRI0003-002 2022-09-01 | $46.54 | $30.34 | $76.88 | RI20260001 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Rhode Island prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Rhode Island?
Keep comparing
Tile setter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Rhode Island
More on Rhode Island
Questions this page answers
How much do tile setters make in Rhode Island?
The median tile setter in Rhode Island earned $23.64 an hour ($49,170 a year) in May 2025, 12% below the national median of $26.77. The middle half earn $19.07–$28.47; the top 10% earn more than $36.00.
Where does Rhode Island rank for tile setter pay?
Rhode Island ranks 27th of 47 states for tile setter pay, with a median of $23.64 an hour, and 38th after adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (BEA price parity 102.3, US = 100).
What is the union tile setter rate in Rhode Island?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for tile setters in 5 counties, with a typical package of $76.88 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many tile setters work in Rhode Island?
BLS counted — tile setters in Rhode Island in May 2025, 0.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.00; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is tile setter work growing in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island's labor market agency projects +12.8% growth for tile setters between 2024 and 2034, from 90 to 110 jobs.
How many tile setter openings a year are there in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island projects about 10 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, Rhode Island 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: Rhode Island labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.