Tile setter salary in Tennessee
Median $20.95 an hour for 350 tile setters, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Tile setter pay in Tennessee: the full range
Tennessee ranks 43rd of 47 states for median tile setter pay, and 41st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $22.80). 350 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 | $14.98 – $17.57 | $31,160 – $36,550 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $17.57 – $22.81 | $36,550 – $47,440 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $22.81 – $28.44 | $47,440 – $59,140 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Tile setter pay by metro in Tennessee
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $16.84 | $22.00 | $23.86 | $27.68 | 50 | 5% above |
| Nashville | $14.98 | $21.60 | $22.43 | $29.00 | 140 | 3% above |
| Chattanooga | $15.13 | $17.67 | $19.31 | $26.87 | 40 | 16% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Tile setter wages in Tennessee over time
Table
| Year | Tennessee $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.51 | $24.17 | $17.08 | 260 |
| 2000 | $13.66 | $25.54 | $16.49 | 330 |
| 2001 | $14.97 | $27.21 | $17.02 | 360 |
| 2002 | $15.08 | $26.99 | $17.20 | 370 |
| 2004 | $13.69 | $23.33 | $17.02 | 620 |
| 2005 | $12.54 | $20.67 | $17.56 | 810 |
| 2006 | $13.43 | $21.45 | $17.59 | 600 |
| 2007 | $14.28 | $22.17 | $18.61 | 660 |
| 2008 | $14.58 | $21.80 | $18.85 | 710 |
| 2009 | $15.04 | $22.57 | $18.83 | 520 |
| 2010 | $14.76 | $21.79 | $18.32 | 230 |
| 2011 | $15.11 | $21.63 | $17.83 | 220 |
| 2012 | $13.85 | $19.42 | $17.81 | 360 |
| 2013 | $14.39 | $19.89 | $18.06 | 390 |
| 2014 | $15.81 | $21.50 | $18.74 | 330 |
| 2015 | $16.96 | $23.04 | $18.94 | 320 |
| 2016 | $17.00 | $22.80 | $19.45 | 430 |
| 2017 | $17.26 | $22.67 | $20.04 | 320 |
| 2018 | $17.38 | $22.28 | $20.12 | 240 |
| 2019 | $17.53 | $22.08 | $20.70 | 240 |
| 2020 | $17.75 | $22.08 | $21.26 | 150 |
| 2021 | $18.27 | $21.71 | $22.99 | 570 |
| 2022 | $19.62 | $21.58 | $23.24 | 590 |
| 2023 | $20.97 | $22.16 | $23.52 | 450 |
| 2024 | $20.00 | $20.53 | $25.11 | 450 |
| 2025 | $20.95 | $20.95 | $26.77 | 350 |
In today's dollars, the median tile setter wage in Tennessee changed by -9.1% over the last ten years of data and by -5.1% since 2019.
Are there more tile setter jobs in Tennessee?
BLS counted 350 tile setters in Tennessee in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 25%. 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 Tennessee
Tennessee's labor market agency projects the number of tile setters in the state to change by +14.0% between 2024 and 2034, from 610 to 700, with about 50 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 350 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Tennessee labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for tile setters in Tennessee
On federally funded construction in Tennessee, contractors must pay tile setters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 42 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $19.65). The market median for the state is $20.95.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | Survey SUTN2017-029 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260176 |
| Blount | Survey SUTN2017-030 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260177 |
| Bradley | Survey SUTN2017-047 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260194 |
| Campbell | Survey SUTN2017-048 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260195 |
| Cannon | Survey SUTN2017-049 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260196 |
| Carter | Survey SUTN2017-050 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260197 |
| Cheatham | Survey SUTN2017-049 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260196 |
| Chester | Survey SUTN2017-051 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260198 |
| Crockett | Survey SUTN2017-051 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260198 |
| Davidson | Survey SUTN2017-031 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260178 |
| Dickson | Survey SUTN2017-052 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260199 |
| Fayette | Survey SUTN2017-053 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260200 |
| Grainger | Survey SUTN2017-048 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260195 |
| Hamblen | Survey SUTN2017-032 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260179 |
| Hamilton | Survey SUTN2017-033 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260180 |
| Hawkins | Survey SUTN2017-054 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260201 |
| Hickman | Survey SUTN2017-052 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260199 |
| Jefferson | Survey SUTN2017-034 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260181 |
| Knox | Survey SUTN2017-035 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260182 |
| Loudon | Survey SUTN2017-055 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260202 |
| Macon | Survey SUTN2017-056 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260203 |
| Madison | Survey SUTN2017-036 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260183 |
| Marion | Survey SUTN2017-037 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260184 |
| Maury | Survey SUTN2017-056 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260203 |
| Montgomery | Survey SUTN2017-038 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260185 |
| Morgan | Survey SUTN2017-055 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260202 |
| Polk | Survey SUTN2017-047 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260194 |
| Roane | Survey SUTN2017-039 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260186 |
| Robertson | Survey SUTN2017-057 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260204 |
| Rutherford | Survey SUTN2017-040 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260187 |
| Sequatchie | Survey SUTN2017-041 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260188 |
| Shelby | Survey SUTN2017-053 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260200 |
| Smith | Survey SUTN2017-057 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260204 |
| Sullivan | Survey SUTN2017-054 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260201 |
| Sumner | Survey SUTN2017-058 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260205 |
| Tipton | Survey SUTN2017-042 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260189 |
| Trousdale | Survey SUTN2017-058 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260205 |
| Unicoi | Survey SUTN2017-050 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260197 |
| Union | Survey SUTN2017-043 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260190 |
| Washington | Survey SUTN2017-044 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260191 |
| Williamson | Survey SUTN2017-045 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260192 |
| Wilson | Survey SUTN2017-046 2021-04-16 | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | TN20260193 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Tennessee prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Tennessee?
Keep comparing
Tile setter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Tennessee
More on Tennessee
Questions this page answers
How much do tile setters make in Tennessee?
The median tile setter in Tennessee earned $20.95 an hour ($43,570 a year) in May 2025, 22% below the national median of $26.77. The middle half earn $17.57–$22.81; the top 10% earn more than $28.44.
Where does Tennessee rank for tile setter pay?
Tennessee ranks 43rd of 47 states for tile setter pay, with a median of $20.95 an hour, and 41st after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (BEA price parity 91.9, US = 100).
What is the union tile setter rate in Tennessee?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a tile setter classification for most Tennessee counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many tile setters work in Tennessee?
BLS counted 350 tile setters in Tennessee in May 2025, 0.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.47; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is tile setter work growing in Tennessee?
Tennessee's labor market agency projects +14.0% growth for tile setters between 2024 and 2034, from 610 to 700 jobs.
How many tile setter openings a year are there in Tennessee?
Tennessee projects about 50 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, Tennessee 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: Tennessee labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.