Tile setter salary in Washington
Median $37.46 an hour for 660 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 Washington: the full range
Washington ranks 3rd of 47 states for median tile setter pay, and 3rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $35.01). 660 tile setters work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $27.19 – $30.33 | $56,560 – $63,090 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $30.33 – $46.80 | $63,090 – $97,350 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $46.80 – $49.39 | $97,350 – $102,720 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Tile setter pay by metro in Washington
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton | $28.77 | $42.66 | $40.40 | $49.53 | 30 | 14% above |
| Seattle | $27.84 | $38.00 | $34.20 | $50.20 | 450 | 1% above |
| Spokane | $25.64 | $33.65 | $33.55 | $39.18 | 30 | 10% below |
| Portland | $21.09 | $29.76 | $28.24 | $40.54 | 390 | 21% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Tile setter wages in Washington over time
Table
| Year | Washington $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $20.50 | $39.61 | $17.08 | 1,210 |
| 2000 | $21.04 | $39.34 | $16.49 | 820 |
| 2001 | $21.52 | $39.12 | $17.02 | 710 |
| 2002 | $22.85 | $40.89 | $17.20 | 570 |
| 2003 | $23.83 | $41.70 | $17.12 | 460 |
| 2004 | $23.90 | $40.73 | $17.02 | 590 |
| 2005 | $23.25 | $38.33 | $17.56 | 940 |
| 2006 | $24.15 | $38.57 | $17.59 | 520 |
| 2007 | $26.27 | $40.79 | $18.61 | 750 |
| 2008 | $28.31 | $42.33 | $18.85 | 950 |
| 2009 | $28.37 | $42.57 | $18.83 | 920 |
| 2010 | $26.33 | $38.87 | $18.32 | 670 |
| 2011 | $25.81 | $36.94 | $17.83 | 510 |
| 2012 | $25.72 | $36.07 | $17.81 | 840 |
| 2013 | $26.38 | $36.46 | $18.06 | — |
| 2014 | $25.89 | $35.21 | $18.74 | 1,140 |
| 2015 | $23.73 | $32.23 | $18.94 | 950 |
| 2016 | $24.50 | $32.86 | $19.45 | 1,000 |
| 2017 | $23.39 | $30.72 | $20.04 | 920 |
| 2018 | $24.30 | $31.15 | $20.12 | 1,010 |
| 2019 | $25.01 | $31.49 | $20.70 | 1,140 |
| 2020 | $28.11 | $34.97 | $21.26 | 1,150 |
| 2021 | $23.69 | $28.15 | $22.99 | 840 |
| 2022 | $27.00 | $29.70 | $23.24 | 1,290 |
| 2023 | $28.40 | $30.01 | $23.52 | 1,050 |
| 2024 | $29.91 | $30.70 | $25.11 | 1,030 |
| 2025 | $37.46 | $37.46 | $26.77 | 660 |
In today's dollars, the median tile setter wage in Washington changed by +16.2% over the last ten years of data and by +18.9% since 2019.
Are there more tile setter jobs in Washington?
BLS counted 660 tile setters in Washington in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 21%. 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 Washington
Washington's labor market agency projects the number of tile setters in the state to change by -4.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,780 to 1,700, with about 100 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 660 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for tile setters in Washington
On federally funded construction in Washington, contractors must pay tile setters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 39 of the 39 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $65.74 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $37.46.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clallam | Union BRWA0001-016 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260022 |
| Grays Harbor | Union BRWA0001-016 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260027 |
| Island | Union BRWA0001-013 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260028 |
| Jefferson | Union BRWA0001-016 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260029 |
| King | Union BRWA0001-013 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260108 |
| Kitsap | Union BRWA0001-013 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260109 |
| Lewis | Union BRWA0001-007 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260032 |
| Mason | Union BRWA0001-016 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260034 |
| Pierce | Union BRWA0001-013 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260111 |
| San Juan | Union BRWA0001-013 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260038 |
| Skagit | Union BRWA0001-013 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260112 |
| Snohomish | Union BRWA0001-013 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260113 |
| Thurston | Union BRWA0001-013 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260116 |
| Whatcom | Union BRWA0001-013 2025-06-01 | $49.70 | $18.62 | $68.32 | WA20260118 |
| Clark | Union BRWA0001-025 2025-06-01 | $43.93 | $21.81 | $65.74 | WA20260120 |
| Cowlitz | Union BRWA0001-025 2025-06-01 | $43.93 | $21.81 | $65.74 | WA20260105 |
| Klickitat | Union BRWA0001-004 2025-06-01 | $43.93 | $21.81 | $65.74 | WA20260031 |
| Pacific | Union BRWA0001-006 2025-06-01 | $43.93 | $21.81 | $65.74 | WA20260036 |
| Skamania | Union BRWA0001-025 2025-06-01 | $43.93 | $21.81 | $65.74 | WA20260120 |
| Wahkiakum | Union BRWA0001-004 2025-06-01 | $43.93 | $21.81 | $65.74 | WA20260040 |
| Asotin | Union BRWA0001-023 2025-06-01 | $36.35 | $14.57 | $50.92 | WA20260003 |
| Benton | Union BRWA0001-023 2025-06-01 | $36.35 | $14.57 | $50.92 | WA20260102 |
| Chelan | Union BRWA0001-023 2025-06-01 | $36.35 | $14.57 | $50.92 | WA20260103 |
| Columbia | Union BRWA0001-023 2025-06-01 | $36.35 | $14.57 | $50.92 | WA20260104 |
| Douglas | Union BRWA0001-023 2025-06-01 | $36.35 | $14.57 | $50.92 | WA20260106 |
| Franklin | Union BRWA0001-023 2025-06-01 | $36.35 | $14.57 | $50.92 | WA20260107 |
| Pend Oreille | Union BRWA0001-023 2025-06-01 | $36.35 | $14.57 | $50.92 | WA20260110 |
| Spokane | Union BRWA0001-023 2025-06-01 | $36.35 | $14.57 | $50.92 | WA20260114 |
| Stevens | Union BRWA0001-023 2025-06-01 | $36.35 | $14.57 | $50.92 | WA20260115 |
| Walla Walla | Union BRWA0001-023 2025-06-01 | $36.35 | $14.57 | $50.92 | WA20260117 |
| Yakima | Union BRWA0001-023 2025-06-01 | $36.35 | $14.57 | $50.92 | WA20260119 |
| Adams | Union BRWA0003-009 2021-06-01 | $29.86 | $13.95 | $43.81 | WA20260021 |
| Ferry | Union BRWA0003-009 2021-06-01 | $29.86 | $13.95 | $43.81 | WA20260024 |
| Garfield | Union BRWA0003-009 2021-06-01 | $29.86 | $13.95 | $43.81 | WA20260025 |
| Grant | Union BRWA0003-009 2021-06-01 | $29.86 | $13.95 | $43.81 | WA20260026 |
| Kittitas | Union BRWA0003-006 2021-06-01 | $29.86 | $13.95 | $43.81 | WA20260030 |
| Lincoln | Union BRWA0003-009 2021-06-01 | $29.86 | $13.95 | $43.81 | WA20260033 |
| Okanogan | Union BRWA0003-009 2021-06-01 | $29.86 | $13.95 | $43.81 | WA20260035 |
| Whitman | Union BRWA0003-009 2021-06-01 | $29.86 | $13.95 | $43.81 | WA20260042 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Washington prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Washington?
Keep comparing
Tile setter pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Washington
More on Washington
Questions this page answers
How much do tile setters make in Washington?
The median tile setter in Washington earned $37.46 an hour ($77,920 a year) in May 2025, 40% above the national median of $26.77. The middle half earn $30.33–$46.80; the top 10% earn more than $49.39.
Where does Washington rank for tile setter pay?
Washington ranks 3rd of 47 states for tile setter pay, with a median of $37.46 an hour, and 3rd after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).
What is the union tile setter rate in Washington?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for tile setters in 39 counties, with a typical package of $65.74 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many tile setters work in Washington?
BLS counted 660 tile setters in Washington in May 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.81; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is tile setter work growing in Washington?
Washington's labor market agency projects -4.4% growth for tile setters between 2024 and 2034, from 1,780 to 1,700 jobs.
How many tile setter openings a year are there in Washington?
Washington projects about 100 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, Washington 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: Washington labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.