Skilled Wages

Tile setter salary in Wisconsin

Median $30.14 an hour for 410 tile and stone setters, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$30.14/hrMedian hourly wageWisconsin, May data
$62,680/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$23.34 – $41.1710th to 90th percentilehourly range
410Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Tile setter pay in Wisconsin: the full range

Wage percentiles, WisconsinMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrWisconsin: 10th $23.34 · 25th $27.44 · median $30.14 · 75th $36.42 · 90th $41.17Wisconsin$30.14$23.34$41.17United States: 10th $17.86 · 25th $21.73 · median $26.77 · 75th $33.76 · 90th $41.40United States$26.77
Hourly wage percentiles for tile and stone setters: Wisconsin vs United States, May 2025.

Wisconsin ranks 9th of 47 states for median tile setter pay, and 9th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $32.03). 410 tile and stone setters work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$23.34 – $27.44$48,540 – $57,070roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$27.44 – $36.42$57,070 – $75,760the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$36.42 – $41.17$75,760 – $85,620the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Tile setter pay by metro in Wisconsin

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrMinneapolis: $34.50Minneapolis$34.50Madison: $31.22Madison$31.22Milwaukee: $30.85Milwaukee$30.85Green Bay: $29.71Green Bay$29.71
Median hourly wage for tile and stone setters by metro area in Wisconsin, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Minneapolis$28.53$34.50$39.1845014% above
Madison$25.13$31.22$41.69504% above
Milwaukee$25.13$30.85$41.171202% above
Green Bay$22.13$29.71$39.69401% below

Tile setter wages in Wisconsin over time

Wisconsin, 1999-2025WisconsinUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.14Wisconsin$26.77United States
Median hourly wage for tile and stone setters, Wisconsin vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWisconsin $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$18.33$35.42$17.08320
2000$16.28$30.44$16.49500
2001$18.60$33.81$17.02360
2002$21.43$38.35$17.20320
2003$18.41$32.21$17.12450
2004$20.24$34.50$17.02510
2005$22.38$36.89$17.56610
2006$23.28$37.18$17.59700
2007$23.45$36.41$18.61670
2008$22.55$33.72$18.85550
2009$20.00$30.01$18.83410
2010$19.27$28.45$18.32450
2011$19.02$27.22$17.83410
2012$21.03$29.49$17.81490
2013$24.95$34.48$18.06450
2014$26.53$36.08$18.74410
2015$23.26$31.59$18.94320
2016$22.09$29.63$19.45420
2017$21.97$28.86$20.04520
2018$21.07$27.01$20.12510
2019$20.46$25.76$20.70500
2020$18.43$22.93$21.26360
2021$22.58$26.83$22.99420
2022$19.08$20.99$23.24570
2023$24.39$25.77$23.52440
2024$28.29$29.03$25.11590
2025$30.14$30.14$26.77410

In today's dollars, the median tile setter wage in Wisconsin changed by -4.6% over the last ten years of data.

Union scale and prevailing wage for tile setters in Wisconsin

On federally funded construction in Wisconsin, contractors must pay tile setters at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 58 of the 72 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $68.09 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $22.16). 14 of the 72 counties still use a survey rate dated 2002 or earlier (for example Brown County at $22.14). The market median for the state is $30.14.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, WIAdams: $68.09 (union)Ashland: $68.09 (union)Barron: $68.09 (union)Bayfield: $68.09 (union)Brown: $22.14 (survey)Buffalo: $68.09 (union)Burnett: $68.09 (union)Calumet: $22.25 (survey)Chippewa: $22.14 (survey)Clark: $68.09 (union)Columbia: $68.09 (union)Crawford: $68.09 (union)Dane: $21.47 (survey)Dodge: $68.09 (union)Door: $68.09 (union)Douglas: $22.19 (survey)Dunn: $68.09 (union)Eau Claire: $22.14 (survey)Florence: $68.09 (union)Fond du Lac: $68.09 (union)Forest: $68.09 (union)Grant: $68.09 (union)Green: $68.09 (union)Green Lake: $68.09 (union)Iowa: $68.09 (union)Iron: $68.09 (union)Jackson: $68.09 (union)Jefferson: $68.09 (union)Juneau: $68.09 (union)Kenosha: $68.09 (union)Kewaunee: $68.09 (union)La Crosse: $22.22 (survey)Lafayette: $68.09 (union)Langlade: $68.09 (union)Lincoln: $68.09 (union)Manitowoc: $68.09 (union)Marathon: $22.09 (survey)Marinette: $68.09 (union)Marquette: $68.09 (union)Menominee: $68.09 (union)Milwaukee: $68.05 (union)Monroe: $68.09 (union)Oconto: $68.09 (union)Oneida: $68.09 (union)Outagamie: $22.25 (survey)Ozaukee: $68.05 (union)Pepin: $68.09 (union)Pierce: $22.14 (survey)Polk: $68.09 (union)Portage: $68.09 (union)Price: $68.09 (union)Racine: $68.09 (union)Richland: $68.09 (union)Rock: $22.64 (survey)Rusk: $68.09 (union)St. Croix: $22.14 (survey)Sauk: $68.09 (union)Sawyer: $68.09 (union)Shawano: $68.09 (union)Sheboygan: $22.25 (survey)Taylor: $68.09 (union)Trempealeau: $68.09 (union)Vernon: $68.09 (union)Vilas: $68.09 (union)Walworth: $68.09 (union)Washburn: $68.09 (union)Washington: $68.05 (union)Waukesha: $68.05 (union)Waupaca: $68.09 (union)Waushara: $68.09 (union)Winnebago: $22.25 (survey)Wood: $68.09 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$68.05survey 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 (union)Prevailing (survey)$0$20$40$60$80/hrKewaunee (Green Bay): market median $29.71, prevailing (union) $68.09, gap +$38.38Kewaunee (Green Bay)+$38.38Fond du Lac (Wisconsin): market median $30.14, prevailing (union) $68.09, gap +$37.95Fond du Lac (Wisconsin)+$37.95Milwaukee (Milwaukee): market median $30.85, prevailing (union) $68.05, gap +$37.20Milwaukee (Milwaukee)+$37.20Columbia (Madison): market median $31.22, prevailing (union) $68.09, gap +$36.87Columbia (Madison)+$36.87Pierce (Minneapolis): market median $34.50, prevailing (survey) $22.14, gap −$12.36Pierce (Minneapolis)−$12.36
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for tile setters, metro counties in Wisconsin.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AdamsUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
AshlandUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
BarronUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
BayfieldUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
BuffaloUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
BurnettUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
ClarkUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
ColumbiaUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
CrawfordUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
DodgeUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
DoorUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
DunnUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
FlorenceUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
Fond du LacUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011
ForestUnion BRWI0004-003 2025-06-01$39.19$28.90$68.09WI20260011

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Wisconsin prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Wisconsin?

167.3kConstruction jobsWisconsin, 2026-08
+7.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025167kAug 2026
Construction employment in Wisconsin (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Tile setter pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Wisconsin

Questions this page answers

How much do tile setters make in Wisconsin?

The median tile setter in Wisconsin earned $30.14 an hour ($62,680 a year) in May 2025, 13% above the national median of $26.77. The middle half earn $27.44–$36.42; the top 10% earn more than $41.17.

Where does Wisconsin rank for tile setter pay?

Wisconsin ranks 9th of 47 states for tile setter pay, with a median of $30.14 an hour, and 9th after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).

What is the union tile setter rate in Wisconsin?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for tile setters in 58 counties, with a typical package of $68.09 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many tile setters work in Wisconsin?

BLS counted 410 tile and stone setters in Wisconsin in May 2025, 0.1 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.61; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Wisconsin 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.