Tile and Stone Setters Salary
The median tile and stone setters salary in the United States is $55,690 per year ($26.77/hour). Salaries range from $37,140 at the entry level to $86,110+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 35,850 tile and stone setters jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 10.1% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Training Needed
Tile and Stone Setters Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for tile and stone setterss.
Tile + Stone Setters install ceramic + porcelain + natural stone tile on floors, walls, showers, kitchens, and specialty commercial applications. Career splits: residential (kitchens + baths + luxury homes), commercial (retail + hotels + hospitals), specialty (large-format tile + natural stone + waterproofing + custom mosaics), historic restoration. Path: high school + on-the-job apprenticeship or union 3-4 year apprenticeship (Bricklayers Union β BAC). Compensation: entry $34-48k; skilled $50-72k; specialty + custom $62-90k; foreman $70-105k; union prevailing wage $75-115k; contractor $80-300k+.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Tile and Stone Setters
- 1Age 18+ + high school diploma preferredPhysical fitness + attention to detail.
- 2Apply to tile contractorResidential + commercial + specialty firms.
- 3On-the-job apprenticeship or 3-4 year union apprenticeship (BAC)Learn setting + finishing + specialty.
- 4OSHA + safety certificationsRequired.
- 5Specialize (large-format, natural stone, waterproofing, custom mosaic)Specialty commands premium.
- 6Advance to foreman + contractor5-15 years.
Career Progression
- β’Basic tasks under supervision
- β’Independent setting + finishing
- β’Complex specialty work
- β’Crew management + estimating
- β’Business ownership
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 9 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Tell me about your tile experience.situational
Q2. How do you set up a waterproof shower?technical
Q3. Tell me about a difficult installation.behavioral
Q4. Why our contractor?culture
Q5. How do you handle silica dust?situational
Resume Template β Journeyman Tile Setter (3-6 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈJourneyman Tile Setter, [Contractor], 4 years residential + commercial installation.
- βΈOSHA 10 + Silica + Fall Protection + NTCA (National Tile Contractors Association) trained.
- βΈBilingual English + Spanish. Trained 3 helpers.
- βΈZero water damage call-backs on 40+ shower installations.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak layout skills or attention to detail.
- βPoor waterproofing knowledge.
- βBad-mouthing prior employer.
- βAttendance issues.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βHourly rate + overtime.
- βUnion vs non-union (union 30-50% more).
- βSpecialty pay (large-format, natural stone).
- βSign-on $500-2k.
- βFull benefits + pension (union).
Tile and Stone Setters Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired tile and stone setterss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Tile and Stone Setters Career Kit β $19
- β All 9 interview questions with expert answers
- β 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 6 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Tile and Stone Setters Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $81,150 | +45.7% |
| Hawaii | $79,270 | +42.3% |
| Washington | $77,920 | +39.9% |
| Maine | $70,720 | +27.0% |
| Minnesota | $70,560 | +26.7% |
| Pennsylvania | $70,230 | +26.1% |
| Illinois | $67,160 | +20.6% |
| Connecticut | $63,150 | +13.4% |
| Wisconsin | $62,680 | +12.6% |
| New Jersey | $62,370 | +12.0% |
Tile and Stone Setters Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $88,730 | +59.3% |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $86,850 | +56.0% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $82,230 | +47.7% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $79,040 | +41.9% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $74,670 | +34.1% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $71,750 | +28.8% |
| Visalia, CA | $71,280 | +28.0% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $70,730 | +27.0% |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $69,990 | +25.7% |
| Springfield, MA | $67,070 | +20.4% |