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Residential Construction
D.R. Horton, Lennar, PulteGroup
Tile and Stone Setters
Tile and stone setters measure a space, cut tile or stone to fit around corners and fixtures, spread mortar, and finish the surface with grout and sealant. The job is about making uneven, real-world spaces look straight and polished, which means you have to balance speed, precision, and heavy physical work on every project. It is one of the more accessible skilled trades, but the payoff depends on building accuracy and stamina over time.
Also known as Tile SetterTile InstallerMarble SetterStone SetterCeramic Tile Installer
Median Salary
$52,240
Mean $57,590
U.S. Workforce
~39K
4.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+10.1%
52.6K to 58K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Tile and Stone Setters sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~39K workers, with a median annual pay of $52,240 and roughly 4.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 52.6 K in 2024 to 58K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with No formal educational credential, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Construction helper and can progress toward Foreman or trade supervisor. High-value skills usually include Measuring Tools, Laser Levels & Layout Squares, Wet Saws, Tile Cutters & Angle Grinders, and Mortar, Thinset & Grout Application, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, and Coordination.
Core Responsibilities
- Measure the room and mark out where each row or pattern should begin so the finished surface looks even.
- Cut tile or stone to fit around pipes, corners, sinks, and other obstacles.
- Spread mortar or adhesive, set each piece in place, and tap it until it sits level.
- Install marble, granite, terrazzo, or other stone surfaces when the project calls for those materials.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Measure the room and mark out where each row or pattern should begin so the finished surface looks even.
02 Cut tile or stone to fit around pipes, corners, sinks, and other obstacles.
03 Spread mortar or adhesive, set each piece in place, and tap it until it sits level.
04 Install marble, granite, terrazzo, or other stone surfaces when the project calls for those materials.
05 Fill the joints with grout, clean off the extra material, and apply sealant to protect the surface from stains and moisture.
06 Check the work as you go and coordinate with supervisors or other trades when fixtures, anchors, or layout changes are needed.
Industries That Hire
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Commercial Construction
Turner Construction, Skanska, Whiting-Turner
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Specialty Trade Contractors
JE Dunn, Mortenson, Barton Malow
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Home Improvement Retail & Installation Services
The Home Depot, Lowe's, Floor & Decor
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Stone, Tile & Surface Materials
Dal-Tile, Mohawk Industries, Caesarstone
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can get started without a degree, and BLS says no formal educational credential is the typical entry point.
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The pay is solid for a hands-on trade, with mean annual pay at $57,590 and a median of $52,240.
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Employment is projected to grow 10.1% by 2034, with about 4.2 thousand openings a year, so there should be steady demand.
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The work is concrete and visible: you can see the floor, wall, or shower you finished at the end of the day.
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The job builds skills that can move into remodeling, stone work, or crew leadership later on.
Challenges
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The work is physically hard on your body: you spend a lot of time kneeling, lifting heavy material, and handling sharp tools.
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The median pay of $52,240 is decent, but it is still a ceiling for many workers unless they move into lead or supervisory roles.
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Demand depends on construction and renovation spending, so a slowdown in housing or commercial projects can cut hours and opportunities.
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Training is slow because BLS expects long-term on-the-job training, which means you may spend years learning before you work efficiently on your own.
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The job is almost never remote, so you have little flexibility if you need a work-from-home schedule or a mostly indoor desk role.
Career Progression
Construction helper
0-1 years
$30K-$38K
Lifts materials, keeps the site clean, and learns how to mix and handle tile-setting materials safely.
Tile and stone setting apprentice
1-3 years
$39K-$46K
Cuts simple pieces, helps with layout, and handles straightforward installation work under close supervision.
Tile and stone setter THIS ROLE
3-8 years
$47K-$65K
Plans layouts, fits tile and stone around obstacles, and finishes the joints with less day-to-day oversight.
Lead tile setter
8-12 years
$66K-$79K
Runs larger jobs, checks quality, and helps coordinate helpers and other trades on the site.
Foreman or trade supervisor
12+ years
$80K-$98K
Manages schedules, materials, and crews while solving layout and quality issues across multiple projects.
Education Paths
No formal educational credential
BLS lists this as the typical entry point, and 36.88% of workers in O*NET report less than a high school diploma, showing that many people learn the trade on the job.
High school diploma
This is the most common O*NET education level for the occupation, held by 47.98% of workers, and it gives you the basic reading and math skills needed to start training.
Post-secondary certificate or apprenticeship in tile, masonry, or construction trades
A smaller share of workers come in with formal training, and 4.41% report a post-secondary certificate, often paired with long-term on-the-job training.
Key Skills
Technical
Measuring Tools, Laser Levels & Layout Squares 85%
Wet Saws, Tile Cutters & Angle Grinders 83%
Mortar, Thinset & Grout Application 80%
Stone Cutting, Polishing & Finishing 78%
Waterproofing, Sealers & Backer Board 75%
Surface Preparation, Subfloor Repair & Leveling 72%
Blueprint Reading & Room Layout 70%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningComplex Problem SolvingCoordinationCritical ThinkingMathematicsSpeaking Job Outlook and Trends
+10.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
4.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 52.6K to 58 K over the next decade, representing 10.1% growth. Around 4.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.