Tile and Stone Setters
Flooring installers and tile and stone setters lay and finish carpet, wood, vinyl, tile, and other materials.
Is tile and stone setters a good career?
It scores 25/100 and ranks #214 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Faster-than-average projected growth (+10.1% through 2034)
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- No notable tradeoffs stand out in the wage and projection data.
What tile and stone setters earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. tile and stone setters earn between $45,200 and $70,220 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Live tile and stone setters jobs
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- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow faster than average through 2034.
Education
There are typically no formal education requirements for becoming a flooring installer or tile and stone setter, although candidates entering an apprenticeship program may need a high school diploma or equivalent.
Certain high school courses, such as art and math, may be helpful for flooring installers and tile and stone setters.
Training
Flooring installers and tile and stone setters typically learn on the job, working with experienced installers or starting as helpers.
New workers usually do simple tasks, such as moving materials. As they gain experience, they take on more complex tasks, such as cutting carpet. Some helpers work as tile finishers before becoming tile installers.
Some flooring installers and tile and stone setters learn their trade through a 2- to 4-year apprenticeship. For each year of a typical program, apprentices must complete a predetermined number of hours of technical instruction and paid on-the-job training. Technical instruction in the apprenticeship may include mathematics, building code requirements, safety and first-aid practices, and blueprint reading. After completing an apprenticeship program, flooring installers and tile and stone setters are considered journey workers and may perform duties on their own.
Important qualities
Color vision. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters often determine small color variations and must be able to distinguish among colors in patterns for the best looking finish.
Customer-service skills. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters must be courteous with and considerate of customers, especially while completing tasks in customers’ homes.
Detail oriented. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters need to be thorough and exacting to ensure that tile, wood, and carpet patterns are properly aligned.
Math skills. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters use math to measure an area to be covered and to calculate the amount of material needed to cover it.
Physical stamina. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters must be able to stand or kneel for many hours in order to spread adhesive quickly and place tiles before the adhesive hardens.
Physical strength. Flooring installers and tile and stone setters must be able to lift, carry, and set heavy pieces of flooring material into position.
Related occupations
How much do tile and stone setters make?
The national median wage is $55,690 a year, with the middle half earning between $45,200 and $70,220 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is tile and stone setters a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 25 of 100 and ranks #214 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +10.1% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a tile and stone setter?
The typical entry-level education is no formal educational credential.
Where do tile and stone setters earn the most?
Among states, Massachusetts pays the highest median ($81,150). Local pay for every state and metro is below.