Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Long-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Tile and stone setters work in a trade that combines physical work with precision and attention to detail. Nationally, there are about 53,000 people employed in this occupation, and projected employment growth of 10.1% suggests expanding opportunities over time. With around 4,000 annual openings, this field offers a steady stream of potential entry points for new workers as well as room for movement for experienced setters. The national median annual salary of $52,240 reflects solid earning potential, with even higher wages available in some states and metro areas. Success in this career draws on a wide mix of strengths, including physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, mathematics, mechanical skills, and being detail oriented. Creativity and innovation, project management, science, leadership, and critical and analytical thinking also play a role. Together, these characteristics make tile and stone setting an appealing option for people interested in skilled, hands-on work with clear opportunities across the country.
Tile and stone setters have a national median annual salary of $52,240, providing a solid earnings baseline for the field. Pay varies meaningfully by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Massachusetts shows a notably high median salary of $81,150, and Washington also stands out at $77,920. New York’s median of $61,260 and California’s $58,880 are above the national median, while Colorado’s $57,690 is somewhat lower than these but still above the national figure. Metro-level pay can also be attractive. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro has a median salary of $64,430, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA sits at $62,580. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro reports $61,410, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA offers $58,600. These differences highlight how choosing certain states or metro areas can significantly affect earning potential for tile and stone setters.
Tile and stone setters benefit from a combination of existing employment and projected growth that signals continued opportunity. National employment stands at 53,000, representing a sizable workforce in this skilled trade. Projected employment growth of 10.1% indicates that demand for tile and stone setters is expected to increase over the projection period. In addition, there are about 4,000 annual openings, which include opportunities created by growth and by the need to replace workers who leave the occupation. This combination of current employment, growth, and openings can be appealing to both new entrants and experienced workers considering long-term stability. The presence of consistent projected growth across the highlighted states and metro areas reinforces the idea that opportunities are not limited to a single region. For individuals willing to consider multiple locations, the overall employment outlook suggests a range of options to enter and advance in this trade.
Location choices can significantly shape the experience of tile and stone setters. Among states, California combines a relatively high median salary of $58,880 with the largest employment level listed (8,250) and a strong opportunity score of 67.38. New York also offers a combination of higher pay ($61,260) and sizable employment (2,990). Massachusetts and Washington stand out for high median salaries of $81,150 and $77,920 respectively, though with smaller employment counts of 410 and 660. Colorado provides a median salary of $57,690 and employment of 870, with a moderate opportunity score. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ areas lead on opportunity score, at 77.42 and 77.27. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA combines a relatively high salary of $64,430 with 1,020 employed. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA has 2,170 employed and a median of $58,600, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV offers a different option with a median of $49,180 and a strong opportunity score.
The typical education requirement for tile and stone setters is listed as “No formal educational credential.” This makes the occupation accessible to individuals who may not have completed traditional degree programs and are looking to build a career through skills and experience. Despite the lack of a formal education requirement, the work draws on a substantial skill set. Important strengths include physical strength and stamina and fine motor skills, which support hands-on, precise tasks. Mathematics and mechanical skills contribute to accurate measurements and effective problem-solving. Being detail oriented is critical to producing consistent, high-quality results. Creativity and innovation, along with project management abilities, can help workers handle more complex or varied assignments. Science, leadership, and critical and analytical thinking round out a broad competency profile. Together, these skills suggest that while formal credentials are not required, successful tile and stone setters develop a combination of physical, cognitive, and organizational capabilities on the job.
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