Tile and Stone Setters
47-2044.00
Bright Outlook Updated 2025

Apply hard tile, stone, and comparable materials to walls, floors, ceilings, countertops, and roof decks.

Sample of reported job titles: Ceramic Tile Mechanic, Ceramic Tile Setter, Tile and Marble Installer, Tile and Marble Setter, Tile Finisher, Tile Installer, Tile Man, Tile Mason, Tile Mechanic, Tile Setter

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

  • Align and straighten tile using levels, squares, and straightedges.
  • Finish and dress the joints and wipe excess grout from between tiles, using damp sponge.
  • Cut and shape tile to fit around obstacles and into odd spaces and corners, using hand and power cutting tools.
  • Determine and implement the best layout to achieve a desired pattern.
  • Mix, apply, and spread plaster, concrete, mortar, cement, mastic, glue or other adhesives to form a bed for the tiles, using brush, trowel and screed.
  • Study blueprints and examine surface to be covered to determine amount of material needed.
  • Measure and mark surfaces to be tiled, following blueprints.
  • Lay and set mosaic tiles to create decorative wall, mural, and floor designs.
  • Apply mortar to tile back, position the tile, and press or tap with trowel handle to affix tile to base.
  • Mix and apply mortar or cement to edges and ends of drain tiles to seal halves and joints.
  • Apply a sealer to make grout stain- and water-resistant.
  • Level concrete and allow to dry.
  • Measure and cut metal lath to size for walls and ceilings, using tin snips.
  • Install and anchor fixtures in designated positions, using hand tools.
  • Prepare surfaces for tiling by attaching lath or waterproof paper, or by applying a cement mortar coat to a metal screen.
  • Remove and replace cracked or damaged tile.
  • Cut tile backing to required size, using shears.
  • Remove any old tile, grout and adhesive using chisels and scrapers and clean the surface carefully.
  • Cut, surface, polish, and install marble and granite or install pre-cast terrazzo, granite or marble units.
  • Spread mastic or other adhesive base on roof deck to form base for promenade tile, using serrated spreader.
  • Assist customers in selection of tile and grout.
  • Prepare cost and labor estimates, based on calculations of time and materials needed for project.
  • Brush glue onto manila paper on which design has been drawn and position tiles, finished side down, onto paper.
  • Select and order tile and other items to be installed, such as bathroom accessories, walls, panels, and cabinets, according to specifications.
  • Build underbeds and install anchor bolts, wires, and brackets.
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Technology Skills

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Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Performing General Physical Activities — Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
  • Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

Detailed Work Activities

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Work Context

  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 90% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 91% responded “Every day.”
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams — 70% responded “Every day.”
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 63% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling — 70% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions — 71% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body — 56% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable — 52% responded “Every day.”
  • Exposed to Contaminants — 50% responded “Every day.”
  • Spend Time Standing — 49% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
  • Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals — 44% responded “Some freedom.”
  • Duration of Typical Work Week — 58% responded “40 hours.”
  • Contact With Others — 51% responded “Contact with others most of the time.”
  • Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team — 37% responded “Very important.”
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 28% responded “Some freedom.”
  • Time Pressure — 40% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 48% responded “Important results.”
  • Telephone Conversations — 39% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
  • Frequency of Decision Making — 36% responded “Every day.”
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 30% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
  • Physical Proximity — 46% responded “Moderately close (at arm's length).”
  • Exposed to Hazardous Equipment — 34% responded “Once a year or more but not every month.”
  • Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers — 35% responded “Very high responsibility.”
  • Consequence of Error — 50% responded “Serious.”
  • Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities — 26% responded “Extremely important.”
  • Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions — 29% responded “Once a month or more but not every week.”
  • Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures — 32% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
  • Health and Safety of Other Workers — 20% responded “High responsibility.”
  • Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 32% responded “Not important at all.”

Experience Requirements

Job Zone

Title
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Job Zone Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
SVP Range
(4.0 to < 6.0)

Training & Credentials

State training
Local training
Certifications
Find certifications nationwide
State licenses

Apprenticeship Opportunities

Example apprenticeship titles for this occupation:

  • Marble Setter
  • Mosaic Worker
  • Tile Setter

Specific title(s) listed above are vetted by industry and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor for use in a Registered Apprenticeship Program.

Start your career and build your skillset. Visit Apprenticeship.gov to learn about opportunities related to this occupation.

Worker Requirements

Skills

  • Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.
  • Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Knowledge

  • Building and Construction — Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Design — Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:

  • 48%
     
    High school diploma or equivalent required
  • 37%
     
    Less than high school diploma required
  • 11%
     
    Some college, no degree required

Worker Characteristics

Abilities

  • Visualization — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Extent Flexibility — The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Trunk Strength — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
  • Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Far Vision — The ability to see details at a distance.
  • Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Multilimb Coordination — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Stamina — The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
  • Static Strength — The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Visual Color Discrimination — The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

Interests

Interest code: RC
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  • Realistic — Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
  • Conventional — Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail — A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
  • Dependability — A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.

Workforce Characteristics

Wages & Employment Trends

Median wages (2024)
$25.11 hourly, $52,240 annual
State wages
Local wages
Employment (2024)
52,600 employees
Projected growth (2024-2034)
Much faster than average (7% or higher)
Projected job openings (2024-2034)
4,200
State trends
Top industries (2024)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 wage data and 2024-2034 employment projections . “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2024-2034). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Job Openings on the Web

State job openings
Local job openings

More Information

Professional Associations

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National Associations
Accreditation, Certification, & Unions