Tile and Stone Setters

Overview

Tile and Stone Setters has a national median salary of $55,690 per year, with +9.8% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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

Work Values

• Independence
• Support
• Working Conditions

Work Styles

Responsibilities

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.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Thinking Creatively
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Detailed Work Activities

• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• 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.
• Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for no formal educational credential.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Tile and Stone Setters:

Video Resources