Updated 2025 · Construction
How to Become a Tile Setter
Tile setters install ceramic, marble, granite, porcelain, and glass tiles on floors, walls, countertops, and backsplashes in residential and commercial buildings.
Steps to Become a Tile Setter
- Meet basic requirements — You must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED. A strong foundation in math, physics, and shop classes helps.
- Apply to an apprenticeship program — Tile Setter apprenticeships last 3 years and combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Apply through your local union (IBEW, UA, etc.) or a non-union contractor program. You earn while you learn from day one.
- Complete required training — Complete 6000 hours of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction.
- Earn certifications — Required certifications include: Certified Tile Installer (CTI) through CTEF, OSHA 10/30-Hour, TCNA handbook knowledge.
- Pass the journeyman exam — After completing your apprenticeship, pass the journeyman licensing exam in your state to earn full journeyman status and pay.
What Does a Tile Setter Do?
Tile setters install ceramic, marble, granite, porcelain, and glass tiles on floors, walls, countertops, and backsplashes in residential and commercial buildings.
Daily Duties
- Prepare surfaces for tile installation
- Measure, cut, and shape tiles using wet saws
- Apply mortar or adhesive and set tiles in patterns
- Grout joints between tiles
- Install underlayment and waterproofing membranes
Skills Needed
- Tile cutting and setting
- Waterproofing
- Pattern layout
- Mortar mixing
- Large-format tile installation
Required Certifications
- Certified Tile Installer (CTI) through CTEF
- OSHA 10/30-Hour
- TCNA handbook knowledge
Tile Setter Salary (2025)
The national median tile setter salary is $52,089 per year. Pay ranges from $42,725 in the lowest-paying metro to $68,182 in the highest-paying metro. See the full tile setter salary breakdown by city.
Apprentice Pay Progression
Tile Setter apprentices earn while they learn, starting at approximately 40% of journeyman pay:
| Year | % of Journeyman | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 40% | $20,836 |
| Year 2 | 65% | $33,858 |
| Year 3 | 90% | $46,880 |
| Journeyman | 100% | $52,089 |
Union vs Non-Union Tile Setter Pay
Union tile setters earn 30% more than non-union workers — $31.85/hour union vs $24.50/hour non-union. Approximately 12.6% of tile setters are union members. See the full union vs non-union comparison.
Work Environment
Tile setters work indoors in residential and commercial spaces. Work involves extensive kneeling, bending, and lifting. Wet saw use creates dust and noise.
Career Outlook
Steady demand in residential remodeling and commercial construction. Custom tile work and large-format installations are growing specialties.
Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for a tile setter is $52,089 per year (2025 BLS data). Pay ranges from $42,725 to $68,182 depending on location, with top earners in the 90th percentile making significantly more.
It takes 3 years to complete a tile setter apprenticeship. During this time, you earn while you learn — starting at approximately 40-50% of journeyman wages and receiving annual raises.
No college degree is required to become a tile setter. The primary path is through an apprenticeship program or trade school. You will need to earn specific certifications: Certified Tile Installer (CTI) through CTEF and OSHA 10/30-Hour.
Tile Setter earns a Trade Pay Score grade of D, meaning it rates moderately on pay relative to cost of living, wage growth, and demand. Steady demand in residential remodeling and commercial construction. Custom tile work and large-format installations are growing specialties.
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