How much does a tile and stone setter make?
The median tile and stone setter in the United States earns $55,690 per year, about $26.77 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all tile and stone setters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 47-2044.
Tile and stone setter salary range
Pay for tile and stone setters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $37,140 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $86,110. The average (mean) wage of $59,250 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,140 | $17.86 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $45,200 | $21.73 | |
| Median (50th) | $55,690 | $26.77 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $70,220 | $33.76 | |
| 90th percentile | $86,110 | $41.40 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for tile and stone setters (SOC 47-2044), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Tile and stone setter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Tile and stone setters earn the most in Massachusetts at $81,150 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $38,980. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $81,150 | 410 |
| Hawaii | $79,270 | 440 |
| Washington | $77,920 | 660 |
| Maine | $70,720 | 60 |
| Minnesota | $70,560 | 610 |
| Pennsylvania | $70,230 | 880 |
| Illinois | $67,160 | 730 |
| Connecticut | $63,150 | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $62,680 | 410 |
| New Jersey | $62,370 | 460 |
| New York | $61,260 | 2,990 |
| Nevada | $61,200 | 1,450 |
| Missouri | $60,590 | 470 |
| Nebraska | $59,350 | N/A |
| California | $58,880 | 8,250 |
| Oregon | $58,790 | 790 |
| Montana | $58,670 | 240 |
| Colorado | $57,690 | 870 |
| Vermont | $55,890 | 140 |
| Kansas | $54,920 | 310 |
| Iowa | $54,350 | 240 |
| Arizona | $52,000 | 1,060 |
| West Virginia | $50,900 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $50,640 | 30 |
| New Hampshire | $49,900 | 40 |
| Utah | $49,340 | 1,590 |
| Rhode Island | $49,170 | N/A |
| Virginia | $48,880 | 750 |
| Indiana | $48,450 | 540 |
| Michigan | $47,950 | 1,010 |
| Idaho | $47,940 | 570 |
| Georgia | $47,840 | 360 |
| Kentucky | $47,380 | 180 |
| Florida | $47,280 | 4,070 |
| Texas | $47,030 | 1,260 |
| Ohio | $46,140 | 670 |
| Maryland | $45,670 | 240 |
| Alabama | $44,800 | 260 |
| Louisiana | $44,750 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $44,650 | 680 |
| New Mexico | $44,550 | 280 |
| Oklahoma | $44,340 | 280 |
| Tennessee | $43,570 | 350 |
| South Carolina | $43,510 | N/A |
| North Dakota | $42,620 | 70 |
| Mississippi | $39,130 | 60 |
| Arkansas | $38,980 | 160 |
State median wages for tile and stone setters (SOC 47-2044), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for tile and stone setters
The BLS projects employment of tile and stone setters to grow 9.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 45,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 49,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 3,300 openings a year for tile and stone setters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a tile and stone setter
The typical entry-level education for tile and stone setters is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete long-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a tile and stone setter earns
Experience, licensing, certifications, region, and overtime move these numbers the most. A licensed, experienced worker in a high cost metro or a strong union market lands near the top of the range, while apprentices and workers in rural areas start closer to the bottom.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Massachusetts, $81,150) and the lowest (Arkansas, $38,980) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 35,850 people work as tile and stone setters in the United States. At $55,690 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Tile and stone setter salary FAQ
How much does a tile and stone setter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a tile and stone setter is $26.77. The middle half of tile and stone setters earn between $21.73 and $33.76 per hour.
What is the highest tile and stone setter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of tile and stone setters earn more than $86,110 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a tile and stone setter make a year?
The median annual salary for a tile and stone setter is $55,690. The average (mean) wage of $59,250 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a tile and stone setter a well paid job?
At $55,690 a year, a tile and stone setter earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 35,850 people work as tile and stone setters in the United States.
Which state pays tile and stone setters the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median salary for tile and stone setters at $81,150 a year. Hawaii ($79,270) and Washington ($77,920) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a tile and stone setter a good career?
Employment of tile and stone setters is projected to grow 9.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 3,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a tile and stone setter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for tile and stone setters as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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