How much do tile & stone setters make in the US in 2026?

Which state is best for tile & stone setters?

Different states win on different measures — here's the top on each. Pick the one that matters to you.

Across 25 states: $43,510–$81,150 (median $48,880).

Tile & Stone Setter pay by state

Where is the union premium biggest for Tile & Stone Setters?

Named locals and the premium over the BLS all-worker median.

We don't have union scale data for Tile & Stone Setter across our states yet — these states are predominantly non-union, or we haven't added IBEW/UA data. Submitting your pay helps build complete data for Tile & Stone Setter.

Union landscape

TradesPays does not have union scale data for Tile & Stone Setters in any of the 25 states we currently cover. That's a gap we're straightforward about — we're not going to fill it with guesses. What we can tell you is that some tile and stone setters do work under a collective bargaining agreement, depending on the contractor and the market. If you think your shop or your jurisdiction may be covered, the only reliable source for current negotiated rates is your local itself. Check directly with your local for the wage scale, benefit contributions, and any applicable area standard agreements. Posted scales can change with each contract cycle, so even workers already in the trade should verify current rates rather than relying on numbers that may be a year or two old. Once we have verified union scale data for this trade, we'll post it here with the same sourcing standards we apply to everything else on TradesPays.

What we don't track yet

A few things are missing from this page that you might reasonably expect to find. First, we don't have metro-level pay data for Tile & Stone Setters. The state figures are the finest geographic cut we can stand behind right now. If you're in a high-cost metro, your local market rate may sit well above the statewide median — but we won't invent a number for that. Second, we don't currently break wages out by experience tier for this trade. Apprentice, journeyman, and foreman rates can differ significantly, and without reliable data to back those splits up, we're leaving them off rather than misleading you. If you have access to verified wage data — a ratified contract, a certified payroll schedule, or employer-reported figures — we want it. Use the submission link on this page to send it our way. Worker-sourced data, properly documented, is exactly how TradesPays fills gaps like these over time.

Tile & Stone Setter pay: FAQ

What is the national median wage for a Tile & Stone Setter?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025 data, the national median is $55,690 per year. That's the midpoint — half of all Tile & Stone Setters in the survey earn more, half earn less.

What do the 25th and 75th percentile wages look like for this trade?

The 25th percentile sits at $45,200 and the 75th percentile at $70,220. If you're earning below $45,200, the majority of workers in this trade are earning more. If you're above $70,220, you're in the top quarter nationally.

Which states pay Tile & Stone Setters the most?

In our current dataset of 25 states, the top three are Massachusetts ($81,150), Washington ($77,920), and Minnesota ($70,560). These are annual median wages from BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which state has the lowest wages for this trade in your data?

South Carolina is the lowest in our current set at $43,510. Keep in mind we only cover 25 states right now, so this isn't a full national ranking.

Why is there such a large gap between states like Massachusetts and South Carolina?

A few things drive state-level differences: local cost of living, concentration of union or prevailing-wage work, commercial versus residential mix, and overall demand for the trade in that market. We don't have a single clean answer — the gap is real, and the data reflects it.

Does TradesPays have wage data for all 50 states for this trade?

Not yet. We currently cover Tile & Stone Setters in 25 states. If your state isn't listed, it means we either don't have reliable data for it yet or BLS suppressed the estimate due to small sample size. We add states as data becomes available.

Are these wages hourly or annual, and do they include benefits?

The figures on this page are annual wage estimates from BLS OEWS. They reflect straight wages — they do not include the value of employer-paid benefits like health insurance, pension contributions, or paid leave. Your total compensation package can be meaningfully higher than the wage figure alone.

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