How much do tile & stone setters make in Illinois in 2026?

The median Tile & Stone Setter in Illinois earns $67,160 a year, which works out to about $32.29 an hour. That's the midpoint — half of workers in this trade across the state earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or working smaller residential jobs, you're more likely sitting near the 25th percentile at $48,250 a year ($23.20/hr). Get a few years of commercial or specialty work under your belt and the 75th percentile is $93,240 a year ($44.83/hr). That's a real $45,000 spread from bottom to top, and it reflects how much skill variation exists in this trade.

Tile and stone setting is not a homogeneous trade. A worker doing basic ceramic floor tile in new residential construction is doing fundamentally different work than someone setting large-format porcelain slabs, natural stone mosaics, or precision waterproofing assemblies in commercial kitchens and pools. That skill gap is exactly what drives the distance between the 25th and 75th percentile numbers. Setters who specialize in large-format tile, intricate pattern work, or exterior stone cladding consistently land in the upper half of the pay range.

Geography inside Illinois matters. The Chicago metro — Cook, DuPage, Will, Kane, and Lake counties — concentrates the bulk of commercial construction work in the state. That means more hours, more complex projects, and more competition for skilled workers. Setters working on high-end commercial builds, luxury residential, or public infrastructure projects in the metro area are more likely to hit or exceed the median. Downstate markets in Springfield, Peoria, or Rockford tend to run smaller residential and light commercial jobs, which often lands workers closer to the lower end of the range.

Overtime and seasonality affect what you actually take home beyond the base hourly rate. Interior tile work is largely year-round, which gives setters more schedule stability than some other exterior trades. But project pipelines can still bunch up in spring and fall when general contractors push to hit milestones before weather deadlines affect other phases of construction. Workers who can flex into overtime on those pushes and who maintain relationships with multiple contractors tend to fill more weeks in the year — and that adds up fast. An extra 200 hours at $32/hr is $6,400 straight time, more at time-and-a-half.

Experience trajectory is straightforward: the jump from the 25th to the 50th percentile — about $18,910 a year — typically reflects the difference between a helper-level or recently certified setter and someone with three to six years of independent field experience. The jump from median to the 75th percentile adds another $26,080 a year and generally requires demonstrated expertise in specialty materials, the ability to read and execute complex architectural drawings, and a track record on commercial or high-end projects.

Apprenticeship is a direct path into this trade. Formal programs typically run three to four years, combining on-the-job hours with classroom instruction in layout, substrate preparation, material properties, and waterproofing systems. Completing a recognized apprenticeship puts a setter in a strong position to enter the labor market at or above entry-level pay and often provides a built-in network with contractors who hire program graduates. Some workers in Illinois may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

To move your pay up, the most reliable levers are specialization and certification. Adding skills in epoxy grout systems, large-format tile installation, moisture-critical assemblies, or decorative stone fabrication all open access to project types that pay more. The Tile Council of North America and the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation both offer credentials that contractors and general contractors look for when bidding specialized work. A setter who can also serve as a lead or foreman — managing layout, supervising helpers, and coordinating with other trades — increases their value to a contractor significantly and is often compensated accordingly.

All figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. BLS data reflects wages paid on the job and does not include the value of employer-provided benefits such as health insurance, retirement contributions, or paid leave. Your actual total compensation will be higher than the wage figures suggest if your employer provides a benefits package.