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

The median Tile & Stone Setter in Louisiana earns $44,750 a year, which works out to roughly $21.51 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That's the midpoint — half of setters in the state earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or working for a smaller residential contractor, you're more likely to land near the 25th percentile: $39,450 annually, or about $18.97 an hour. Experienced setters with a solid portfolio of commercial and specialty work tend to push toward the 75th percentile at $47,830 a year, around $23.00 an hour.

That $8,380 spread between the bottom quartile and the top quartile isn't just about years on the job. Skill with difficult materials — large-format porcelain slabs, natural stone like marble and travertine, intricate mosaic or medallion work — commands more money than basic ceramic floor tile. Setters who can read architectural drawings, handle layout math without supervision, and manage their own thin-set mixes are worth more to a general contractor than someone who needs constant oversight.

Louisiana's construction calendar matters here too. The Gulf Coast region, including the Greater New Orleans metro and Baton Rouge corridor, keeps tile setters busier than most states because of ongoing hospitality, casino, and commercial renovation work. High-end hotels, restaurants, and healthcare facilities in those markets use premium stone and large-format tile almost exclusively, which typically pays better per square foot and demands more skilled labor. Setters who build relationships with commercial tile subcontractors in those corridors have a better shot at the upper end of the wage range.

Outside the major metros, work tends to be more residential and more seasonal. New construction in the Lafayette and Shreveport areas follows the broader housing market, which can mean slower stretches in winter. Setters in those markets often supplement income by taking on countertop fabrication and installation, shower surrounds, or outdoor hardscape work — all of which can pull in project rates that exceed a straight hourly wage.

Overtime is real in this trade. A commercial job with a hard deadline — a hotel opening, a school renovation timed to a semester break — can push a setter to 50 or 55 hours a week for weeks at a stretch. At the median rate of $21.51 an hour, overtime hours (paid at 1.5x under federal law) come in at about $32.27. A few months of heavy overtime can meaningfully close the gap between the median and the 75th percentile on an annual basis.

Apprenticeship and training credentials make a difference at the hiring table. Setters who have completed a formal apprenticeship program — typically three years of combined on-the-job training and classroom instruction — demonstrate to employers that they can handle the full range of materials and installation methods. The CTEF (Certified Tile Installer) credential is recognized by commercial contractors and can be a deciding factor when a subcontractor is bidding a project that specifies certified labor.

Some setters in Louisiana may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

The BLS OEWS figures used here are wage-only and cover May 2025. They don't include tips, per diem payments, employer-paid benefits like health insurance or retirement contributions, or the value of tools and equipment provided. A job that looks lower on paper but includes a company vehicle and full benefits can easily be worth more in total compensation than a higher hourly rate with nothing else attached. Run the full math before you accept or leave a position.

If you want to move up from the median toward the 75th percentile, the clearest path is specialization. Setters who become proficient with glass tile, heated floor systems, waterproofing membranes, and large-format slab work are in shorter supply and can negotiate accordingly. Commercial experience — particularly healthcare and hospitality, where floor and wall tile specs are tight and inspection standards are strict — carries more weight on a resume than years of residential bathroom flips.