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

The median wage for a Tile and Stone Setter in Minnesota is $70,560 a year, which works out to about $33.92 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That number comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025. It reflects actual reported wages across the state, not posted job listings or self-reported surveys.

The full spread of wages tells a more complete story. Setters at the 25th percentile — those earlier in their careers or working in lower-paying corners of the market — earn around $61,750 a year, or roughly $29.69 an hour. At the 75th percentile, wages come in at $71,750, about $34.50 an hour. That upper-quartile figure sits surprisingly close to the median, which tells you the top half of earners in this trade don't separate dramatically from the middle — at least within the range BLS captures. The real spread in this trade tends to show up in hours worked, overtime, and the type of work a setter pursues.

Tile and Stone Setters in Minnesota work across a wide range of project types: residential bathroom and kitchen tile, large-format stone flooring in commercial buildings, decorative mosaic work, and exterior hardscape and pool installations. Commercial and institutional projects — hospitals, schools, government buildings, retail — generally pay more per hour and offer more consistent hours than small residential jobs. Getting onto commercial work is one of the more reliable ways to push your earnings toward and above the 75th percentile.

Overtime matters in this trade. Minnesota's construction season is compressed by weather. Summer and early fall are peak months, and a setter who puts in 10-hour days five or six days a week during those months can add meaningful income beyond a straight annual calculation. A setter earning $33.92 an hour at straight time earns $50.88 per hour for every hour over 40 in a week — that arithmetic adds up fast over a full construction season.

Specialization also moves the needle. Setters who work with large-format porcelain slabs, natural stone like marble and quartzite, or complex mosaic and custom installations can command a premium. These materials require specific technical skills — proper substrate preparation, leveling systems, seam management — that not every setter brings to the job. Employers and general contractors notice the difference, and the pay reflects it.

Geographic location within Minnesota plays a role too. The Twin Cities metro — Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the surrounding suburbs — concentrates the highest volume of commercial construction and high-end residential renovation. Setters based in or willing to travel to that metro area have access to more work and typically see better rates than those working primarily in Greater Minnesota. That said, rural and outstate areas have their own steady demand, particularly for contractors who service a wide territory and keep their schedule full.

Experience level is straightforward: the gap between the 25th and 75th percentile in this data is about $10,000 a year. A new setter working toward journeyman standing should expect to spend several years in the lower half of that range. After four to six years of consistent field experience — particularly on varied project types — most setters move into the median range or above.

Apprenticeship is a proven path into this trade. Formal apprenticeship programs in Minnesota combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction covering layout, substrate systems, grout and mortar work, and reading blueprints. Completing an apprenticeship gives setters a documented credential that carries weight with employers, especially on commercial jobs where project owners or general contractors require trained crews.

Some workers in this trade may be covered by a collective bargaining agreement — check with your local for current rates.

One thing the BLS wage data does not capture: per diem pay, travel reimbursements, or the value of employer-provided benefits like health insurance and retirement contributions. A setter earning $70,560 in base wages with a solid benefits package is in a materially better position than the same wage with no benefits. When comparing offers, factor in total compensation, not just the hourly rate.

TradesPays will update this page as new BLS OEWS data becomes available. All figures on this page are sourced from the May 2025 BLS OEWS release.