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

Tile and Stone Setters in Missouri earn a median wage of $60,590 per year, which works out to roughly $29.13 per hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That figure sits in the middle of the range — half of workers in the state earn more, half earn less. If you're trying to benchmark your pay or decide whether this trade is worth pursuing in Missouri, those numbers are your starting point.

The lower end of the range tells a different story. Workers at the 25th percentile — the bottom quarter of earners — bring in $43,390 annually, or about $20.86 per hour. This typically reflects newer tile setters, helpers moving into full setter roles, or workers in lower-cost regional markets within the state. If you're just starting out or recently completed an apprenticeship, landing near this figure is normal. The goal is to move off it as your speed, skill set, and material knowledge develop.

At the 75th percentile, tile and stone setters in Missouri earn $74,060 per year, roughly $35.61 per hour. Getting to this tier usually means you've built a track record with complex installations — large-format porcelain, natural stone, heated floor systems, intricate mosaic work, or commercial projects with tight tolerances and demanding specs. Setters who can read blueprints fluently, manage layout efficiently with minimal waste, and work without constant supervision command the higher end of this range. So do those working for larger commercial contractors rather than small residential shops.

The spread between the 25th and 75th percentile is about $30,670 per year. That's a meaningful gap and reflects how much experience, specialization, and employer type actually matter in this trade. A setter doing basic floor and wall tile in residential remodels and a setter doing polished stone countertops and decorative wall installations on commercial builds are both "tile setters" by classification, but their pay reflects very different skill levels.

Missouri's urban centers — Kansas City and St. Louis — generally drive the higher-paying work. Commercial construction activity, hotel and hospitality renovations, and institutional projects tend to concentrate in those metros. Setters willing to travel to job sites or work for contractors operating across multiple markets typically have better access to the upper end of the pay range. Rural and smaller-market work tends to cluster closer to the 25th percentile, though residential custom home work can push wages higher if the volume is there.

No union scale data is available for this trade in Missouri, so the figures here reflect the full mix of union and non-union workers as captured in BLS survey data. Where union agreements do exist on specific commercial projects, wage floors and benefit contributions may differ from what's shown here — always verify with the applicable local if that situation applies to you.

Hours matter too. Many tile setters work seasonally or see slowdowns tied to construction cycles. The annual figures above assume a full 2,080-hour year. If you're averaging fewer hours due to weather delays, project gaps, or part-time arrangements, your actual take-home will be lower than the annual figures suggest. Experienced setters who stay busy year-round — whether through a steady employer or reliable self-employment — are the ones most likely to see the median and above reflected in their actual earnings.

All figures on this page come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. These are the most current and methodologically consistent wage estimates available for this trade in Missouri.