Setter vs tile finisher

The differences between setters and tile finishers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a setter and a tile finisher. Additionally, a setter has an average salary of $34,789, which is higher than the $30,430 average annual salary of a tile finisher.

The top three skills for a setter include safety procedures, assembly line and safety regulations. The most important skills for a tile finisher are load materials, unload materials, and construction materials.

Setter vs tile finisher overview

	Setter	Tile Finisher
Yearly salary	$34,789	$30,430
Hourly rate	$16.73	$14.63
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	1,950	2,188
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 52%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	2	2

Setter vs tile finisher salary

Setters and tile finishers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Setter	Tile Finisher
Average salary	$34,789	$30,430
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $47,000	Between $20,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City	Ogden, UT	-
Highest paying state	Alaska	-
Best paying company	PSEA	-
Best paying industry	Automotive	-

Differences between setter and tile finisher education

There are a few differences between a setter and a tile finisher in terms of educational background:

	Setter	Tile Finisher
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 52%
Most common major	Business	Criminal Justice
Most common college	-	-

Setter vs tile finisher demographics

Here are the differences between setters' and tile finishers' demographics:

	Setter	Tile Finisher
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 65.7% Female, 34.3%	Male, 90.1% Female, 9.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 26.8% Asian, 1.4% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 31.7% Asian, 1.8% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between setter and tile finisher duties and responsibilities

Setter example responsibilities.

Experience with comparators, overlays and blueprints.
Help pour and finish concrete with concrete finishers.
Build, reinforce, and dismantle scaffolding to support job tasks
Used measuring instruments such as calipers, micrometers and fix gauges.
Spray asphalt on outer wall surfaces and footings to waterproof structures.
Tie steel for foundations, build scaffolding for welders on acid tanks.

Tile finisher example responsibilities.

Lay tile & brick for walk ways and CIA buildings then prompt to foreman for crew
Install and repair VCT (commercial vinyl tile) and carpet in chain grocery stores.
help with masonry applications: measuring, cutting, fabricating, grinding, polishing, caulking of stone & tile.
Assist ICM with project management responsibilities and updating and editing documentation for ISO compliance.
Add finishing techniques such as to buffing, polishing, grinding, de-burring and etching, according to work specs.

Setter vs tile finisher skills

Common setter skills

Safety Procedures, 26%
Assembly Line, 25%
Safety Regulations, 20%
Gem, 8%
Outbound Calls, 7%
Inbound Calls, 4%

Common tile finisher skills

Load Materials, 28%
Unload Materials, 28%
Construction Materials, 25%
Caulking, 19%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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