How to hire a tile setter

How to hire a tile setter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step tile setter hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a tile setter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new tile setter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a tile setter do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your tile setter job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a tile setter for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A tile setter's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, tile setters from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of tile setters and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Tile Setter	Description	Hourly rate
   Tile Setter	Flooring installers and tile and marble setters lay and finish carpet, wood, vinyl, and tile.	$12-31
   Marine Pipefitter Helper	Marine Pipefitter Helpers are apprentices to marine pipefitters responsible for installing and assembling piping systems for water purposes. Their duties include creating pipe section layouts, reading blueprints, sourcing pipe material and equipment, and inspecting work sites... Show more	$14-22
   Setter	The duties of a setter primarily depend on their line of work or industry of employment. A setter is responsible for arranging schedules and appointments with clients in a business setting, aiming to secure sales and client satisfaction... Show more	$12-22

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Floor Designs
   • Kitchen Floors
   • Demo
   • Power Grinders
   • Polishers
   • Install Tile
   • Trowels
   • Tape Measure
   • RAN
   • Tiling
   • Construction Sites
   • Unload Materials
   • Floor Tile
   • Caulking

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Work on several high-end tiling jobs with various patterns and mosaics using ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone.
   • Tile installation, design, layout, demo, remodel.
   • Mix thin set clean wet saws work with other contractors to complete job including GC.
   • Tile cut, grouting, wall bond and floating demolition housekeeper and everything Im aloud to learn
   • Blue print reading, tile setting, water proofing, sub-flooring installation, demo, and patching.
   • Utilize power screeds and trowels to place screeds, tamp, vibrate, smooth and finish concrete work.

   More tile setter duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your tile setter job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A tile setter can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, tile setters' average salary in oklahoma is 62% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level tile setters 62% less than senior-level tile setters.
   • Certifications. A tile setter with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a tile setter's salary.

   Average tile setter salary

   $40,363yearly

   $19.41 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level tile setter salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average tile setter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Ohio	$56,930	$27
   2	New York	$52,700	$25
   3	California	$52,430	$25
   4	Illinois	$49,524	$24
   5	Pennsylvania	$47,823	$23
   6	Minnesota	$46,232	$22
   7	Colorado	$44,219	$21
   8	Washington	$41,917	$20
   9	Wisconsin	$40,279	$19
   10	Alabama	$39,858	$19
   11	Arizona	$37,856	$18
   12	Florida	$35,706	$17
   13	Utah	$35,187	$17
   14	New Hampshire	$35,127	$17
   15	Montana	$33,123	$16
   16	Texas	$28,561	$14
   17	Tennessee	$24,979	$12

   Average tile setter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Sandia National Labs	$72,394	$34.80
   2	H.J. Martin and Son	$47,065	$22.63
   3	The Gallegos	$43,613	$20.97
   4	Kovach	$42,074	$20.23
   5	Handyman Connection	$40,743	$19.59	37
   6	Trillium Staffing	$40,665	$19.55
   7	Tradesmen International	$39,164	$18.83	23
   8	G. & M. Co., Inc.	$38,474	$18.50
   9	PeopleReady	$35,716	$17.17
   10	Express Employment Indy South	$34,474	$16.57	1
   11	Automation Personnel Services	$32,608	$15.68	2

4. Writing a tile setter job description

   A job description for a tile setter role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a tile setter job description:

   Tile setter job description example

   • Cut and shape tile to fit around obstacles and into odd spaces and corners, using hand and power cutting tools.
   • Cut tile, stone, or other masonry materials.
   • Align and straighten tile using levels, squares, and straightedges.
   • Measure and mark surfaces to be tiled, following blueprints.
   • Study blueprints and examine surface to be covered to determine amount of material needed.
   • Mix, apply, and spread plaster, concrete, mortar, cement, mastic, glue or other adhesives to form a bed for the tiles using trowel.
   • Apply mortar to tile back, position the tile, and press or tap with trowel handle to affix tile to base.
   • Mix substances or compounds needed for work activities.
   • Remove and replace cracked or damaged tile.
   • Clean surfaces in preparation for work activities.
   • Remove worn, damaged or outdated materials from work areas.
   • Lift 50-75 Lbs
   • Grouting during the installation of new tile on medical surfaces

   • Keeping a clean and tidy work space
   • Account for and return all equipment and tools
   • Uphold all company policies and procedures.
   • Other tasks as assigned

   Recommended Experience:

   • 2+ years of tile installation experience (required)
   • 1+ year grouting experience (required)

   Benefits:

   BLOX offers the full spectrum of comprehensive benefits including: health, dental, and vision insurance. We also offer flexible spending accounts, paid time off, short term disability, long term disability, life insurance and a 401k plan.

   It is the policy of BLOX, LLC to use ability and willingness to contribute to our team effort as the criteria for making employment related decisions, regardless of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or other protected status. In addition, we strictly prohibit the harassment of any employee because of his/her race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, or other protected status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right tile setter for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your tile setter job on Zippia to find and attract quality tile setter candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit tile setters, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new tile setter

   Once you have selected a candidate for the tile setter position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new tile setter. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a tile setter?