What does a tile setter do?

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

A Tile Setter often does tile installations. First of all, he/she cuts the tiles into different or specific sizes using different tools like tile scribes, handheld tile cutters, or wet saws. After this, he/she lays them in the mortar that has been spread evenly; he/she does it with precision, ensuring clean edges and straight lines. In essence, you will have the responsibility to meet up with clients, discuss tiling requirements, order stock supplies, cut tiles to size, and install them according to clients' needs or specifications.

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Tile setter responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real tile setter resumes:

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.
Prepare surfaces for tiling by attaching lath or waterproof paper, or by applying a cement mortar coat.
Finish carpentry & tile design installation
Assist installer with prep tasks, tile cutting, grouting, sealing and clean up.
Apply mortar to tile back, position the tile, press and tap with trowel handle to affix tile to base.
Assist the mechanics in the installation of ceramic tiles by preparing mortar and cutting tiles.
Prepare and apply mortar or other adhesives to install tile and marble in a plan area.

Tile setter skills and personality traits

We calculated that 30% of Tile Setters are proficient in Floor Designs, Kitchen Floors, and Demo. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Color vision.

We break down the percentage of Tile Setters that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Floor Designs, 30%
Lay and set mosaic tiles to create decorative wall, mural and floor designs.
Kitchen Floors, 12%
Remodeled bathrooms, showers, counter tops, kitchen floors, fireplaces.
Demo, 6%
Job Description: Demo work including the break up of old tile and mortar.
Power Grinders, 6%
Utilize tools such as hammers, chisels, trowels, putty knives, power grinders, and polishers.
Polishers, 6%
Operated equipment Wet saws for cutting ceramic tile, drills, grinders and polishers..
Install Tile, 5%
Performed tasks needed to install tile including leveling the floors, tile orientation, tile instillation, grouting, and sealing.

Most tile setters use their skills in "floor designs," "kitchen floors," and "demo" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential tile setter responsibilities here:

Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for a tile setter to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what tile setters do because "flooring installers and tile and stone setters must be courteous with and considerate of customers, especially while completing tasks in customers’ homes." Additionally, a tile setter resume shows how tile setters use customer-service skills: "install carpet, vinyl, ceramic tile in residential and commercial buildings to meet and exceed customer expectations. "

Detail oriented. Many tile setter duties rely on detail oriented. "flooring installers and tile and stone setters need to be thorough and exacting to ensure that tile, wood, and carpet patterns are properly aligned.," so a tile setter will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways tile setter responsibilities rely on detail oriented: "mix cement, measure, detail cuts, install tile, etc"

Color vision. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of tile setters is color vision. This skill is critical to many everyday tile setter duties, as "flooring installers and tile and stone setters often determine small color variations and must be able to distinguish among colors in patterns for the best looking finish." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "installed color chips in swimming pools and garage floors. "

Most common tile setter skills

The three companies that hire the most tile setters are:

PeopleReady2 tile setters jobs
The Gallegos2 tile setters jobs
H.J. Martin and Son1 tile setters jobs

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Compare different tile setters

Tile setter vs. Marble mason

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. Besides that, they are involved in cutting pipes, threading pipes, and assembling and installing non-metal pipes, metal pipes, fittings, and tubes. Marine pipefitter helpers also conduct testing and perform interpretation on blueprints, work orders, schematics, and work specifications.

We looked at the average tile setter salary and compared it with the wages of a marble mason. Generally speaking, marble masons are paid $11,379 higher than tile setters per year.Even though tile setters and marble masons are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require floor designs, construction sites, and labor estimates in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, tile setter responsibilities require skills like "kitchen floors," "demo," "power grinders," and "polishers." Meanwhile a typical marble mason has skills in areas such as "custom orders," "aria," "oversee projects," and "reference points." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

On average, marble masons reach similar levels of education than tile setters. Marble masons are 0.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Tile setter vs. Granite installer

On average, granite installers earn a $3,170 lower salary than tile setters a year.A few skills overlap for tile setters and granite installers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "polishers," "tape measure," and "caulking. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real tile setter resumes. While tile setter responsibilities can utilize skills like "floor designs," "kitchen floors," "demo," and "power grinders," granite installers use skills like "customer service," "customers homes," "customer satisfaction," and "drill holes."

In general, granite installers achieve similar levels of education than tile setters. They're 0.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Tile setter vs. Marble installer

On average, marble installers earn lower salaries than tile setters, with a $730 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on tile setters and marble installers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "polishers," "tape measure," and "caulking.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from tile setter resumes include skills like "floor designs," "kitchen floors," "demo," and "power grinders," whereas a marble installer is more likely to list skills in "hand tools," "customer calls," "table saws," and "safety guidelines. "

Marble installers typically earn similar educational levels compared to tile setters. Specifically, they're 1.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Tile setter vs. Marine pipefitter helper

Marine pipefitter helpers typically earn lower pay than tile setters. On average, marine pipefitter helpers earn a $2,327 lower salary per year.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "floor designs," "kitchen floors," "demo," and "power grinders" are skills that commonly show up on tile setter resumes. On the other hand, marine pipefitter helpers use skills like minor maintenance, hand tools, carbon steel, and pipe hangers on their resumes.In general, marine pipefitter helpers hold similar degree levels compared to tile setters. Marine pipefitter helpers are 0.0% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of tile setter

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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