What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Tile and Stone Setters in the U.S. earn more than $55,690 a year — the middle 80% land between $37,140 and $86,110. About 35,850 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Tile and Stone Setters”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Craft and related trades workers earn about ₹16,825 a month on average — around ₹2.0 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$55,690typical pay / year
35,850people in this work
$86,110+top 10% earn
₹2.0 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Fixing4
Prepare surfaces for tiling
+Prepare the kitchen and hallway walls and floor for tiling: strip old adhesive, repair hollows with cement…
Prepare surfaces for tiling
+Prepare the kitchen and hallway walls and floor for tiling: strip old adhesive, repair hollows with cement render, prime porous plaster, check and pack out any heaves so the substrate is flat within 3mm over 2m, then mark datum lines for the tile run tomorrow.
The tools that do the workMeasure Square FloorEstimate Projob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Fix tiles in place on surfaces
+Fix the bathroom floor tiles in place: butter the back of the porcelain tiles with cement-based adhesive,…
Fix tiles in place on surfaces
+Fix the bathroom floor tiles in place: butter the back of the porcelain tiles with cement-based adhesive, press and wiggle each tile to bed to the marked grid, maintain 2mm joint spacing with spacers, check levels as you go and clean fresh adhesive off tile faces.
The tools that do the workTileGemjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Clean and level the surface to be covered
+Clean and level the sunroom floor: sweep and vacuum out all grit, scrape remaining adhesive, grind high spots…
Clean and level the surface to be covered
+Clean and level the sunroom floor: sweep and vacuum out all grit, scrape remaining adhesive, grind high spots and fill low spots with self-levelling compound to achieve a flat surface within 3mm over 2m, then leave to cure overnight before tiling.
The tools that do the workMeasure Square FloorEstimate Projob descriptionsO*NET
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Trim excess carpet or linoleum
+Trim the remaining carpet and linoleum along the utility room doorway: mark the line following the new…
Trim excess carpet or linoleum
+Trim the remaining carpet and linoleum along the utility room doorway: mark the line following the new threshold, cut back to the line with a straightedge and hooked knife, remove the scrap, then fit and secure transition strip so the tile edge sits tight.
The tools that do the workAya Associates Comp-U-Floorjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Make2
Arrange tiles in patterns or layouts
+Arrange the living-room tiles in the herringbone pattern we agreed: dry-lay the first two rows from the…
Arrange tiles in patterns or layouts
+Arrange the living-room tiles in the herringbone pattern we agreed: dry-lay the first two rows from the centre point, trim starter pieces to maintain symmetry at the bay window, mark cuts and keep a consistent 45-degree angle so the pattern matches the door threshold.
The tools that do the workEasyCAD Iris 2Djob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Lay and set mosaic tiles for decorative designs
+Lay and set the mosaic feature at the kitchen splashback: adhere the mesh-backed mosaic sheets to evenly…
Lay and set mosaic tiles for decorative designs
+Lay and set the mosaic feature at the kitchen splashback: adhere the mesh-backed mosaic sheets to evenly spread thinset, align grout joints across adjoining sheets, cut individual tesserae for the outlet surrounds, then towel off excess mortar before it skins.
The tools that do the workTileGemjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work14
Maintain and clean tools and work area
+Gather used trowels, grout floats, buckets and cutting discs, clear dust and tile scraps from the day’s bays,…
Maintain and clean tools and work area
+Gather used trowels, grout floats, buckets and cutting discs, clear dust and tile scraps from the day’s bays, wash and dry all tools, lubricate moving parts, empty waste into the site skip, and lay anti-slip mats before leaving at 17:30.
The tools that do the workTileGemWikipedia
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Mix moulding and casting material
+Weigh and mix the moulding and casting resin and catalyst to the factory ratio, de-air the batch in the pot…
Mix moulding and casting material
+Weigh and mix the moulding and casting resin and catalyst to the factory ratio, de-air the batch in the pot for two minutes, fill moulds without splashes, label mixes with batch time and resin lot, and note any viscosity change.
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Place materials and secure with adhesives, nails, or staples
+Lay out the floor and wall pieces, apply the right adhesive or nails for each tile type, bed and press every…
Place materials and secure with adhesives, nails, or staples
+Lay out the floor and wall pieces, apply the right adhesive or nails for each tile type, bed and press every tile to full contact, and tack perimeter pieces with staples so the setting holds through the next shift.
The tools that do the workTileGemjob descriptionsO*NET
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Inspect tiles for defects or damage
+Walk every box and loose stack on site, sort and log tiles with chips, cracks, glaze defects, or warping, set…
Inspect tiles for defects or damage
+Walk every box and loose stack on site, sort and log tiles with chips, cracks, glaze defects, or warping, set aside damaged units in a rejection pile, photograph the worst examples, and notify procurement and the foreman.
The tools that do the workMeasure Square FloorEstimate ProO*NETWikipedia
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Cut, surface, polish, and install marble and granite
+Mark and cut each slab to the templated dimensions, grind and polish edges to match the finish, dry-fit…
Cut, surface, polish, and install marble and granite
+Mark and cut each slab to the templated dimensions, grind and polish edges to match the finish, dry-fit pieces on the countertop, then install and seal marble and granite with the correct adhesives and edge profiles.
The tools that do the workEasyCAD Iris 2Djob descriptionsO*NET
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Mix and apply mortar or adhesive
+Batch-mix mortar to the specified ratio for the tile type, spread an even buttering bed, notch to the correct…
Mix and apply mortar or adhesive
+Batch-mix mortar to the specified ratio for the tile type, spread an even buttering bed, notch to the correct depth, and comb and press each tile so adhesive coverage reaches the required percentage.
The tools that do the workAya Associates Comp-U-Floorjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Level concrete and allow to dry.
+Screed and level the concrete to the set elevations, monitor moisture with spot checks, protect the surface…
Level concrete and allow to dry.
+Screed and level the concrete to the set elevations, monitor moisture with spot checks, protect the surface from traffic, and only approve it dry enough for tile when moisture readings meet the spec.
The tools that do the workMeasure Square FloorEstimate ProO*NET
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Cut tile backing to required size, using shears.
+Measure and mark the backing sheets to the template, trim each piece with hand shears to a clean edge, deburr…
Cut tile backing to required size, using shears.
+Measure and mark the backing sheets to the template, trim each piece with hand shears to a clean edge, deburr the cuts, and fit them to the tile units before final adhesion.
The tools that do the workTileGemO*NET
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Spread mastic or other adhesive base on roof deck to form base for promenade tile, using serrated spreader.
+Spread mastic evenly across the roof deck to form the promenade tile bed, comb it with a 10 mm serrated…
Spread mastic or other adhesive base on roof deck to form base for promenade tile, using serrated spreader.
+Spread mastic evenly across the roof deck to form the promenade tile bed, comb it with a 10 mm serrated spreader to achieve consistent ridges, check for full coverage and no voids before laying first tile row today.
The tools that do the workMeasure Square FloorEstimate ProO*NET
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Assist customers in selection of tile and grout.
+Walk the showroom with the customer, present tile samples and three grout colour options, explain durability,…
Assist customers in selection of tile and grout.
+Walk the showroom with the customer, present tile samples and three grout colour options, explain durability, maintenance and price differences, note their top choice and return with a written estimate and available delivery dates by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Measure the area and cut material to fit
+Measure the room perimeter and cut each tile to fit starting with the longest uninterrupted run, mark cuts on…
Measure the area and cut material to fit
+Measure the room perimeter and cut each tile to fit starting with the longest uninterrupted run, mark cuts on the tile, score and snap or wet-cut where needed, dry-fit pieces to confirm fit before adhesive goes down.
The tools that do the workEasyCAD Iris 2Djob descriptions
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Fill joints with filler compound and remove excess
+Mix the filler compound to manufacturer consistency, pack joints fully with a rubber float diagonally across…
Fill joints with filler compound and remove excess
+Mix the filler compound to manufacturer consistency, pack joints fully with a rubber float diagonally across tiles, then wipe excess with a damp sponge and polish edges once cured to leave clean uniform joints.
The tools that do the workTileGemjob descriptions
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Apply finishes, such as sealants and stains
+Apply recommended sealant or stain evenly with a lint-free applicator after tiles and grout are cured, work…
Apply finishes, such as sealants and stains
+Apply recommended sealant or stain evenly with a lint-free applicator after tiles and grout are cured, work in small sections to avoid lap marks, note product and batch used and allow specified dry time before reopening area.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Handle and transport tiles safely
+Wrap and stack tiles on pallets, use edge protectors and two-person lifts for heavy boxes, secure with straps…
Handle and transport tiles safely
+Wrap and stack tiles on pallets, use edge protectors and two-person lifts for heavy boxes, secure with straps and label stacks by area to avoid damage in transit and confirm counts against delivery note before moving.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelWikipedia
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses