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Tile and Stone Setters

People classed as Tile and Stone Setters apply hard tile, stone, and comparable materials to walls, floors, ceilings, countertops, and roof decks. The skills rated most useful are active listening, time management, and speaking. The job can ask you to align and straighten tile using levels, squares, and straightedges. Its interest code is RCA. Realistic leads at 7.0 out of 7, so expect hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, with Conventional next at 3.7. Getting in usually takes a few months to a year of learning on the job, a level O*NET calls some preparation. People who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world usually fit better here than those who need leading, persuading and making business decisions.

What they do

Apply hard tile, stone, and comparable materials to walls, floors, ceilings, countertops, and roof decks.

Main tasks

  • Align and straighten tile using levels, squares, and straightedges.
  • Finish and dress the joints and wipe excess grout from between tiles, using damp sponge.
  • Cut and shape tile to fit around obstacles and into odd spaces and corners, using hand and power cutting tools.
  • Determine and implement the best layout to achieve a desired pattern.
  • Mix, apply, and spread plaster, concrete, mortar, cement, mastic, glue or other adhesives to form a bed for the tiles, using brush, trowel and screed.
  • Study blueprints and examine surface to be covered to determine amount of material needed.

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Time Management
  • Speaking
  • Mathematics
  • Critical Thinking
  • Coordination

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on active listening and time management.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You want to lead people or run the business side. Enterprising rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCA takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Ceramic Tile Mechanic
  • Ceramic Tile Setter
  • Tile and Marble Installer
  • Tile and Marble Setter
  • Tile Finisher

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.