Tile and Marble Setter Careers

tile-marble-worker-500At the risk of sounding obvious, working as a marble and tile setter involves installing marble, tile and other hard materials on floors, counters, walls, ceilings and other surfaces.

In this sense, a marble and tile setter is a skilled construction career that requires patience, skill and knowledge to achieve beautiful results.

For the truly skilled, it is also one that lets you use your creativity to design complex decorative murals and mosaic wall and floor designs.

Tile and Marble Setter Career Snapshot

Marble and tile setting can be hard, painstaking work as it often involves spending long hours bending or crawling around on your knees. The majority of installation is done indoors, although most workers find themselves doing some patio, garden and other exterior installations during the summer months. Work is generally of the 40-hour, 5-day-a-week variety, although some commercial jobs may require work to be done on nights and weekends when the business is closed. Overtime may also be necessary when facing a tight deadline.

Further details on a career as a tile and marble setter are listed below (statistics from the May 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$40,460

is the average annual salary for tile and marble setters.

5%

increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.

51%

have less than a High school diploma while 31% have a High school diploma or equivalent.

Tile & Marble Setter Education

There are no educational or training requirements for becoming a marble and tile setter, and in fact, just over 50 percent of current workers do not even possess a high-school diploma. Although there are some apprenticeship programs available, by far the majority of marble and tile setters learn their trade through on-the-job experience and most start out as a laborer or helper.

Tile & Marble Setter Job Duties

The typical duties of a marble and tile setter involve measuring, cutting, laying and setting marble and tile flooring, counter tops, walls, etc. Many workers also specialize in installing other types of tile flooring such as wood. It is up to the setter to ensure that the finished surface is perfectly level and matches the desired pattern or layout.

Tile & Marble Setter Salaries

As a skilled construction worker, marble and tile setters can expect a fairly decent salary. The median yearly salary for workers in 2015 was just over $40,000, while those who own their own companies or work in more upscale environments could easily make upwards of $70,000 according to BLS.gov reports.

Tile & Marble Setter Job Outlook

The number of available marble and tile setter jobs in the United States is expected to grow at an average rate over the next decade, which means that there are predicted to be around 5 percent more jobs in 2024 than there were in 2014. The fact that new installations far outnumber repair work means that most of this growth is driven by turnover and the overall growth in the construction sector.

Tile and Marble Setter Skills & Traits

Tile & Marble Setter Skill Set:Required Abilities:Tools Used by Tile & Marble Setters:Typical Work Activities:
• Critical Thinking
• Active Listening
• Coordination
• Speaking
• Extent Flexibility
• Trunk Strength
• Visualization
• Near Vision
• Bull floats
• Colloidal mixers
• Power grinders
• Scaffolding
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Getting Information
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Decision Making

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