Career comparison
Brickmason vs. Tile Setter
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Brickmasons earn more at the median ($62,120 vs. $55,690), while tile setters usually get to work faster (1–3 years of training of training). Brickmasons build durable walls, chimneys and structures from brick, block and stone. Tile setters install tile and stone on floors, walls, showers and backsplashes.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Brickmason | Tile Setter | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,120 ($29.87/hr) | $55,690 ($26.77/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $44,820 – $100,010 | $37,140 – $86,110 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.1% (slower than average) | +9.8% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 4,100 | 3,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | 3–4 years (apprenticeship) | 1–3 years of training |
| Key credential | Apprenticeship completion | CTI |
| Work setting | Masons work outdoors on residential, commercial and institutional construction, often on scaffolds. | Tile setters work in homes, offices, hotels and hospitals.. |
What each job does
Brickmason
- Read blueprints and lay out walls
- Mix mortar to the right consistency
- Build leads and set string lines
- Lay brick and block in level, plumb courses
- Install wall ties, flashing, weep holes and reinforcement
Tile Setter
- Prep surfaces
- Waterproof showers
- Lay out patterns
- Cut tile
- Set tile
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, and creative work. Both are part of the skilled trades & construction field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose brickmason if…
- I like building things that last
- I’m comfortable with heavy physical work
- I take pride in neat, precise results
Choose tile setter if…
- I like precise work
- I have an eye for design
- I’m patient
Still torn? Take the Brickmason fit quiz and the Tile Setter fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, brickmason or tile setter?
Brickmasons earn more at the median: $62,120 versus $55,690 for tile setters, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Tile Setters typically train faster (1–3 years of training) than brickmasons (3–4 years (apprenticeship)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects tile setters to grow +9.8% from 2025–35, compared with +1.1% for brickmasons.